Kuto Besak, Military fortress in Palembang, Indonesia.
Kuto Besak is a rectangular fortress along the Musi River with white-washed brick walls and thick defensive structures. Its interior layout contains various chambers, a large courtyard, and areas dedicated to administration and hosting ceremonies.
Construction of the fortress began in the late 1700s under the orders of a Palembang sultan and took nearly two decades to complete with local and Chinese workers. It marked an important development in regional governance before eventually being abandoned.
This fortress served as the seat of power and a center for important ceremonies of the Palembang Sultanate. Visitors can still see the spaces where decisions were made and guests were received.
The fortress sits along the Musi River and is reachable on foot from the old town area, with several entry points to the grounds. The site features level walkways and open spaces, making exploration straightforward.
The walls were built using an unusual binding mixture of limestone and egg whites, which gave the structure extra strength. This construction method reveals the craftsmanship that was common in the region at that time.
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