Lake Toba is a very amazing natural wonder. This lake is thought to have been formed from the violent eruption of a volcano, Mount Toba, which occurred about 74,000 years ago. With an area of more than 1,145 square kilometers and a depth of 450 meters, Lake Toba is actually more like an ocean than a lake. In the middle of the largest volcanic lake in the world there is also an island that is quite large, namely Samosir Island.
Enchanting Place
Lake Toba is the perfect place to relax, because the air is very cool and the atmosphere is very calm. Of course, because the location of Lake Toba is at 900 meters above sea level. In addition to the stunning lake panorama, you will also be presented with a beautiful view of a row of mountains and green trees that refresh the eyes. Anyway, it’s a perfect place to unwind.
How to Get There
If you plan to go to Lake Toba using air transportation, there are two routes to choose from. The first option, from Kualanamu International Airport, Medan, you can choose a flight to Sisingamangaraja XII International Airport which is located in Siborongborong, North Tapanuli. Then, from this airport, you can continue the trip to Lake Toba by land.
The second option, you can directly choose a flight to Sisingamangaraja XII International Airport from Jakarta or from several other big cities. First, check the availability of airlines from your area.
Land Transportation
If you choose the land route from Medan, you can use route Medan-Parapat bus which can be reached in approximately 4 hours. However, if you want to take a more personal and relaxing trip, there are also travel agents in Medan city who can help you arrange car and driver rentals to Lake Toba.
You can also continue the trip from Lake Toba to Samosir Island. The option is to take the ferry which is scheduled to depart every hour at Ajibata Harbor to Tomok Harbor. You can also depart from Muara Port to Sipinggan Port, whose ship departure schedule is only twice a day, at 06.30 WIB and 15.00 WIB. This schedule is subject to change at any time, make sure you are always looking for the latest info.
What to do in Lake Toba?
There are lots of activities that you can do while in Lake Toba. You can rent a motorbike to go around Samosir Island area. You can stop at the top, see the scenery is even more beautiful when viewed from a height. Meanwhile, if you stop by Tuktuk village, the best way to enjoy this island is to walk along the cool and beautiful main streets of the village.
The attraction of Lake Toba
There are many ways for you to enjoy the natural scenery of Lake Toba and its surroundings. For you who like water sports, circling Lake Toba by kayak is something you can try when you come here. There are three routes that you can take when exploring Lake Toba by kayak. The easy route is Tongging – Silalahi along 12 km, the route is quite challenging. Tongging – Samosir is about 50 km, the last is a very difficult route, namely the Lingkaran Utara as far as 175 km.
Near Lake Toba there are also two museums rich in the history and culture of the Batak Tribe, namely the Tomok Museum and the Huta Bolon Museum. At the Tomok Museum, you can see a museum in the form of a Toba Batak traditional house that is hundreds of years old but is still neat, sturdy, and well maintained. Meanwhile, at the Huta Bolon Museum, you will be amazed by the Batak carvings and ornaments called gorga which are part of the museum building.
Another unique thing that you can find in the Lake Toba area is a human-sized wooden doll named Sigale-gale. Sigale-gale is known for its mystical nature. Local people believe that Sigale-gale dolls can dance and wail on their own without music. Some of them also said that Sigale-gale dolls could only be placed in chests. This doll is also usually used in family funeral ceremonies in the Samosir area, because local people believe that the Sigale-gale dance will deliver the spirits of those who have died to the afterlife.
For those of you who are looking for souvenirs, Ulos cloth is a mandatory gift when visiting Lake Toba. Not only serves as clothing, ulos is also believed to be a symbol of social status and is often worn in various important celebrations, such as births and weddings. Besides ulos, there are also original wood carvings with unique and interesting shapes that you can make as souvenirs. For you who like to drink coffee, make sure you don’t forget to buy the famous types of coffee from Lake Toba, such as Lintong coffee and Sidikalang coffee. See you at Lake Toba!
Source: https://www.indonesia.travel/id/id/destinasi/sumatra/danau-toba
