Sumatera Tourism Official Web Site

Sumatera International Travel Fair 2006, Medan, 21 - 24th July 2006

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:: Hot Springs & Water Falls

Lau Debuk-debuk
The Lau Debuk-debuk hot springs are one of the most popular attraction of Berastagi. The hot springs that most tourist visit is however not Lau Debuk-debuk, but the Gunung Semangat hot springs, which sloppily is also called Lau Debuk-debuk. The real Air Panas Lau Sidebuk-debuk has 5 pools with a maximum depth of 1,85 m. Every month on a certain day, a unique traditional Karonese ceremony/event takes place here called Erpangir Kulau

Sibiru-biru
Pemandian alam Sibiru-biru is a bathing site along a relatively fast flowing river. The location is lush and there are a few stalls selling drinks and light food. The location is 1 km beyond Sibiru-biru. Air Panas Penen, 36 km from Medan, is a hot spring next to the road 500 m beyond the village of Penen. The bathing site is on the left hand side, opposite a coffee shop. The warm water contains some sulphur, the source of the hot water is app. 300 m behind the bathing site in a more natural setting, it is possible to walk there. Sampuran Putih is a very nice waterfall and sungai Seruwai is the same river as flows through Sibiru-biru and it is said to be easy to find.

Tangkahan
Hot water flows out of the riverbank opposite teh accommodation. It is a nice place to sit and let the water flow over oneself. You can walk over through the river. It is only knee deep, if it has not been raining.
There is an approximately 10 m high waterfall, a three-hour trek from Tangkahan. A guide is recommended, the trek starts behind the accommodation.

Melas Harimo
Melas Harimo is an area between Payung and Guru Kenayan with several small hot springs. The water here contains no sulphur, and is not so clear because of a sand quarry up-stream. The area is rather nice though. In the afternoons many locals come here to take a bath. There are no facilities and the springs are natural.
There are also other hot springs in North Sumatera, such as: Danau Lintang with approximately 60 metres in diameter, and Pangururan.

Sipiso-piso Waterfall
This waterfal is definitely majestic. It flows out from a small ravine, which makes it took like it flows out directly from a hole approximately 120 metres up on the vertical mountainside. The stream flows to Lake Toba. There is a viewpoint 150 metres off the road and 6 km before Tongging coming from Merek. Another more adventurous way to see the fall is to trek along the river from Tongging until the fall. It is possible to bathe below the fall. The water is clean and nice, but has passed through villages before the fall so do not drink it. From here are stairs leading up to the viewpoint. This waterfall of course has a legend, it is a long story, but in short it all happened when a dragon in the river tried to make his way to Lake Toba. During his attempts he got into a big fight with the creature that ruled in the lake. Their fight was si violent that a ravine was created. This is where the Sipiso-piso falls down today.

Pansur Napitu
Pansur Napitu is an approximately 30 m high waterfall in seven steps. According to locals, the rocks next to the fall can breathe and sometimes let out sounds. The area of the fall is considered eerie.

Siborong-borong

There are several hot springs in the surroundings of Siborong-borong, but none with any facilities. Most are used as the local village bath. Besides hot springs there are also a few waterfalls and one volcano. Most of the site can be visited by following a route along small roads in the area southwest of Siborong-borong.

Sampuran Aek Na Dua

Sampuran Aek Na Dua consist of two waterfalls next to each other. The first fall is 5 m high and the second 10-20 m high. The water falss into a canyon. Water comes from an agricultural area so it is not 100% clear, especially after rain. The other hot springs and water falls in Siborong-borong are Air Panas Sibutar, Air Panas Sibaragas, Sampuran Siangir and a volcano Dolok Imun.

Air Soda Parbubu

This is a unique bathing site, as the warm water tastes like soda water. There is no one rather big pool with the fizzy soda water next to the roadside and overlooking rice fields.

Air Panas Panabungan

Air Panas Panabungan is considered to be the mother of all hot springs in Tarutung. the water is almost boiling and contains much sulphur. The pool where the water comes out of the ground is approximately 10x10 m and surrounded by rocks colored by sulphur. One meter from the pool is a small stream into which teh hot water enters. In this stream it is nice to take a bath. Air Panas Panabungan is sacred, as it is the home of the descendents of Boru Situmandi, i.e snakes. The snakes in this area are never disturbed or jilled. the sulphur can only be used for good purposes. The spirit of the hot spring has forbidden all collecting of sulphur for business reasons, except for members of the Hutabarat clan. It was said that there were members of other clan collect the sulphur, and they said if it was for medicinal use, but the reason as pure business. Then they left with the collected sulphur, they walked up-hill through the forest. When they talked about how much money they would make, the sulphur suddenly started to burn and they died. The spirit of teh hot spring punished them in this way. Until today nothing can grow where it happened. Wild boar and birds often die there.