Fort Marlborough, The Largest British Fort in Southeast Asia

I was very lucky to have been visiting Fort Marlborough, the famous historical heritage in Bengkulu Province of Indonesia. You know, it's a British heritage which is very far from England. It's in Bengkulu Province. Bengkulu is a region in a part of Indian Ocean coastal located in Sumatra Island. I was a perfect place to build a fort during colonization in the region hundreds years ago.

Fort Marlborough is located at the west coast of Bengkulu. It faces Bengkulu City and back to Indian Ocean. The fort was built in 1714-1741. It was an important fort for British goverment.

I and my family visited this fort several times when I was working in the province. Usually, we came here at late afternoon to evening to waiting for sunset. It's a perfect place to enjoy the sunset in Indian Ocean.

Fort Marlborough has been a famous tourism destination in the western part of Sumatra Island. International and local tourist visiting this place every day since it's open all days of the year.

We just need to pay ticket IDR 2,000 to enter to the fort. After having ticket on our hands, we got into the fort through a wooden bridge.

Upon arriving inside the fort, we just find a spacious ground surrounded by buildings. It's a huge place, indeed. The historical fact show that Fort Marlborough is the largest fortress ever built by the British during their colonialism in Southeast Asia. What a surprice fact! I was so amazed to be there.

It was built in style of 20th century of British architecture. I believe we could find plenty of buildings that look like the fort. Unfortunately, I have to cancel my trip to United Kingdom this June due to Covid-19 Outbreak.

According to historical record, the fort was not only for bastion of defence, but also for office center and prison. I believe most of British official activities was centered here in the fort.

We started walking inside the fort, inhaling aroma of historical smell. We stepped on the path while imagining the activities here long time ago. I look the walls are so solid and high. Several old cannons are placed in the field faced to the west.

Frankly, my family and I were very grateful to visit this historical heritage. My children could also witnessed the greatest fort ever built by British during colonialism in Souteast Asia. We stepped to the field, we were sitting there in the grass to enjoy afternoon breeze.

It the late afternoon we just stepped the ladder to the highest part of the fort to enjoy the sunset.

It's indeed a perfect place to view sunset and Indian Ocean from here. So, it's reasonable why The British built Fort Marlborough here.

I highly recommend to visit Fort Marlborough after Covid-19 Pandemic solved. Bengkulu is a nice place, you could visit many other historical destinations such as Fatmawati’s house and Soekarno’s House. And you will also enjoy Pantai Panjang Beach. It’s a white sanded-beach which is 7 kms in length. It would be a perfect travel experience to visit Bengkulu.

Warm regard,
@razack-pulo

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