The Rumah Bolon Pematang Purba, a national cultural heritage site, transports you back to the glory days of the kingdoms of North Sumatra. Located in Pematang Purba village, Simalungun Regency, this complex is not just an ordinary traditional house, but rather a Royal Palace. This place served as the center of government of the Purba Kingdom for hundreds of years.

To this day, this house, also known as Rumah Bolon, meaning longhouse, still stands strong. The house extends to the back without rooms, typical of Batak houses. This is a popular destination on Lake Toba. Those of you who want to visit this place, you can easily get Medan Lake Toba package offer by SWI Tour & Travel. However, in reality, only European tourists stop by, although there are occasional domestic and Asian visitors as well.

The Rumah Bolon Pematang Purba was built in 1864 by the 12th Purba King, Tuan Rahalim. This palace complex bears silent witness to the leadership of the Purba Pakpak clan dynasty, up to the last (14th) king, Tuan Mogang Purba. This is where major royal decisions were made, war strategies were formulated, and justice was upheld. Stepping foot here is like stepping back into the lives of Simalungun nobles of the past.

A Nailless Architectural Masterpiece
The main attraction of this tourist attraction is its architectural marvel. This magnificent, elongated palace was built without a single nail. This reflects the culture of the time, when nails were unused. The same is true of the original Toba Batak traditional houses in Huta Siallagan. There are eight traditional houses there, originally made of wood, with thatched roofs, and built without nails.

Remains of this past era still stand in abundance throughout North Sumatra. Some of these are attractions on Lake Toba Tour Packages organized by Medan Travel Agents.

Here's some information about the existence of the ancient Rumah Bolon building:

Traditional Technology: The building's structure relies solely on a peg system, wooden jointing techniques, and extremely sturdy coconut fiber rope ties. This building has proven to remain standing strong against time and earthquakes.
Buffalo Horn Ornaments: Note the roof of the building, which is decorated with rows of real buffalo horns. The number of horns is said to symbolize the number of major traditional ceremonies performed by the King, as well as a symbol of authority and power.

Exploring the Palace Complex
Tour programs to Lake Toba always explore tourist attractions in detail to ensure a better understanding for both mountaineers and tourists. The Rumah Bolon tourist area in Pematang Purba consists of several buildings with different functions, including:

Rumah Bolon: The main building where the King and his consorts (puang bolon) lived.
Balai Bolon: A meeting hall where the King conferred with his royal advisors to discuss law and justice.
Pattangan: A special room for weaving cloth for the king's daughters.
Jambur: A rice barn for storing the royal harvest.
Losung: A place for pounding rice together.

Location & Accessibility
This tourist attraction is strategically located on the Karo-Simalungun tourist route. If you're driving from Berastagi/Kabanjahe towards Lake Toba (Tongging or Parapat), you'll pass this historic site. The cool air and the view of the large trees surrounding the complex add to the mystical yet calming atmosphere.

To better understand the complex, visitors are usually given the opportunity to climb up to the house. There's a staircase leading up to the main entrance. In the front room is a fairly narrow bedroom. According to reports, this room was the sleeping quarters of the ancient king. Several of his wives reside in the long, open back room.

The wives each have their own wooden beds and cooking areas, with stoves and cooking utensils visible for each wife—six on the left and six on the right. Each wife cooks individually and uses her own utensils.

Educational and Photography Tour
For history, culture, and photography enthusiasts, the Rumah Bolon Pematang Purba is a must-visit. You can rent traditional Simalungun clothing (Hiou) to take photos with the aesthetic and Instagrammable ancient palace as a backdrop.

You can take as many photos as you like, including the surrounding area, which is now surrounded by large trees. The front yard still features a town square and relaxing seating for the king and queen. To the left of the entrance is a traditional rice pounder used during that era.

Currently, many tourist attractions are located not far from Rumah Bolon, including Sipolha Hill, Indah Simarjarunjung Hill, Raya Tigaras Beach, Haranggaol, Binahal Indah Resort, and Sipiso-piso Waterfall. There are many other nearby attractions that you can visit in a day.