Things to do in Tanjung Pinang

The article discusses the various Tanjung Pinang Things to Do.

You can hire a boat and explore Penyengat Island. The Sultan of Riau's Grand Mosque is a very old mosque that is situated here. It is visited by a lot of devout visitors and is on the UNESCO’s World Heritage site list. Some remains of old palaces and tombs can also be found that are the legacy of the Riau sultanate. The grave of the famous grammarian Raja Ali Haji is also situated here along with many Malay temples.

Senggarang is a small Chinese village that was established by Chinese immigrants in 18th century. The biggest attractions here are the 200-year-old Banyan Tree Temple and the Xuan Tian Shang-Di Temple. The Banyan Tree Temple has a huge banyan tree that envelops it.  It has become a pilgrimage spot where devotees visit all year. The popular folklore says that it grants the wishes of all the visitors. One of the temples in this complex has a statue that has 40 arms. A lot of animal idols can also be seen in the temples.

You should visit the Sungai Ular Buddhist Temple which is located at the mouth of Sungai Ular River opposite the harbor in Tanjung Pinang. It is in the midst of a water body and can be approached by boat. It is considered as one of the most ancient Chinese temples in Riau and has murals that show what hell can look like.

The Raja Haji Fisabillah statue in Tanjung Pinang is a famous memorial situated. It is dedicated to Raja Haji who ruled during the late 18th century. He died while taking part in the battle of Malacca that was fought with the Dutch rulers.

You can take a boat trip from Tanjung Pinang around the many islands including Bintan. Two of the most popular islands are Soreh and Terkulai.

Visit the Tanjung Pinang markets to find local wooden handicraft items. Indonesian textiles with distinctive design are also considered to be a good buy. Locally produced coffee and tea are also quite popular. You can also purchase electronic gadgets at a much cheaper rate although these goods should be tested thoroughly to see that they work properly before buying them as spurious items are also known to enter the market.

You just cannot miss the food here. You can enjoy eating seafood and lots of traditional Indonesian food in the many food stalls in the market as well as the cafes.