Padang

Padang is the capital and largest city of West Sumatra province in Indonesia. Located on the western coast of Sumatra along the Indian Ocean, it functions as the region’s economic and cultural hub and serves as the gateway to the Mentawai Islands. The city has a major port, Teluk Bayur, and is a center for fishing, trade, and services.

The area is inhabited predominantly by the Minangkabau people, whose culture and language influence the city’s social and culinary life. Padang has a long history as a trading port dating back to precolonial times and developed under Dutch colonial administration before becoming part of the Indonesian nation after 1945. It was heavily affected by the 2009 West Sumatra earthquake.

Padang is renowned for its cuisine, particularly nasi Padang and rendang, which reflect Minangkabau culinary traditions characterized by spiced curries and coconut-based sauces served across many dishes. The city hosts Adityawarman Museum, which documents West Sumatran culture, and the traditional Minangkabau houses known as Rumah Gadang.

Economically, Padang relies on the Teluk Bayur port, fisheries, manufacturing, and services. The Minangkabau International Airport serves Padang with domestic and limited international connections, and ferry links operate to the Mentawai Islands. The city is also an educational center with institutions such as Andalas University.

Padang experiences a tropical climate with a pronounced rainy season; floods and natural hazards have occurred, including the 2009 earthquake that caused significant damage in the region.