Steep rocks with beige color and black streaks on the hill's surface displays its charm. Several waterfalls pour from the top of the canyon, while the rice fields endlessly lay in the left and right of the road. When the paddy yellowing, the natural painting becomes more and more beautiful in your eyes.
The views can be seen by visitors when they come to Lembah Harau, a valley between steep ravines towering to the height of hundreds of meters. The natural fortress is estimated tens of millions years old. Its forest is still maintained as habitat for diverse species of flora and fauna.
"This place makes me feel like in the forest of Jurrasic Park," said a member of Indonesian Society of Geography, T Bachtiar.
Harau valley is located 20 kilometers from Payakumbuh, a city in West Sumatra. The road to the area is relatively smooth, using either two-wheeled vehicles and four wheels. A visitor must buy a ticket worth 5 thousand IDR to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Visitors will pass Echo Valley. If they shout out loudly from the bottom of thevalley, their voice will be echoed back seven times perfectly. The location is the only place in the world that can produce perfect echo.
Next, visitor will see Sarasah Aka Barayun, a waterfall flows like a white curtain between the green vegetation on the walls. Sarasah means waterfall.
Just a few meters beside the waterfall, there are concrete stairs towards the canyon. Here,visitor can breathe fresh scent of forest, accompanied by chirping birds and a beautiful view of many long-tailed macaques. This area is a paradise for the primates. Some monkeys hold a tiny baby and visitor can feed them. After reaches the top of the stairs, visitor can see a perfect view of Harau valley with rocky-wall, lush trees, green and blue lines of Bukit Barisan mountains.
Rock cliffs in the area are also often used as climbing locations. "Its slope challenges our adrenaline. It is an extreme sports," Adek, a local people said. Three kilometers to east of Sarasah Aka Barayun, there are three other waterfalls which are visited by tourists. They are Sarasah Aia Luluah, Sarasah Bunta and Sarasah Murai.
On the eastern side of the valley, there are Harau outbound and camping facilities. Moreover, jungle trekking facilities are also available for visitor who likes to explore. Visitor can feel the exploring sensation through the forest in the rhythm of nature. The natural environment and ancient impression which are presented Harau valley makes visitor linger here. No wonder so many people call it a remarkable natural phenomenon that is rarely found in other hemisphere.
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