It is said that Siguntang Hill is believed to be the last resting place of King Si Gentar Alam, one of the Kings of Srivijaya from Ancient Mataram. Before being a hill, Siguntang is believed to have been part of the lowlands of Limbang Tanah Melayu (the name of Palembang at that time). However, due to natural occurances, the lowlands were covered in water, so that islands and mountains were formed under the seas and the oceans.
At that time it is believed that a king of Ancient Mataram with the title Si Gentar Alam went sailing looking for land in order to expand his kingdom. He sailed by a ship under the flag of Lancang Kuning and accompanied by Field Commanders Bagus Kuning and Bagus Karang. There were 3 boats in all.
Suddenly, perhaps because they didn't know the terrain well they were seperated. Two boats were shipwrecked. One was found in Karang Anyar area, near Palembang in the coastal River Musi. The other was found in Siguntang. Siguntang Hill was only a heap of earth floating on the surface of the sea (in Malay floating is terguntang-guntang), and so the place became known as Siguntang.
Si Gentar Alam ruled Srivijaya at the height of its glory. During the VI-IX Centuries, Srivijaya's influence was felt in Bali, Padang, Jambi, Lampung, Malacca, Singapore, China, and Brunei. Due to the strength of his rule, King Si Gentar Alam is described as so powerful, that when he was angry and stamped his feet, the earth would shake. His title was taken from these myths (The One who could move nature).
From the 10th to the 13th Centuries, the Srivijaya empire, governed from the banks of the Musi River, began to decline. King Si Gentar Alam became a follower of Islam, brought by the Arab traders such as Field Commander Batu Api from Jeddah and Lord Junjungan. After this, King Si Gentar Alam was given the Muslim name, Lord Iskandar Syah. He visited Malacca, accompanied by his two wives, Princess Rambut Selako whose original name was Damar Kencana Wungu, the daughter of Prabu Brawijaya of Mataram, and Princess Kembang Dadar of Palembang, also known as Princess Bunga Melur.
The land floating on the surface of the water slowly began to resemble a hill, as the water levels dropped, so that Siguntang hill is now a small hill in Palambang. This hill is part of the Taman Bukit Sigantang (Siguntang Hill Park). Besides being able to see the graves of some of the important rulers of the Srivijaya Empire, visitors can study the history of the Srivijaya Empire by looking at the stone reliefs arround King Si Gentar Alam's grave, as well listen to the guide's stories. Enjoy your visit to Palembang!
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