Sumatra Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands
About Sumatra
People who spoke Austronesian languages first arrived in Sumatra around 500 BC, as part of the Austronesian expansion fromTaiwantoSoutheast Asia. With its location in the India-China sea trade route, several trading towns flourished, especially in the eastern coast, and were influenced by Indian religions and the Srivijaya Buddhist monarchy in particular. The Srivijayan influence waned in the 11th century and Sumatra was then subject to conquests fromJavanesekingdoms. At the same time Islam made its way to Sumatra through Arabs and Indian traders in the 6th and 7th centuries. Marco Polo visited the island in 1292. The powerful Aceh Sultanate ruled from this time into the 20th century. With the coming of the Dutch, the many Sumatran princely states gradually fell under their control.Aceh,
Sumatra Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 13 sections including: