Rihlah to South Solok, stop at Jorong Malus Sangir

Rihlah’s note this time to South Solok in West Sumatra precisely at the Bustanul Huda Jorong Malus Islamic Boarding School in Sangir District, South Solok Regency. We present a trip note to complete the writer’s trail when wandering in West Sumatra.

Solok Regency has experienced a division to 3 (three) new autonomous regions, namely Solok Regency, Solok City and South Solok Regency. Determination of South Solok as a district, in conjunction with Dharmasraya Regency and West Pasaman Regency through Law Number 38 of 2023.

According to the story of a friend who accompanied the trip, before the division, Solok Regency was led by Gamawan Fauzi as Solok Regent for two periods, namely 1995-2000 and 2000-2005. After that, he became the Governor of West Sumatra (2005-2009) and the Minister of the Interior of the United Indonesia Cabinet II (2009-2014).

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Rihlah to South Solok Regency is the third time in West Sumatra. Previously to Sijunjung Regency and to South Coastal Regency. Some areas of South Solok Regency are directly on the west side with the South Coastal Regency. On the east side it is bordered by Dharmasraya Regency. And on the southern side it is bordered by Kerinci Regency Jambi Provision.

Travel to Solok Selatan

Rihlah or a trip to South Solok Regency we start from the Minangkabau International Airport (PDG), where some friends have been standby waiting for me to land. Arriving at the arrival door, we joined the public fleet, cars and started the journey.

After leaving the city of Padang, the trip began to climb the mountains. Appear in front of the eye, among others, the brown mountains which became the mining area of ​​PT Semen Padang. The trip to South Solok passes Sitinjau Lauik, a viral bend on several social media platforms.

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In contrast to the trip to Sijunjung which is at night. This time we had the opportunity to enjoy the Thousand Klokan road section. Beautiful and amazing. But at the same time it was terrible because of the high cliff next to a deep ravine. And we passed such conditions until the Simpang Tiga Lubuk Selasih.

From the Lubuk Selasih intersection, we took the right direction to South Solok Regency. The traffic is relatively quiet and the road section is increasing. Friends said, we passed the highlands, cool and long, to the border of Solok Regency and South Solok Regency.

A cilie hill cafe & restaurant and damaged road

“Oh, so the trip to South Solok passed through the Solok Regency area,” I muttered to myself while imagining the distance and travel time. Splitting the hills and gaps with varied depths, we arrived at a restaurant & cafe. His name is A Cilie Hill with a sambal cobek grilled as a culinary characteristic.

The location of this restaurant & cafe has a green and beautiful tea plantation with a background around the hills. We stopped by. The air is cold enough. Ablution water penetrates cold in the pores of the skin. The mushalla itself is located in the basement cafe section. After the Dhuhur prayer, we also enjoyed lunch and coffee typical of Solok Regency.

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From A Cilie Hill Resto & Cafe, the trip is still about 3 hours to arrive at the location of the activity. I don’t have a shadow, what is the condition of the trip in the future. While throughout the search for cafes & restaurants, the road segment feels increasingly rising. This is Rihlah to South Solok Regency which is very long.

The view on the right and left sides is not there other than the hills and verdant mountains. Not many residential housing. Only through a few villages with the population. The rest, a quiet highway. Imagine how the situation was if the trip at night.

At an adequate height and still in the Solok Regency area, a number of roads were badly damaged. The condition of the highway in the ground with a slope and cliff slopes of the cliff makes the strength strength very vulnerable to damage. Asphalt and Benton Cor peeled off due to being eroded when it rained heavily. No visible road improvement activities by the authorities.

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We pick up friends in the Solok Regency area, who will both carry out their duties in South Solok. And at Surian, we had to stop for a moment to perform Asr prayers. After passing more than 2 hours drive, we just entered the Solok Regency with Solok Selatan Regency. Precisely in Nagari Surian, Koto Parik Gadang Diateh District, with a welcome monument as a marker.

Arriving at Malus Night

Towards Maghrib time, we arrived at Muara Labuh. City of Sungai Pagu District. Rihlah to South Solok Regency stopped for a moment. We stopped to rest, precisely at the driver’s house that had been married to us since from the Minangkabau International Airport in Padang Pariaman.

We took time to rest. Bathing and perform evening prayers. The journey from Padang to South Solok was quite long. Towards Jorong Malus Sangir is still about 1 hour away. And apparently, we have not passed the city center of South Solok Regency. While the trip must penetrate the night, and lose the moment of view during the trip.

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At the location of the activity, at the Bustanul Huda Jorong Malus Islamic Boarding School. Sangir, South Solok, friends are waiting. We convey to them, after resting, evening prayers and dinner, we continue the journey.

After more than 1 hour drive, we finally arrived at Jorong Malus at night. Welcomed by a cold atmosphere because Malus was classified as an area at the foot of Mount Kerinci. The nuances of the pesantren are already visible, and we immediately adapt to start the activity tomorrow the day. In Malus, we stopped by 3 (three) days, 7-9 February 2025.

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