Ambarita Village in Simanindo Sub-District, Samosir Island
Toba Lake is, without doubts, the best tourist lure in North Sumatra Province. However, travelers should never miss the chance to visit Samosir Island, which is located in the middle of such grand lake. The island becomes the home of numerous traditional villages like Ambarita and it is a worthy location to enjoy a vacation. So, what makes it popular? Most of the visitors come to the village to see historical items, which are the relics of Megalithic Era. Apart from its historical value, Ambarita also offers unique local traditions. That means both local and foreign tourists can learn many things there.
The Nuance
The nuance of the village is a bit creepy, as it features old and traditional houses. According to the locals, the settlement has been there since more than hundreds of years. The best thing is the villagers retain their culture and traditions well. That means they aren’t likely to adapt to modern ways of living, so travelers won’t find luxury facilities there. Some big trees also become unique features of the village, and they create a comfortable nuance. As for the villagers, they are friendly. Even foreign tourists can approach them without hassles. Still, it is better to come with a tour guide for the sake of better communication.
Exploring Ambarita Village
Here is the question. What can people do in Amabarita Village? Mostly, it is related to historical tourism. That means tourists are able to study classic and ancient architectures there. The most popular attraction is indeed Ruma Batak. It is the formation of Batak’s traditional houses, representing both beauty and valuable Batak Tribe’s culture. It is said those houses have an important local philosophy. Not to mention such traditional house becomes the pride of the locals, becoming a signature culture of Batak People. For tourists, it is a perfect object for photography. They can even enter the house with a permission of the villagers.
The next attraction is a historical site called Parsidangan Stone. It is located in front of Ruma Batak (traditional houses). According to the locals, the site was used as a local trial area. Apart from that, it was the location where criminals were executed. In terms of age, the site has been there for more than hundreds of years. Despite its creepy history, the site becomes tourists’ favorite location for photography. In fact, historians often come to the location to study about its story and other related information.
There is another unique attraction in Ambarita Village, which is called Hariara Tree. The locals consider it as a sacred tree and they believe it has been there before the existence of local settlements. Due to its mystical aura, villagers often come to the location and conduct a kind of ritual. They ask for both wellness and prosperity from it. This unique tradition indeed attracts tourists’ attention when exploring Ambarita.
Nearby Attractions
- Tomok Village
- Tuktuk Village
- Hariara Tree
- Toba Lake
How to Get There
The fact is Ambarita Village belongs to Samosir District. To be exact, it is located in Simanindo Sub-district. In order to reach the location, tourists need to head to Tomok Village first. From there, they can take a boat in Tomok Port. The voyage takes only 20 minutes. As for an alternative, travelers can come to Ambarita from Tuktuk Village. This takes about 1 hour, though.
Where to Stay
- Carolina Hotel
- Sopo Toba Hotel
- Silintong Hotel
