Pematangsiantar, The Second Largest City After Medan in South Sumatra

Pemantang Siantar or sometimes written as PT. Siantar or P. Siantar or just Siantar, is one of cities in North Sumatera and becomes the second biggest city after Medan. Pematangsiantar is settled in strategic location, and it is crossed by the Trans-Sumatran Highway. This city has an area of 79.97 km2 and a population as many as 240 787 inhabitants (2010). After Indonesia proclaimed its freedom in 1945, Pematangsiantar was granted the autonomous status. In 1974, Pematangsiantar became a second level district, and was appointed as the capital of Simalungun Regency.

Pematangsiantar can be reach only 128 km from Medan and 50 km from Parapat, it often becomes the city crossing for tourists who want to go to Lake Toba. As cities supporting tourism in the surrounding area, the city has an 8-star hotels, 10 motels and 268 restaurants.

Pematangsiantar saves a lot of stories. The city that had been built long before the Dutch come to Indonesia, once shaped the kingdom, namely the kingdom of Siantar, that led by Damanik dynasty, the king Sangnaualuh was the last heir.

Pematangsiantar's native inhabitants are the Simalungun Batak people. Nowadays, Chinese and ethnic Malays, including Javanese, are also inhabit some parts of the city, especially around the downtown area. The most developed part of the town is along the streets named Jalan Merdeka and Jalan Sutomo. Siantar is famous for Batak culture, 'Batik' and 'Ulos' fabric, and Batak foods. Most of Pematangsiantar's food styles are inherited from Batak and Chinese traditional food. Foods such as saksang (pork cooked in its own blood) and roasted pork, or drinks like tuak, an alcoholic beverage made from sugar palm and sometimes from coconut from the tribe of Batak are very popular.