Tirtanadi Water Tower, Dutch colonial water tower in central Medan, Indonesia
Tirtanadi Water Tower is a red brick structure in central Medan that rises 42 meters high with iron pillars supporting a red and white water tank. It sits at the intersection of Sisingamangaraja street, making it easy to spot in the cityscape.
The water tower was built between 1905 and 1908 by a Dutch company to supply water to the colonial settlement. This infrastructure was part of the modernization efforts that shaped Medan during the early 1900s.
The tower was recognized as a protected cultural heritage site in 2008, showing how infrastructure shaped the city's growth. Local residents see it as a symbol of how the city was built and modernized over time.
The tower is open to visitors during daytime hours, but you need permission from security staff to enter. There is no entrance fee, though visiting in the morning or early afternoon is usually easiest.
The tower continues to function as part of Medan's active water supply system rather than being merely a historical monument. Despite its age, this 1900s structure still provides water to the city.
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