10 Things You Can Do In Palembang, Indonesia, Palembang, Indonesia

At first glance, Palembang looks like any other Indonesian provincial capital – meandering streets burdened by cars, motorcycles and angkot, dusty blocks of shop lots pockmarked with shiny new malls, and rows of street stalls coughing up plates of local favorite pempek.

Unlike some other cities that just comes at you hard and fast, Palembang took its own time to unravel its self.

The Ampera Bridge is an important focal point for the city’s attractions but to get a good grasp about Palembang and its people, I spent the best part of three days criss-crossing the Musi River, gathering tales of its glorious past, bustling present and exciting future.

This museum hosts a collection of artifacts starting with the mysterious megaliths of Pagaralam before delving into Sriwijaya, one of the greatest maritime empires in Southeast Asia. This Buddhist kingdom was founded in the seventh century and lasted almost 600 years, reaching as far as central Java and southern Thailand.

Sriwijaya’s discovery is owed to the unearthing of prasasti stone inscriptions and Hindu-Buddhist sculptures in nearby Bukit Siguntang. The inscriptions are written in Pallavan and Old Malay expounding stories of Sriwijaya’s founding and the king’s decree on his subjects. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).