Sawahlunto, Mining heritage city in West Sumatra, Indonesia
Description
Sawahlunto is a mining city in West Sumatra located in a narrow valley within the Bukit Barisan mountains at about 295 meters elevation. The city spreads across roughly 273 square kilometers and sits surrounded by steep hills on all sides.
History
The Dutch colonial administration established Sawahlunto in 1888 following the discovery of coal deposits and developed extensive mining operations. Coal extraction shaped the region's economic growth for many decades afterward.
Culture
The city has several museums, including the Goedang Ransum Museum and Railway Museum, where visitors can see artifacts and documents from the coal mining era of Southeast Asia. These collections show how mining work shaped local life and the region's infrastructure.
Practical
The city is organized into four administrative districts - Barangin, Lembah Segar, Silungkang, and Talawi - with temperatures typically ranging between about 22 and 28 degrees Celsius (72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit). Visitors should prepare for humid conditions and wear light, breathable clothing.
Did you know?
The Ombilin coal mining site earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2019 as Indonesia's first industrial heritage site. This recognition honors the location's importance to early industrial development in Southeast Asia.
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Ombilin coal mine
1.3 km
Sawahlunto Rail and Train Museum
154 m
Goedang Ransoem Museum
544 m
Mbah Soero Mine Pit Site Museum
386 m
Nurul Islam Great Mosque
370 m
Nurul Huda Mosque
2.4 km
Masjid Babussalam
1.5 km
Kantor Bukit Asam Sawahlunto
376 m
Sawahlunto Cultural Center
231 mSawahlunto Dance Museum
364 m
Gereja Katholik Santa Barbara
173 mMasjid Al-Hidayah Taratak Bancah
8.4 kmSawahlunto Mining School
1.5 km
Ombilin Coal Mine Museum
321 mSilungkang Grand Mosque
4.8 kmKota Lama Tambang Batubara Sawahlunto
150 mMasjid Istiqamah
529 m
Nurul Hidayah Kajai Mosque
6.3 kmMasjid Baitunnur
4.4 kmCoal Processing Plant Compound
390 mMakam Syekh Barau Silungkang
5.5 kmOmbilin Railway
194 mSoengai Doerian Mining Site
593 m
Museum of Paintings and Ethnos of Wood
433 mOmbilin Railway System
10.4 kmOmbilin Company Town
130 mSalak Power Plant and Ranith Water Pumping Station
5.4 kmMuseum of Musical Instruments
411 m
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