Batusangkar (''batu'': stone, rock, ''sangkar'': cage) is the capital of the Tanah Datar regency of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is known as "the city of culture".

History

The town is near the former seat of the Minangkabau royalty established by Adityawarman in ''Pagaruyung'', represented by the reconstructed Pagaruyung Palace. A number of stones bearing inscriptions ('' prasasti'') left by Adityavarman that remain in the region are the first written records in West Sumatra. After the death of Adityawarman (1375) no more stone inscriptions were produced.

Fort van der Capellen

The town was known as

Fort van der Capellen Fort van der Capellen is a small 19th-century Dutch fort in Batusangkar, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The town of Batusangkar grew considerably around the Fort van der Capellen. The fort was named after the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies Go ...

during colonial times, when it was a Dutch outpost established during the Padri War (1821–37). The fort was built between 1822 and 1826 and named after the

Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies The governor-general of the Dutch East Indies ( nl, gouverneur-generaal van Nederlands Indië) represented Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies between 1610 and Dutch recognition of the independence of Indonesia in 1949. Occupied by Japanese fo ...

, Godert van der Capellen. The city was officially renamed Batusangkar in 1949, replacing its colonial name.

Indo Jelito building

Indo Jelito building is the residence of the regent of Tanah Datar. Each regent who has served, has automatically lived here. This building itself is a former residence of the Dutch resident Van der Capellen during colonial times, with a strong architectural style of art deco style buildings that characterized the Dutch.

External links

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Tanah Datar Menyimpan JejakAdityawarman
Populated places in West Sumatra Regency seats of West Sumatra {{WSumatra-geo-stub