Explore the beauty of the Gentala Arasy Bridge and Tower in Jambi, an iconic tourist destination that offers panoramic views of the Batanghari River, an Islamic museum, and local culinary specialties.
Not all cities have iconic landmarks that can leave a deep impression on visitors. However, Jambi is one of the cities that offers a different tourism experience.
One of the must-visit places when in Jambi is the Gentala Arasy Tower and Bridge. This place leaves a deep impression on anyone who visits, including me who visited Gentala Arasy Bridge twice during the day and at night.
Gentala Arasy is a destination that combines two main icons, namely the Gentala Arasy Tower and the Gentala Arasy Bridge. This tower is located in Jambi City Seberang, which is connected to the Gentala Arasy Bridge which stretches majestically over the Batanghari River. This bridge is the link between Jambi City Seberang and Jambi City.
A Brief History of the Gentala Arasy Bridge
The Gentala Arasy Bridge was built in three years, from 2012 to 2014, at a cost of around Rp 88.7 billion. The construction of this bridge aims to improve accessibility and attract tourists. On March 28, 2015, the bridge was inaugurated by the then Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla.
This bridge is about 503 meters long and 4.5 meters wide. In addition to being a connecting path, this bridge is also a favorite place for pedestrians and visitors who want to enjoy the view of the Batanghari River. At night, the lights along the bridge add to the beauty of the atmosphere, making it even more enchanting.
The Attraction of Gentala Arasy Bridge
The charm of the Gentala Arasy Bridge is not only limited to being an infrastructure connecting two regions. With various Things to do in Jambi, there are many attractions that make it a popular tourist destination, both for local residents and tourists from outside the city.
1. 80 Meter High Clock Tower
One of the main icons in this area is the 80-meter Gentala Arasy Tower. This tower is equipped with a large clock on each side that functions as a prayer time indicator for Muslims. Not only a time marker, this tower is also an important symbol for the city of Jambi, showing how religion and culture are integrated into the daily lives of the local community.
2. Gentala Arasy Tower Museum
Inside the tower, there is the Gentala Arasy Museum which contains various historical collections about the development of Islam in Jambi. Visitors can find various artifacts, such as photographs of scholars, works of art, and educational and literary manuscripts related to Islamic history.
This museum is perfect for visitors who want to gain insight into the history of religion in this city and is one of the important educational places.
3. Jambi’s culinary specialties
After exploring the bridge and museum, it would not be complete if you did not try the local culinary delights around the Gentala Arasy Bridge. At the end of the bridge, there are various vendors selling Jambi’s specialties.
Some of the culinary delights that are worth trying include snapper head curry, fried catfish, and various other dishes. Enjoying food with a beautiful view of the Batanghari River is certainly an unforgettable experience.
4. The beauty of the Batanghari River
Batanghari River, which is the longest river in Sumatra, has an important history as a trade route in the past. From the Gentala Arasy Bridge, visitors can enjoy the view of the vast river, with calm water currents and a cool atmosphere. This river is also one of the important landmarks for the city of Jambi.
Location & Entrance Ticket Price for Gentala Arasy Bridge
Gentala Arasy Bridge has two easily accessible entrances. The first gate is located at Menara Gentala Arasy, which is located on Jalan KH. M. Ja’far, Arab Melayu, Pelayangan, Jambi City.
While the other entrance is on Jalan Raden Pamuk, which is close to Jambi Market. Both entrances can be accessed by public transportation, online transportation, or private vehicles.
To enter the Gentala Arasy Bridge, visitors are not charged a fee. This bridge is part of the public facilities provided by the government. However, if you want to visit the Gentala Arasy Tower Museum, there is a very affordable ticket price:
- Children: Rp. 2,000
- Adults: Rp. 3,000
- Foreign tourists: Rp. 5,000
Facilities at Gentala Arasy Bridge
The facilities in the Gentala Arasy Bridge area are quite complete. At the second entrance, there is a food court and a large parking area. However, access for disabled visitors or wheelchair users is not yet available, because to get to the bridge, visitors must climb a number of stairs.
However, other facilities such as dining places, toilets, and rest areas are adequate to support visitor comfort. Gentala Arasy Bridge is one of the must-visit tourist destinations if you are in Jambi.
In addition to being a connecting route, this bridge offers a unique tourist experience with views of the Batanghari River, the magnificent Gentala Arasy Tower, and a Museum full of Islamic history collections.
Coupled with the diversity of Jambi’s culinary specialties that can be enjoyed around the bridge, a visit to Gentala Arasy and nearby Tourist Attractions in Bengkulu will certainly provide beautiful memories.