Padang Sidempuan, Agricultural trading center in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
Padang Sidempuan is a city in North Sumatra nestled in a valley between mountains and encompasses a wide area. The elevated location offers views across the surrounding landscape of valleys and mountain ranges.
The settlement originated around 1700 under the name Padang Na Dimpu, meaning high place in the Angkola language. During Dutch colonial times, it developed into an important trading post for coffee and rubber exports.
The Mandailing Batak people maintain their traditions through the Horja Bius ceremony, where Tor-tor dancers are accompanied by gondang drum performances held year-round. These rituals shape the cultural life of the city and are celebrated during various occasions.
Getting around the city is done mainly by motorized trishaws, which are widely available. The Trans-Sumatran Highway connects the city to other major destinations, and an airport offers connections to important places across Indonesia.
The city is known as the Salak City because snake fruit is grown on a large scale here. Favorable soil conditions and frequent rainfall enable this tropical fruit to thrive particularly well and become an economic symbol of the region.
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