The picturesque town of Berastagi in the beautiful Karo highlands, is 70 kms from Medan on the way to Lake Toba.
Situated at an altitude of 1300m, the town has a cool climate, ranging
between 17 to 20 degrees Centigrade, making a refreshing break from the
heat of the city. Days are extremely pleasant while nights can be quite
cool.
The town developed in the 1920’s as Dutch hill station and today has become a popular weekend destination for Medan residents. The landscape here is dominated by distant views of the smoking
volcanoes Mt. Sinabung and Mt.Sibayak. On the western edge of the town,
Gunaling Hill rises above the surrounding plateau to provide some
spectacular views of these two towering volcanoes.
Berastagi is famous for its flowers, vegetables and fruits and its
markets constantly hum with activity. The most famous produce probably
Marquisa or passion fruit. Sweet oranges are another delicious
specialty. Berastagi's produce also exported to Singapore and Malaysia
are: cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, red chili, and eggplant. The
local markets swarm with people doing business and selling their wares.
Here you will see scenes from traditional Karo life as well as
everything from jungle miracle cures and second hand shoes on sale.