TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Sumatra owns a number of worth-visiting sites including Bukit Tinggi. In addition to its refreshing cool air, the city offers many destinations to spoil tourists.

The landmark of the city is Jam Gadang (Giant Clock) where shady trees are surrounding the site. There are concrete benches where people can sit around enjoying the charm of the old clock which was a present from then Dutch Queen to Rook Maker, a then secretary of Bukit Tinggi in 1926.

Other than the Jam Gadang, the scenic view of Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon) is inviting tourists to admire it. Nearby the spot, there is Lubang Jepang (Japanese Hole) tunnel where that offers historical adventure traces back to Japanese colonialism. The tunnel used to be the hiding place for Japanese soldiers.

A newly-built Great Wall of Koto Gadang is not far from there too. The great wall stretches 1.5 kilometers from Bukit Tinggi to Agam, along the Sianok Canyon. The view of the massive, green and beautiful valley is greeting the tourists.

Other historical tourism destination is the house where one of“The Proclamator” of the Indonesian independence, Muhammad Hatta, was born. Of course, before going back home, tourists can shop for souvenirs and traditional snacks at the Upper Market (Pasar Atas), the center of Bukit Tinggi traditional trading.

Bukit Tinggi Head of Tourism Agency Melfi Abra said that there always a flood of tourists during the year end seasons. There are 1,000 people visiting the city each day averagely.

“Thousands of people swarm the Jam Gadang to enliven seconds to 2015 new year,” said Melfi.

According to Melfi, there were 2,000 tickets sold out for the Scenic Sianok Canyon on January 1, 2015.

Hotels were also fully booked during this season even two weeks before the last day of the year.

“Many visitors had booked the hotel a month in advance,” said Emir R Yahya, the General Manager of Grand Rocky Bukittinggi.

ANDRI EL FARUQI