Taking in Pariaman’s unique seaside culture

Taking in Pariaman’s unique seaside culture

Published Date: November 13th, 2006
Category: Culture, West Sumatra, Pariaman

Pariaman, or “Piaman”, as West Sumatran people often call it, is a small town on the western coast of West Sumatra of only 73.36 square kilometers and a population of 72,089.

Situated some 70 kilometers from Padang, Pariaman was a thriving merchant town in the 16th century. When the Kingdom of Aceh reigned over Sumatra’s western coast, Pariaman was frequented by foreign ships from China, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands.

This town later became an arena of conflict between nations, which ended with the victory of the Dutch East Indies Trading Company (VOC) in the 1670s. Pariaman was then a major trading town — before Padang was conquered and developed by the Dutch.

As Padang made headway with its large port of Teluk Bayur, Pariaman was outpaced. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the town has seen no more merchant ships for the absence of a suitable port. With its port and commerce now only a nostalgic history, the municipal administration has turned to tourism.

The Pariaman railway station and its surrounding buildings, as well as the structures close to the traditional market nearby, are part of the town’s landscape of Dutch colonial heritage. Pariaman station continues to provide services for tourists along the Padang-Pariaman route on Sundays.

Tabuik, bersyafar, Naras embroidery and sala lauak are the cultural icons of Pariaman widely known across Indonesia. They represent not only the unique cultural features of West Sumatra’s the western coastal townspeople, but also the town’s major tourist attractions.