Pulau Penyenget
Pulau Bintan
Pulau Penyenget, reached by frequent boats (7000Rp) from the Tanjung Pinang pier, was once the capital of the Riau rajahs. The ruins of the old palace of…
©Peter Barrien/Lonely Planet
Riau
The landscape and character of Riau province is distinct from northern and western Sumatra. Rather than being shaped by mountains and volcanoes, Riau’s character was carved by rivers and narrow ocean passages. Trading towns sprang up along the important navigation route of the Strait of Melaka, across which Riau claims cultural cousins.
Attractions
Must-see attractions for your itinerary
Museum Bahari Bintan
Pulau Bintan
This fascinating maritime museum is a surprising find along this sleepy coastal road. Housed within a building shaped like a ship, it has an unlikely…
Vihara Dharma Sasana
Pulau Bintan
This well-maintained temple complex, looking out to sea, is accessed through a beautifully decorative Chinese archway and contains three main temples. The…
Candi Muara Takus
Riau
Hidden away in a jungle clearing halfway between Bukittinggi and Pekanbaru are these low-key Buddhist temple ruins, believed to date to the 11th century…
Berakit
Pulau Bintan
On Pulau Bintan's far northeast tip, Berakit is a small, curious fishing village populated with Orang Laut (which translates to 'people of the sea'), a…
Banyan Tree Temple
Pulau Bintan
This particularly unusual temple is housed in a building dating from the early 19th century. Originally owned by a wealthy Chinese man, believed to be…
Chinatown
Pulau Bintan
When heading to Senggarang from Tanjung Pinang by boat, unless you ask to dock at the temples, you'll be dropped off at the jetties at Senggarang's so…
Museum Sang Nila Utama
Riau
This museum does an excellent job in detailing Riau culture, with interesting displays on ceremonial clothing, architecture, traditional artefacts, batik…
Guidebooks
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