Lake Toba, the wonders of nature in North Sumatera Indonesia

Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world. At 100 km long and 30 km wide, measuring 505 m at its deepest point, it is situated in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Surrounded by tall mountains, it cradles the large island of Samosir in its middle.

Lake toba has its own secret such as the variety of batak arts and culture, tropical jungle with its flora and fauna, rice fields that use traditional technologi, more remarkable panorama and legendary places.

Batak ethnics are the people who are living around the lake toba. There are four batak sub ethnics that live there, they are Toba, Karo, Simalungun and Pakpak. Even though they are the batak ethnics group, they have diversity culture and dialect but they live with harmony in unity.

The Palace of King Sisingamangaraja

This is the palace of King Sisingamangaraja X and XI, it was the living home of the great king in batak land (tano batak reffers to the batak people) in centuries ago. The most known king of this dynasty in batak society is King Sisingamangaraja XII, he was a great hero for the batak people whose died in struggeling against the dutch colonialism. In this Palace Area, you can also find the grave of Sisingamangaraja X and XI.


Where is the palace took place?
This palace is took place in Baktiraja area that has a beautiful lake toba panoramas. Baktiraja is one of the Humbang Hasundutan sub regency. In this area you can also see Aek Sipangolu which is believed to be able to help people recover from many kinds of illnesses, Sulu-sulu spear Hariara cane, King Sisinggamangaraja 's stone chair, Siungkap-ungkapon stone, rice cultivation and enjoying the beautiful view of lake toba from Bakkara beach.


TRAVEL TIPS
These are some travel tips for you who are want get traveling and enjoying adventure tourism in Humabng Hasundutan.

How You Can Get There?
There are public transportation from Medan to the capital city of Humbang Hasundutan regency which is called Dolok Sanggul. You must stop in Dolok Sanggul and get the hotel for staying. From Dolok Sanggul you can continue your trip to Baktiraja, there are public transportation from Dolok Sanggul in twice a day.

Information about Humbang Hasundutan
Humbang Hasundutan is one of regencies in North Sumatera Indonesia with it's capital city is Dolok Sanggul, 100 km and about 3 hours minibus ride from Medan the capital city of North Sumatera. There are some minibus you can pick from Padang Bulan Medan to Dolok Sanggul via Berastagi like Po. Sanggul Mas, Po. Sampri and Po. BTN and their fare is around Rp. 40.000 (october 2008).

The majority ethnic who are living here is Batak Toba and they are very nice villagers. There are two cheap hotel that located in Dolok Sanggul, its about Rp. 75.000 up to Rp. 100.000 per night and they only serve Indonesian food and bataknese food like saksank (made from swine meat that mixed with blood) and rendang kuda (rendang horse meat).