Istana Maimun

Istana Maimun was completed in 1888 for the sultan of Deli, whose wealth came from the tobacco estates that turned Medan into a boom town. The building is painted in the yellow reserved for Malay royalty and pulls its details from several directions at once: broad arches in an Indian idiom, Dutch shutters, Italianate columns and Malay roof lines. The main hall is the part open to visitors, a wide room under a high ceiling with an ornate dais, chandeliers and family photographs, while descendants of the sultan still occupy a wing behind. A few minutes away stands the Great Mosque of Medan, built by the same court two decades later, black-domed and octagonal.

What you actually see

• The yellow facade - the long front with its arches, columns and shutters.
• The main hall - the high room with its dais, chandeliers and family portraits.
• Costume photographs - rented Malay dress for pictures on the dais, a local habit.
• The Great Mosque - the court's black-domed mosque a few minutes away.

When to go

Medan is hot and humid all year, with the drier stretch from May to September and rain usually falling late in the day. The palace opens through the morning and afternoon with a break around midday prayers. Mornings are cooler and quieter. Combine it with the Great Mosque, which is only a short walk from the gates.

Honest expectations

One hall is essentially the whole visit, and it doubles as a costume photo studio, which flattens the atmosphere. Maintenance is uneven, labelling is minimal and touts work the forecourt. Medan's traffic makes even short distances slow. It is worth an hour while passing through the city rather than a reason to stop in it.

Nearby

The Great Mosque of Medan and the Tjong A Fie mansion are close; Lake Toba is about four hours south.