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AsiaIndonesiaWest Sumatra

Payakumbuh

West Sumatra, Indonesia · Asia

About Payakumbuh

Payakumbuh is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Sarilamak, 32km from Ngarai Sianok.

Payakumbuh is a city located in West Sumatra, Indonesia. With a population of 139,576, it is an important destination in Asia.

On a road trip, Payakumbuh sits in Indonesia, where you drive on the left. It's in the Asia/Jakarta time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Payakumbuh to your route.

About Payakumbuh

Payakumbuh (Minangkabau: Payokumbuah, Jawi: ڤايوكومبواه‎) is the second largest city in West Sumatra province, Indonesia, with a population of 116,825 at the 2010 Census and 139,576 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 144,830 - comprising 72,840 males and 71,990 females. It covers an area of

Read more 80.42 km2 and is in the Minangkabau Highlands, 120 km by road from the West Sumatran capital city of Padang and 180 km from the Riau capital city of Pekanbaru. The whole area is surrounded on all sides by (but administratively independent from) the Lima Puluh Kota Regency, making it an enclave. It is located near the volcanoes of Mount Merapi, Mount Sago, and Bukit Barisan. Payakumbuh means "grassy swamp" in the Minangkabau language, suggesting that the area was originally swampy. In 2011, Payakumbuh had the highest economic growth of any city in West Sumatra. Innovations in sanitation, waste management, healthy traditional markets, street vendors coaching, and urban drainage resulted in this city being awarded the "Urban Innovation Management" in 2012. In 2013, Payakumbuh received the "Adipura" ('cleanest city') award in the category of small city for the seventh time. Payakumbuh is known for flying duck races, foods like batiah (small sweet rice cookies), gelamai (a sweet coconut palm sugared snack) and rendang. Payakumbuh produces a wide range of agriculture products including rice, milk, cattle and palm sugar. Payakumbuh and its surrounding villages, namely Mungka, Simalanggang and Batuhampar are the origin of the Negeri Sembilan people of Malaysia.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Payakumbuh

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Payakumbuh?

Payakumbuh offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Payakumbuh?

Plan your road trip to Payakumbuh with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Payakumbuh as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Payakumbuh located?

Payakumbuh is located in West Sumatra, Indonesia, Asia. The coordinates are -0.2159 latitude, 100.6334 longitude.

What is the population of Payakumbuh?

Payakumbuh has a population of approximately 139,576 people, making it a city in Indonesia.

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Quick Information

Population
139,576
Continent
Asia
Country
Indonesia
Region
West Sumatra
Timezone
Asia/Jakarta
Coordinates
-0.2159, 100.6334

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Indonesia

Police
110
Ambulance
118
Fire
113
All emergencies
112
Driving side
left
Full driving guide for Indonesia

Tags

AsiaIndonesiaWest SumatraCity

Worth the detour from Payakumbuh

4 notable places within an hour's drive.

scenic viewpoint

Harau Valley

A flat rice-farming floor hemmed by 100-metre granite cliffs with waterfalls dropping straight off the rim, on the road east from Payakumbuh. A nature reserve since Dutch colonial times.

13 km · about 25 min drive

bridge

Kelok 9 Bridge

Spectacular stacked flyover in West Sumatra that spirals a highway up a jungle gorge, replacing the old nine hairpin bends: Indonesia's most photographed piece of road engineering.

19 km · about 20 min drive

castle

Istano Basa Pagaruyung

A reconstructed Minangkabau royal palace with sweeping buffalo-horn roofs and carved timber walls, rebuilt after a 2007 lightning fire. Three storeys of interiors are open to visitors.

28 km · about 35 min drive

natural wonder

Ngarai Sianok

A 100-metre-deep canyon cut by the Sianok River along the Great Sumatran Fault at the edge of Bukittinggi, with a viewpoint walk from the town park. Buffalo graze the valley floor below.

32 km · about 35 min drive

Driving roads near Payakumbuh

  • Right hereHarau ValleyA flat rice-farming floor hemmed by 100-metre granite cliffs with waterfalls dropping straight off the rim, on the road east from Payakumbuh. A nature reserve since Dutch colonial times.
  • 19 kmKelok 9 BridgeSpectacular stacked flyover in West Sumatra that spirals a highway up a jungle gorge, replacing the old nine hairpin bends: Indonesia's most photographed piece of road engineering.

When to drive here

Year-round

Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Payakumbuh.

Sarilamak

🇮🇩 Indonesia

8 km away

Tanjungpati

🇮🇩 Indonesia

8 km away

Guguk

🇮🇩 Indonesia

12 km away

Tanjunggadang

🇮🇩 Indonesia

15 km away

Salimpaung

🇮🇩 Indonesia

18 km away

Baso

🇮🇩 Indonesia

21 km away

Sungayang

🇮🇩 Indonesia

22 km away

Batusangkar

🇮🇩 Indonesia

27 km away

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence