Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Siak Sri Indrapura Palace in Riau, Indonesia
One of the kingdoms that once stood and reigned on the island of Sumatra was the Siak Sri Indrapura Kingdom. The greatness of this kingdom can be seen from the Siak Sri Indrapura Palace which still stands today.
Siak Sri Indrapura Palace is located in Sri Indrapura, Kp. Dalam, Siak Regency, Riau. This palace has another name, namely the Asserayyah Hasyimiah Palace or the East Sun Palace. Currently, the Siak Sri Indrapura Palace has the status of a cultural heritage which was established on March 3, 2004.
The Siak Sri Indrapura Palace is a witness to the glory of the Siak Sri Indrapura Kingdom in the past. This kingdom was founded in 1723 AD, with a Kecik King named Sultan Abdul Jalil Rahmat Syah.
Sultan Abdul Jalil himself is the son of King Johoh named Sultan Mahmud Syah from his wife, Encik Pong. Based on existing records, the center of the Siak Sri Indrapura Kingdom is in Buantan. The name Siak itself comes from the siak-siak plant that is commonly found in the area.
Sultan Majmud Shah of Johor was killed by Magat Sri Rama. The sultan's wife, Encik Pong, who was pregnant, had to flee to Singapore, then to Jambi.
It was on the run that King Kecik was born. The baby was then raised in the Minangkabau Pagayurung Kingdom. Later he became the ruler of the Siak Sri Indrapura Kingdom with the title Sultan Abdul Jalil. Before establishing the Kingdom of Siak, Raja Kecik was involved in the struggle for the throne of the Kingdom of Johor. At first he managed to usurp his throne. But not long after, the throne was taken again by Tengku Sulaiman who was still his brother-in-law.
The struggle for power by King Kecik and Tengku Sulaiman was tough. Both sides beat each other on the battlefield. Big losses must be borne by both parties.
In the end, the two of them decided to back off. Tengku Sulaiman retreated to the Pahang area, while Raja Kecik retreated to Bintan and established his own kingdom on the shores of Suangai Buantan. Since then, the wheels of government have continued to spin. However, the center of power of the Siak Kingdom continued to move. Until during the reign of Sultan Assyaidis Syarif Ismail Jalil Jalaluddin, the center of the kingdom was moved to the Siak area, until the name of the kingdom became Siak Sri Indrapura.
Siak Sri Indrapura Palace was built during the time of Sultan Assyaidis Syarif Ismail Jalil Jalaluddin. Construction was carried out precisely in 1889.
Siak Palace was built by a German architect named Vande Morte. This palace was built on an area of
32,000 square meters. Actually there are four palaces in the complex of that size. Besides Siak Palace, there are other palaces there, namely Lima Palace, Padjang Palace, and Baroe Palace. Siak Palace has a building area of 1,000 square meters.
The Siak Palace consists of two floors and has a rectangular cross-plan. The architectural style of the building seems to combine Malay, Arabic, and European styles.
In every corner of the building there is a round pillar with the top end decorated with an eagle. The palace doors and windows are designed in the shape of a dome and decorated with glass mosaics.
There are 15 rooms from the two floors of the Siak Palace. The first floor consists of six rooms. While the second floor consists of nine rooms.
The six rooms on the first floor function as a meeting place and a room to receive guests. While the nine rooms on the second floor function as a resting place for the Sultan and royal guests.
Currently the Siak Sri Indrapura Palace serves as a historical tourist destination in Riau Province. This palace is a museum where the objects from the Siak Kingdom are stored.
Entering the interior of the Siak Sri Indrapura Palace, you will find many relics that are still well maintained. Some even still function as they should. Starting from the king's throne, replica of the king's crown, various ceramic cutlery, to crystal chairs made in 1896.
When visiting this palace, make sure you find a relic in the form of a Crystal mirror on one side of the building. It is said that the mirror can make you always look beautiful and youthful.