Taman Simalem Resort
In 2001, PT Merek Indah Lestari, together with a Singapore investment company discovered a plot of unutilised grassland and embarked on a journey to create Taman Simalem Resort, and put Lake Toba back on the tourism map of the world. The main idea behind the resort is to provide nature-based attractions that offer visitors the chance to experience first-hand agricultural and horticultural activities that have traditionally been the backbone of Indonesia’s economy.
Taman is the Indonesian word for garden or park and Simalem in the ethnic Batak Karo language means pleasant, the exuberant feeling that visitors experience once they enter the resort.
Taman Simalem Resort is located on the hills of north western part of Lake Toba, one of the highest and deepest crater lakes in the world. It is located 45 minutes away from the resort town of Berastagi and can also be reached in 2.5 hours by road from Medan, the provincial capital of North Sumatera. Located on the north western hills of Lake Toba, visitors are in for a perennial treat of fresh and cool mountain air, the natural unspoilt scenery and a breath-taking view of the lake. The resort can be reached in 2.5 hours drive from Medan, the provincial capital of North Sumatera.
Within an area of more than 200ha, Taman Simalem Resort offers wide-ranging activities for visitors. It is home to Indonesia’s largest Loquat farm and is also North Sumatera’s largest Passion Fruit Farm. An extremely challenging 9-hole par 34 golf course is set admist coffee and tea plantations. The resort offers a wide range of accomodation from campsites to lodges with lake views and cottages in the jungle.
Taman Simalem Resort is a development in-progess and the limited facilities that are currently in operation are:
- Pangambatan Valley (flower nursery, outward bound, riverside place, bird park & waterfall lodge)
- Management Office (information centre)
- Tianzhu Chansi Buddhist Temple (ancient buddhist temple architecture)
- Karo Agrotourism Farm (Agro Mart & Cafe)
- Kodon Kodon Cafe (tasty treats in gazebos overlooking lake toba)
- Toba Cafe (fast-food outlet with great view of golf course)
- Pearl of Lake Toba Plaza (best view of lake toba for photo-shoot)
- Fruit & Vegetables Farming (produced using good agriculture practice standards)
- Tongging Mart & Cafe (serve light snacks and souvenir on the site of tongging lodge & convention)
- Labyrinth
- Amphitheater
- Campsite & Jungle Trekking
- Tongging Lodge Dormitory
- Waterfall Lodge
Soon visitors will be able to enjoy:
- Pangambatan Zoopark (animal park)
- Karo Agrotourism Farm (center for research & cultivation of fruits and vegetables)
- Tongging Lodge & Convention and Spa (200-room hotel & dormitory)
- Merek Funland (children in-and outdoor playground)
- Owners’ Guesthouse (20-room exclusive accommodation)
- 9-hole Gorat Ni Padang Golf Course (set in the midst of tea & coffee plantation)
The development of Taman Simalem Resort will be capped with the development of members-only One Tree Hill Villa Resort and cable-car link to shore of Lake Toba.
Taman Simalem Resort is developed by PT Merek Indah Lestari, an associated company of Hotel Sibayak Internasional Berastagi, North Sumatera’s first 4-star resort, in partnership with Nexus Investment Pte Ltd, a Singapore investment company.
