Kemaro Island

Palembang

#1 Among Things To Do in Palembang

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Tags : Island

Timings : 24 Hours

Entry Fee : Free

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Kemaro Island, Palembang Overview

Located in a small delta of the Musi River about 6 kilometers downstream of the Ampera Bridge, Kemaro Island is a famous tourist attraction in South Sumatra because of the scenic beauty it has to offer along with the various temples and festivals that tourists and the frequenting locals can visit and enjoy. The island acts as a recreational site for many, as it is located 40 kilometers away from the hustle bustle of the main city of Palembang.

The island is also home to a Chinese Vihara, or Klenteng Hok Tjing Rio, which has nine stairs and is located in the middle of the Kemaro Island. The structure has a typical Chinese style of architecture and is known as the signature icon of the island. Tourists tend to flock the place during the time of major Chinese festivals like the Cap Go Meh or the Imlek New Year, and the venue also has other structures like a Buddha temple and the graveyard of Prince Tan Bun An from China and Princess Siti Fatimah of Sriwijaya.

Tree of Love

The 'Tree of Love' is another reason for the popularity of Kemaro Island, which is known amongst the locals to bring luck to the couples who carve their names into the tree trunk. The tree is a symbol of the tragic love story of the Chinese prince and the Indonesian Princess, and the island also goes by the name of Pulau Jodoh or the Mate Island because of this very legend. The folklore says that the island emerged when the princess drowned in the Musi River.

How To Reach Kemaro Island

Kemaro Island is located amongst the industrial regions of the Sriwijaya Fertilizer Plant and the Pertamina Oil Refinery in Plaju and the Gerong River. Tourists can rent boats from the Ampera Bridge to reach Kemaro Island directly, wherein one can also see the stilt houses and the floating gas stations along the river.