MANDAILING NATAL
It's a small village about 72 km from Padang Sidempuan in West Sumatera border. Here one can find an old traditional house (Bagas Godang / Big House) which is about 100 years old. Bagas Godang was built by Mangaraja Sian (His Majesty Mangaraja Enda). This house consits of two buildings namely Bagas Godang and Sopo Godang. Bagas Godang was the King and his family's dwelling. Sopo Godang was a meeting hall and reception room for visitors.
Bagas Godang has 17 windows, 8 rooms and 45 poles which are the same numbers for the Independence Day of Indonesia : 17-8-45. Panyabungan Tonga, Sibaroar, is the origin of the Nasution surname (one of the dominant surname in Mandailing).
Beside the Bagas Godang in Panyabungan Tonga, there are also other bagas godangs which are valuable historical sites. These include Pidoli, Huta godang, Pakantan etc. On Idul Fitri (one of the holidays of Islam) or on special occasions, local traditional performance (such as Gordang sembilan, Pencak Silat etc.) are performed for the public.
Mandailing Natal