5 Unique Facts That Make Medan Even More Special

Medan is one of the cities in Indonesia known for its cultural diversity. The diversity of religion, art, tradition, and ethnicity makes Medan feel special because peace is maintained among its people.

Not only regarding cultural diversity, Medan becomes even more special with the following 5 unique things. From being one of the top three largest cities in Indonesia to being famous as a paradise for durian lovers, Medan will delight the eyes and taste buds of friends when visiting this city in North Sumatra.

The Third Largest City in Indonesia

As the largest city in Sumatra, Medan often becomes a favorite for tourists looking to spend their holidays. This city even serves as the economic and commercial center of the entire island of Sumatra.

Not only that, Medan, which has a population density of over 2.2 million people, is certainly classified as a metropolitan city. Moreover, this city is also classified as the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya, my friends.

Part of the Capital of the Country

According to Indonesia's history, this country once existed as a federal state with 7 states. Although it lasted only a few months, the form of Indonesia known as the Republic of the United States of Indonesia (RIS) remains significant in Indonesian history.

Running from December 1949 to August 1950, one of the states of RIS was Sumatra. Medan, of course, became the capital of the state of Sumatra. Here, Medan became an important part of Indonesian history until now, shaped as the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

Home of the Artists

Medan is known as a city of artists. Many artists come from there, ranging from singers, filmmakers, to poets.

Who doesn't know Chairil Anwar? A poet famous for his romantic and brave poems. This poet, nicknamed "The Wild Animal," was born in Medan on July 26, 1922.

Joko Anwar, a filmmaker who recently gained fame for his films breaking into the world Box Office, also hails from Medan. Many talented singers from talent shows also come from this city, such as Maria Simorangkir, Vionita Veronika Sihombing, Lyodra Ginting, and the beautiful Mawar Eva De Jongh, who won the title in the Miss Celebrity Indonesia event in 2015 and now her beautiful voice resonates across various music streaming platforms.

The Origin of Chess in Indonesia

One series titled The Queen’s Gambit has made chess popular lately. In Indonesia, it turns out that the history of chess began in Medan around 1904.

This sport, which relies more on brain strategy, was first reported in the newspaper Sumatra Post on June 11, 1904. At that time, one article narrated two men discussing chess. Allegedly, the form and game of chess in Medan were adopted from the intersection of Batak and foreign cultures.

Medan, the Durian Paradise

Medan is a delightful area for durian lovers. This is because it is very easy to find durians with delicious flavors and sharp aromas in Medan.

Many orchards grow durians in this city or even bring them in from nearby cities, making the price of durians here relatively cheap. For one fruit, friends can buy it starting from just Rp10,000. Wow, durian lovers in Medan must be very satisfied when the durian harvest season arrives.

From the 5 interesting facts above, Medan is no longer just about the Batak language, my friends. Medan truly has a unique charm worth visiting. Let's plan a visit to Medan with friends or family!