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Photo: Gunawan Kartapranata, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
On the northern bank, the riverfront Kuto Besak and 16 Ilir plazas overlooking the Musi River and Ampera Bridge are popular spots for local families, youngsters and visitors to hang around and enjoy late afternoon breeze. There are also a row of warung terapung (floating eateries) boats on the east side of the bridge which offer various local delicacies. From the piers of Kuto Besak, one can also take motorboat trips to various destinations along the river (the price wildly varies depending on the length of the trip and the number of passengers). A trip just across the river or so (less than 2 km) usually costs Rp5,000 per person.
The Musi River is a river in Southern Sumatra, Indonesia. It flows from south-west to north-east, from the Barisan Mountains range that form the backbone of Sumatra, in Kepahiang Regency, Bengkulu Province, to the Bangka Strait that forms an extension of the South China Sea. The Musi is about 750 kilometers long, and drains most of South Sumatra province. After flowing through Palembang, the provincial capital, it joins with several other rivers, including the Banyuasin River, to form a delta near the town of Sungsang. The river, dredged to a depth of about 8 meters, is navigable by large ships as far as Palembang, which is the site of major port facilities used primarily for the export of petroleum, rubber and palm oil.
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Museum Negeri Sumatera Selatan
This state museum showcases the history of South Sumatra province, with displays ranging from pre-historic megaliths to Srivijayan era statues and inscriptions. The museum complex also hosts an iconic Palembang limasan house that was featured on the pre-2016 Rp10,000 banknote—they may also lend you a copy of this old banknote if you want to take photos comparing its illustration with the real-life house.
A riverine island which has seen various uses throughout history, from hosting an outpost of the Sultanate and a detention camp for political prisoners, to being a destination for cultural and religious tourism. The island hosts a Buddhist compound consisting of Hok Tjing Bio Temple and the 9-story Kemaro Island Pagoda. The city's annual Lantern Festival (Cap Go Meh) celebration is centered around the compound, during which the northern side of the island will temporarily be connected with a pontoon bridge to the mainland.
Kompleks Makam Ki Gede ing Suro
A temple-like complex consisting of 7 structures made of brick and white stone, with an artistic style reflecting the influence of Majapahit from the 15th to 16th centuries AD. Gilded bronze statues from the Srivijayan era were also discovered at this site. It was used as an Islamic burial ground around the 16th century by the noble family of Ki Gede ing Suro, the progenitor of Palembang sultans.
Masjid Agung Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Jayo Wikramo
This grand mosque was first opened in 1748, and has been renovated and significantly expanded a few times. The original praying hall and minaret are located on the western side of the compound (away from the main street), showcasing a mix between Palembang Malay, Chinese, and European architectural styles. The expanded praying hall is built around the original building with pyramidal roofs as well as a taller and slimmer minaret.
Monpera
Located opposite the Grand Mosque, it was inaugurated in 1988 to commemorate the struggle for Indonesia's independence in Palembang. Inside this brutalist-style building, there is a museum displaying various artifacts and historical photos related to the Five-Day and Five-Night Battle in Palembang (1947). There is also a dancing fountain in the monument's courtyard.
This municipal museum sits atop the remnants of Kuto Lamo, which used to be the royal court of the Sultanate before it was moved to Kuto Besak. Its current building, adopting traditional Palembang limasan architecture, was used as an office for the Dutch colonial resident. The museum showcases the history of the city, from the era of Srivijaya to the colonial period.