Medan, the provincial capital of North Sumatera, is a cosmopolitan city with over 2 millions inhabitants and a booming commercial center for the region's huge oil and agro-business. As a result of major international investments in plantation, agriculture from 1870's onward. Medan grew from a tinny village to a prosperous colonial city of 60,000 people by 1943. Following indepence in 1945, the population exploded even more rapidly, with dramatic influx of various Batak and other groups all over Sumatera and Indonesia. Today, Medan is by far the largest city in Sumatera and the third largest in the nation after Jakarta and Surabaya in the island of Java.
As a bustling, modern commercial and administrative center, Medan is Indonesia's western most international gateway, maintaining regular flights from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Langkawi, Singapore. Additionally, there are several flight connecting Medan to the nation's capital., Jakarta, to Padang and to other destinations in the western Indonesian island. Medan literally meand "Field" or "Battlefield", and indeed was once the battlefield where the Deli Sultanete and the Kingdom of Aceh were at the war hundred years ago.
Exploring the most culturally diverse selected historical destination, such as: Istana Maimon, the ceremonial palace of Sultan Deli, Mejid Raya or Grand Mosque;Kampung Keling, with Shri Mariamman Temple, built in 1884 but hasbeen renovated few years ago;Vihara Gunung Timur, the largest Chinese Temple in Medan (perhaps in Sumatera); Immanuel Protestant Church, built in 1812;Kesawan street, a center of traditional handicraft, developed by Tjong A Fie (first wealthy chineseman in Medan).