Notes on Lubuk Linggau – At the end of the line in South Sumatra

Lubuk Linggau (or Lubuklinggau) is a metropolis in South Sumatra, Indonesia. There’s a practice that goes from Palembang to Lubuk Linggau, in order that was the one excuse I wanted to go to. I didn’t need to backtrack to Palembang, so I made a decision to remain in Lubuk Linggau after which discover different transport to Bengkulu on the coast.

The practice from Palembang to Lubuk Linggau takes 7 h 15 m to journey the 306 km. Palembang to Lubuk Linggau would possibly seem to be a random metropolis pair to construct a passenger railway, particularly when there are larger cities in Sumatra that must be linked by rail. As I found on my first practice journey in South Sumatra, this railway was constructed to extract coal from the South Sumatra coal fields. The passenger railway is only a facet advantage of the railway that’s largely utilized by freight trains.

[Lubuk Linggau Train Station.]

Lubuk Linggau has a inhabitants of about 200,000 individuals, and the town is in-built a valley alongside a river. There’s mainly one foremost highway as the town can’t develop outwards.

The practice station is off this foremost highway, so it’s simple to stroll from the station to most locations within the metropolis.

[Rail crossing in Lubuk Linggau.]

Each time I’m in a provincial metropolis with no clue of what to see or do, I head to the market and work it out from there.

[Market in Lubuk Linggau.]

There are some previous outlets and villas scattered across the metropolis, however they’re few and much between.

There’s an previous cinema that has is hidden behind a store. It’s roof provides away its Dutch heritage.

[Engaan Theatre.]

Indonesia had little interest in preserving colonial-era structure. I questioned what Lubuk Linggau may need appeared like if there was an intact previous city space.

Town is on a river, in order that appeared like probably the most logical place to discover. There’s a nice riverwalk which is probably the most fascinating factor to do within the metropolis.

The riverwalk is an elevated platform that runs alongside the river.

The river has some shallow sections with rapids, and the sound of the water helps to interrupt the nonetheless and humid air.

Elements of the walkway had change into overgrown. The jungle overtakes man-made buildings shortly if they don’t seem to be maintained.

After strolling alongside the river, you may exit and stroll in direction of Bukit Sulap. This can be a rainforest nature reserve, and there’s a funicular (inclinator) that goes up the mountain.

There was nobody on the funicular workplace, however somebody ultimately noticed me after I used to be strolling round. They then went and bought the important thing to open the funicular.

It’s a steep trip, so I used to be glad I didn’t take into account climbing to the highest. Evidently, there are nice views of the town from right here.

There was nobody else right here, so the funicular pilot simply waited on the prime till I used to be completed wandering round. This being Indonesia, selfies with the foreigner had been required, and I all the time ask for a selfie in return.

[With the funicular pilot on Bukit Sulap.]

Within the afternoon I needed to work out the right way to go to Bengkulu. I had questioned why the practice didn’t proceed to the coast as it’s not far-off. Lubuk Linggau is on the fringe of a mountain vary, and it’s evident why the practice stops right here while you see a topographical map of Sumatra.

I went to a journey agent close to the station, however they had been confused about why I might get a bus to Bengkulu.

[Travel agent at Lubuk Linggau Station.]

I requested my resort to assist me, they usually mentioned there have been no buses. They made a name and booked a shared taxi automotive that goes to Bengkulu.

The railways of Sumatra are fragmented in regional sections, so the railways are solely helpful for native provincial journey (and practice nerds). At some point there may be a Trans-Sumatra Railway, however is a long time away from being a actuality at this level.

There’s an airport in Lubuk Linggau for onward journey, although there are solely flights to Jakarta. In case you are determining the right way to get round Sumatra, I made a map of airports in Indonesia that reveals the entire airports in Sumatra.

I stayed on the Lodge Royal, which is on the primary highway within the metropolis centre.

After Lubuk Linggau, I went to the historic coastal metropolis of Bengkulu.