Otanaha Fortress, The Main Historical Tourist Attraction of Gorontalo

Gorontalo not only has beautiful beaches like Ratu Beach and Love Tree Beach. But it also has tourist attractions rich in historical elements.

Otanaha Fortress is one of them. This fortress is a remnant of the Portuguese who once stopped in Gorontalo. In this article, we will provide some important information about the fortress.

Who knows, you might be interested in visiting there. Some of the information can be read below!

Address and Route to Otanaha Fortress

Otanaha Fortress is located precisely at Jalan Usman Isa No Kelurahan, Dembe I, Kota Baru, Kota Gorontalo, Gorontalo. This fortress can be accessed every day, from 8 AM to 6 PM.

You can start your journey to Otanaha from Gorontalo. From Gorontalo, you just need to travel towards Lake Limboto. During the journey, you will witness the beautiful scenery of the lake's outskirts, which are already shaped into houses and gardens.

Built on Mutual Agreement

According to historical records, Otanaha Fortress was built on an agreement between King Ilato and the Portuguese. The fortress, built in 1522, was initially constructed as a defense against enemy attacks.

Unfortunately, the Portuguese violated their agreement with King Ilato. As a result, a war between the two parties occurred. Long story short, King Ilato's side successfully expelled the Portuguese from Gorontalo.

Since then, Otanaha Fortress has commonly been used by kings after King Ilato. In modern times, Otanaha Fortress has become one of Gorontalo's main tourist attractions.

Attractions of Otanaha Fortress

There are several attractions found at Otanaha Fortress. This makes the fortress quite interesting in the eyes of tourists. Some of these attractions include:

The Structure of the Fortress

Unlike most fortresses in Indonesia that are built on the beach, Otanaha Fortress is built on a hill. Otanaha Fortress itself is located right on top of the Limboto Lake hill. Otanaha Fortress stands alongside two other large fortresses. Otahiya Fortress and Ulupahu Fortress are two of them.

Climb to the top of Otanaha Fortress when you visit. You can enjoy the beautiful panorama from the top of the fortress, from the view of Lake Limboto to the sunset view.

Seeing Various Types of Birds

In addition to being a tourist spot, Otanaha Fortress is also home to various types of birds. These birds usually perch on the trees around the fortress.

The Ranting Kingfisher, Cucak Kutilang, and Kingfisher are some of these bird species. Not only birds, but several tarsiers can also be found around this fortress. If you want to see these tarsiers, you should come in the late afternoon or evening.

Trekking Area

Not only can you explore history, but you can also exercise around Otanaha Fortress. This is due to the presence of a trekking area not far from the fortress.

The trekking area in Otanaha consists of 351 steps. At several points, there are resting areas that can be used as places to take a break. While in this area, you can rest while enjoying the fresh air around.

Close to Several Tourist Attractions

Otanaha Fortress is strategically located because it is close to several tourist attractions. So, you can picnic at other tourist spots after visiting Otanaha. Bukit Layang and Jurenai Beach are some of them.

That’s some information about Otanaha Fortress. Hopefully, it can add to your knowledge or serve as a reference for you.

Author: Anggie Warsito

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