TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Sumatra is one of the homes of Indonesian nature. On the western side of the province, lies a hill called Puncak Lawang. Located at 1,210 meters above sea level, visitors are presented with a 360-degree view of Lake Maninjau.

From above Puncak Lawang, visitors will also be able to see a village at the edge of the Maninjau lake that looks like a painting. At the village, there is a house that stands out from the rest. It has the distinct Minangkabau architecture; the roof that resembles a buffalo horn.

According to a West Sumatra resident, Kiki Asmara (28), the house is owned by Buya Hamka, an Indonesian ulama and an author of the classic romance novel “Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck” (The Sinking of Van Der Wijk).

“That house is now a museum, It is located right at the edge of Maninjau Lake,” said Kiki.

The striking view is the main reason for visitors to enjoy the exotic lake from the hill’s peak. Added to the mist and the cloudy landscape on top of the lake that create a dramatic panoramic view.

The Puncak Lawang is 110 kilometers north of the city of Padang. To reach the location, it will take roughly 3 hours drive through the Sumatran highway heading to Bukittinggi where you will pass the Simpang 4 Padang Lua junction. Take a left to the Padang Lua-Maninjau, which is the main road to Puncak Lawang that is narrow and curvy; people call it Kelok 44.

During the weekend, Puncak Lawang always becomes the primadonna of tourist attractions for locals and foreign tourists alike. Visitors usually come as groups and enjoy the scenery just as if they were having a picnic among lush pine trees.

The admission to enter the Puncak Lawang is only at Rp10,000 for each person. The site is provided with complete facilities such as a vast parking space, toilets, outdoor game sites, as well as food and souvenir vendors.

Francisca Christy Rosana