Batak Museum at Tomok is a traditional house established in 2005. This museum showcases significant amount of artifacts relaed to Batak life in the past. To see it on the map, click here.
A few months ago the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir confirmed that he would build a new museum on Samosir Island which would contain all the historical relics of the typical Batak heritage, with the aim of increasing the interest of tourists visiting Lake Toba and creating new jobs for Community.
What’s Special
The museum has a lot of collections related to the Batak lands. First, look at the statues and the small stone tables at the corner of the museum courtyard. These objects date from the megalithic times. Then get inside. There are 3 things to find in the Batam Museum at Tomok that will change your mind about Batak:
- Different types of fabric based on its usage or function. They explain the richness of Batak ancient culture;
- A wide variety of farming and household equipment, such as swords, knives, warfare, etc. It demonstrates the level of civilization on the Batak land.
- Statues made of wood and stones, and some gondang music instrument. You will appreciate Batak’s taste for arts even during the ancient times.
Although the collection is not too much and the building is also not too large, the museum can provide experience and new knowledge about the background of people living on Lake Toba.
What to Enjoy
Tour the museum from end to end. When you first enter the front yard, you will get the idea of how the Batak lived in ancient times. This is because in this complex there are some unique objects and furniture made of stones. The inside tour will tell you specific items they used in day-to-day living.
Notice the ornaments of the museum building. For instance, there is a white lizard-shaped attachment in the wall. The lizard means protection and a message to the Batak community that they must be able to blend in with their environment wherever they live.
What to Expect
Entrance is free, but a voluntary donation is welcome. It’s not hard to get here once you arrived in Tomok.
What Visitors Say
“Historically of Batak tribe.. it amazing tribe with wooden work art and craving.” Junaidi Awang (Source)
“The place was cool, Not much attraction, Pay 80k for sigale gale puppet dance, And can wear the local dress for photo.” Local Guide (Source)
“Good place to know more about batak tradition. You can rent traditional costume for IDR 10k.” Arlin Windaryanti (Source)
“If you want to take pictures using traditional Batak clothes in this museum, visitors will only pay 20,000 rupiah. and we can take pictures as much as we want to get the photos we want. and of course special we take pictures among the many museum collections of high historical value.” pardisinaga (Source)
“When you enter the Samosir Batak Museum, you have to bow which indicates that every guest must respect/submit to the host.” jefrihutagalung (Source)
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