Huta Bolon Simanindo Museum is a former ancient king’s traditional house that has become a museum in Simanindo village, Samosir. To see it on the map, click here.
What’s Special
The museum performs Manortor traditional dancing regularly at 10.30 am each morning — assuming that enough tourists have shown up. The dancing done here is far more authentic than the tourist-oriented variety performed at guesthouses.
The museum is small, but a must if you are interested in understanding more about the incredibly fascinating Batak culture. It has a variety of collections of historical objects such as the swords used in the past to face dangers. Then there are also some traditional agricultural tools as well as kitchenware and utensils.
Also, there are also some craft collections such as wooden statues, and woven fabric (called ulos) in a variety of motives, sculptures, and arts. All of these are unique collections to see, let alone the fact that they come from the long history of Batak.
What to Enjoy
Here are some of the things you can enjoy at the Huta Bolon Museum:
- Admire the traditional Batak architecture. The museum is housed in a traditional Batak house, called a Rumah Bolon, which is itself a work of art. The Rumah Bolon has a distinctive roof design and intricate carvings.
- Learn about the Batak people’s way of life. The museum has a number of exhibits that explain different aspects of Batak culture, such as their traditional clothing, food, music, and religious beliefs.
- See a variety of Batak artifacts. The museum houses a wide range of Batak artifacts, including traditional clothing, weapons, musical instruments, household utensils, and religious objects.
- Take a guided tour. The museum offers guided tours in English and Indonesian. This is a great way to learn more about the museum’s collection and the Batak people’s culture.
- Watch a traditional Batak dance performance Sigale Gale. The museum offers regular performances of traditional Batak dances. These performances are a great way to experience Batak culture firsthand.
What to Expect
Here are some additional tips for visiting the Huta Bolon Museum:
- The museum is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, seven days a week.
- The entrance fee is Rp. 20,000 ($1.30) for adults and Rp. 10,000 ($0.65) for children.
- Visit the museum in the morning or late afternoon. The museum can be crowded in the middle of the day.
- Take a guided tour. A guided tour is a great way to learn more about the museum’s collection and the Batak people’s culture.
- Be respectful of the museum’s exhibits. Do not touch the artifacts without permission.
- Take your time. There is a lot to see at the museum, so take your time and enjoy it.
Next point of interest: