Palembang

Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia.

It is located in the eastern lowlands of southern Sumatra. The city sits on both banks of the Musi River.

As of the 2020 Census, the city had 1,668,848 residents. By mid-2024, official estimates placed the population at 1,801,367 people. This includes 901,923 males and 899,444 females. Palembang is the second most populous city on the island of Sumatra. It is the twelfth most populous city in all of Indonesia. The wider metropolitan area includes parts of surrounding regencies. These include Banyuasin, Ogan Ilir, and Ogan Komering Ilir. In 2023, the metropolitan population exceeded 2.7 million people.

The name "Palembang" has several possible origins in the Malay language. One theory suggests it comes from the word "limbang." By adding the prefix "pe-", it could mean a place to pan for gold and diamonds. This might relate to ancient rulers who monitored miners for security. Another theory links the name to the word "lembang." This version suggests the name means a place where water leaks or is constantly inundated. This fits the city's geography as a wetland area.

A third story involves four brothers who survived a shipwreck near the Musi River. They used a broken wooden box as a raft. The box wobbled, or "limbang-limbang," on the waves. They named the land Palimbang after this experience. In Chinese, the name is written as Jùgǎng. The Hokkien rendition is Kū-káng, which means "Old Port."

Palembang has a history as a major maritime power. It was once the capital of the Srivijaya kingdom.

This Buddhist kingdom ruled much of the western Indonesian Archipelago. Srivijaya controlled vital trade routes like the Strait of Malacca. The Kedukan Bukit Inscription, dated 682 AD, is the oldest inscription found there. It describes a king with magical powers leading a large military force. Some scholars believe this inscription marks the founding of Srivijaya. The kingdom flourished from the seventh to the thirteenth century. It acted as a middleman for trade between China and India.

The monsoon winds played a huge role in the city's growth. These are biannual seasonal winds that change direction. Traders from China or India had to wait for months for the winds to shift. Because of this, Srivijaya became a massive international trade center. It provided lodging, entertainment, and infrastructure for these waiting merchants. It also became a major cultural center. The Chinese pilgrim Yijing visited in 671. He recorded over a thousand Buddhist monks and scholars studying there. However, the kingdom faced many challenges. In 990, an army from the Mataram Kingdom attacked and looted the palace. Later, the Chola Dynasty from India conquered parts of the region in 1068. These conflicts eventually caused the empire to decline.

After the Srivijaya period, the city saw many different rulers. Pirates like Chen Zuyi caused trouble in the region. In 1407, the Chinese Admiral Zheng He defeated a large pirate fleet here. Later, a new dynasty was established by a nobleman from the Demak Sultanate. This led to the proclamation of the Palembang Sultanate in 1659. During this era, Islam became the dominant religion. The Grand Mosque of Palembang was built between 1738 and 1748.

Settlements grew along the Musi River, with some people living in houses on rafts. The Dutch East India Company also established a presence in 1619. Tensions with the Dutch led to the city being burnt in 1659. Eventually, the Dutch abolished the Sultanate in 1825 and began direct rule.

The 20th century brought significant economic and social changes. The Dutch introduced new export crops like robusta coffee. The development of petroleum and rubber industries drove further growth. This led to more migrants and rapid urbanization. Many new buildings appeared, including banks and a town hall with a water tower. In 1940, the first plane landed at the Talang Betutu airport. During World War II, the city became a target for the Japanese. Because of its oil refineries, Japan viewed Palembang as a high priority. Japanese paratroopers landed in the city in February 1942.

Today, Palembang is a modern hub for sports and tourism. It hosted the 2011 Southeast Asian Games and the 2018 Asian Games.

In 2018, the city launched Indonesia's first light rail system.

In 2017, the city attracted over two million tourists. Despite its success, the city faces modern challenges. These include traffic jams, floods, pollution, and peatland fires.

An interesting geographical fact is Palembang's connection to Neiva, Colombia. They are antipodes, meaning they are on exact opposite sides of the Earth. They are the only pair of antipodal cities with populations above 300,000.