Muara Jambi Archaeological Site: Jambi, Sumatra

Jambi is the capital city of the Jambi province in Sumatra and a city that is worth visiting and stopping in for a few days or so. Jambi is a connecting port for ships and prahus that carry timber and other products to parts of the archipelago and is a major tidal river port.

But it is the nearby archaeological site of Muara Jambi downriver that is the main attraction and easily accessible by travelling the 26 kilkometres downstream by boat. Muara Jambi is the largest archaeological complex in Sumatra.

Covering over 1,500 hectares it has the ancient Hindu Candi and Menapo or brick-built temples and canals – the site of the ancient port of Melayu.

Believed to date from the 7th-13th century, the complex demonstrates the power and majesty of the Melayu Kingdom.

Restoration of three main structures Candi Tinggi, Candi Gumpung and Candi Kedaton, the last with an unusual fill of small white river pebbles, has been completed. There is also an excellent but small museum that displays artifacts.

Footnote: A Candi is a Hindu or Bhuddist tomb temple.