Trifter

Maimoon Palace is one of the most beautiful palaces still in existence in Indonesia. Its unique architecture and interior design gives this palace distinctive character.

Where is it?

Located in the centre of Medan City, the capital of North Sumatra Province, Maimoon Palace is easy to reach. You can hire a taxi from your hotel or should you want to experience some local thrilling adventure, just hire a pedicab.

Image via Wikipedia

History

Image via Wikipedia

Maimoon palace is also known as Palace of the Green Princess (local: Putri Hijau) as based on local folklore, long ago, there lived a beautiful princess whose body radiated green aura.

Maimoon Palace – Image by Author

Maimoon Palace, Front View – Image by author

A separate building outside the palace used to keep a sacred cannon called “Meriam Puntung” – Image by author

This beautiful palace was built in 1888 by Sultan Makmun Al-Rasyid Perkasa Alamsyah of Deli Sultanate, the oldest son of Sultan Mahmud Perkasa Alam, the founder of Medan City, with the help of his best friend Tjong A Fie, the richest Chinese merchant in South East Asia living in Medan at that time. Unfortunately, the architect is unknown. Some source said that it was designed by an Italian architect; some other said that a Dutch Captain named Van Erp designed the palace.

Inscription written in Duch language stating that the palace was built in 1888 – Image by author

 Layout

The palace stands on a 4 hectares land. This 2,772 m square structure has two stories and 40 rooms, 20 in the upper floor and 20 underneath, plus one throne room known as the “balairung”, four bathrooms, one kitchen, one warehouse and a basement prison. The palace is divided into three main parts, the main building, the right wing and the left wing.

Main building – Image by author

Entrance to the main throne room – Image by author

Entrance to guest room – Image by author

Left wing (picture taken from 2nd floor) – Image by author

The “balairung” or the throne room is located in the main building, right in the centre of the structure, on 2nd floor. The room is dominated by yellow color, the common royal color of Malay Sultanates. Measuring 412 m square, this biggest room in the palace is used for the coronation of the Sultan and as guest room.

Balairung or the throne room – Image by author

Ornament in the throne room – Image by author

The sultan’s cushion in the throne room – Image by author

Old photograph showing the Sultan and members of royal family – Image by author

Architecture

The palace is made entirely of wood. The architectural style is a mixture of Malay, Islamic, Moguls, European and Indian. European influence is seen in the throne room. The room has various European interior ornaments, including big tall Dutch-styled windows, series of Spanish doors, several European-styled crystal lamps and furniture.  Some building materials such as tiles and marbles were imported from Italy.

Entrance to the guest room, showing Persian curve and European-syled furniture – Image by author

Another interior view – Image by author

“Persian curve”, can be found in the arcade surrounding the palace showing Islamic and Indian influence, giving the palace its Middle East appearance. 

In the throne room – Image by author

Hallway to the rooms in left wing – Image by author.

The Sultanate Today

The Sultan no longer has any political power. However, the line of succession to the throne still continues. The latest Sultan, Tengku Mahmud Aria Lamanjiji was coronated in 2005 when he was only eight years old. His father, Sultan Otteman III Mahmud Ma’amun Padrap Perkasa ‘Alam Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Azmi Perkasa ‘Alam Shah al-Haj was killed in an aircraft accident when doing social work in Aceh in the same year. The young sultan is now living with his mother in another island.

List of Sultans ever ruled in Maimoon Palace – Image by author

Other members of the royal family still occupy the left wing of the palace. The palace until now is still a private property of the Sultan but visitors are allowed to visit the palace everyday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

The right wing. Members of royal family live in this wing – Image by author

 View of the palace taken from the street – Image by author