Souraja: History Tour in Palu City

Historical tourism can be an option for tourists visiting the city of Palu. Palu city as the former capital of Palu Kemagauan has many historical relics that have a very high historical value. Today we can still find the remains of the building which is a relic of the day in Palu. One of them is Souraja (Rumah Raja) or commonly called Banua Oge.

Traveling to Souraja can be an option for those of you who love history tour. Its location is located in the middle of the city can be reached by public transport or private vehicles. His condition is still quite well groomed despite being hundreds of years old. Location Souraja adjacent to the coast and the Yellow Bridge (Bridge Four) which also became one of the Palu City icon. For those of you who want to fill the holidays with educational and historical nuances, this one tourist attraction worthy of being one of your main destinations if a visit to the city of Palu.

Souraja is located at Jalan Pangeran Hidayat. This tourist attraction is located in the administrative area of Kelurahan Lere, Palu Barat District. From SIS Aldjufrie Pearl Airport, is approximately 10 km away and takes about 15 minutes. From Port Pantoloan, is approximately 30 km with travel time about 30 minutes. From the city center, Souraja is only about 5 km with travel time about 5 minutes.

Souraja is located in a quite area close to the beach. To reach the beach, you can walk about 1 km to the northwest. There, you will see directly the icon of the other city of Palu is Bridge Four or commonly called the Yellow Bridge. You can also find traditional fish markets and a "floating" mosque around the beach. Along the beach there are also tent cafes that provide various types of food and drinks. There is also a pavilion where you relax while trying to rent a bicycle or rollerblading to time.

Around the beach there are also many star hotels such as Mercure, Grand Duta, Silk Stone, and Swiss Bell that you can make a place to stay with a view directly facing the sea. Around the beach area there is also a shopping center that is Palu Grand Mall for those of you who have a hobby of shopping.

Souraja can be called as Magau Palu Palace, because since its establishment, this building is occupied by Magau-magau Palu and his family after another. Ownership of this building also valid for generations.

Souraja was founded in the late nineteenth century in the midst of the Kaili tribe which is a community supporting the Palu Forces. Kaili people say that Souraja is a big house with the understanding has its own advantages and kekeramatan. The advantages of this building exist in its function as living king or nobility, then by itself this building was considered sacred. Souraja sovereignty is attached to the king's cherry which is believed to be descended from the sky, "To Manuru".

Souraja building style is the result of acculturation of several cultures that exist in the Kingdom of Palu at that time. The hammer that became one of the urban areas led to the process of acculturation between indigenous cultures and migrants. The cultures of these other areas also enrich the culture of Palu society from various joints of life. The result of cultural acculturation in the Palu Valley is still visible in the life of the people of Kaili tribe. One of them can be witnessed through the existence of Souraja.

During the reign of Magau Yodjokodi, precisely in 1892, Souraja built in Lere Village, District of West Palu, Palu City. According to Iksam, one of the archaeologists and historians of the Central Sulawesi State Museum, the Kampong Lere area during the Magau Yodjokodi period is part of the Siranindi region. Siranindi is one of the members of Palu Kemagauan with Tatanga, Besusu and Lolu.

The construction of Souraja is headed by Hj. Amir Pettalolo, son-in-law of Yodjokodi. In the construction of Souraja, most of its workforce was imported from Banjar so that it appears some Banjar style in the building. Souraja is used by Yodjokodi as a residence and center of government.

Souraja several times experienced a change of function that is, in the year 1921-1942, Souraja still used as residence magau and central government. In 1942-1945, precisely during the Japanese occupation, Souraja converted as a military army of the Japanese army even though the function of Souraja is still the government office of Palu. In the Japanese period, the kingdoms in Central Sulawesi changed the name to sucho.
Then in 1945-1948, Souraja re-functioned as the center of government Palu Kemagauan. In 1958, when Permesta rebelled in Central Sulawesi and North Sulawesi, Souraja came up with a new function as a dormitory of the Indonesian National Army (TNI). Souraja was used as the army's headquarters in Operation of Permesta Permesta Rebellion Crusade in Central Sulawesi. This role lasted until 1960.

The last Souraja building is occupied by Magau Palu Tjatjo Idjazah which is also the last moon of Palu. But Tjatjo Idjazah did not live in Souraja because he was more often at his home in the area now so Apotik Pancar. After the official Palu Kingdom was disbanded, the building was managed by Andi Tjatjo Parampasi and Andi Tase Parampasi. Andi Tjatjo is the 4th child of Palu King, Parampasi. After Andi Tjatjo Parampasi passed away in 1974, the management of this house was handed over to his son, Andi Harun Parampasi.

In 1982, the building was inventoried by the government and then renovated. Ten years later, in 1991-1992, an overall restoration of the building was done by the government. Currently, this building is managed by the government as one of the cultural heritage.

Currently, Souraja building still stands up despite hundreds of years old. However, in the back (kitchen), the walls have been replaced with zinc. This of course reduces the beauty and the historical value of the building. Then, the most unsettling thing is the redecoration of the building that does not match the original color. This also certainly reduces the historical value of this heritage building.
In addition, promotional efforts that seem less than the maximum of local governments cause the attraction of this one is quite quiet visitors. Occasionally only schoolchildren and college students, historians and researchers, who are seen visiting this tourist attraction.

It also indicates that knowledge and appreciation for local culture and history especially Palu and Central Sulawesi are still lacking. The lack of local-based historical and cultural education in the region seems to be the cause of the lack of knowledge and understanding of local history and culture.

Therefore, it would be important to reinvent local historical and cultural values through education by introducing young people early on to their historical relics. This will also increase the number of visitors to the historical attractions. In addition, the need for re-education on how to care for heritage sites, so that care is not impressed at random and even reduce the historical value of the historical attractions.

To get to know Souraja and Palu's Hammers, you can read an article about Souraja and its relationship with the Palu Kemagauan I have written on the blog as an initial introduction of what Souraja is and how it relates to the history of Palu City. Immediately listened in this link: http://jefriantogie.blogspot.com/2012/12/souraja-dan-silsilah-raja-palu-jefrianto.html.