Bukit Lawang

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Shot of Bukit Lawang village in June 2006. Damage to river is seen. Many buildings on the left bank in the picture are new as previous ones were destroyed

The tourist village of Bukit Lawang, in North Sumatra, Indonesia, is the main access point for the rainforests of the Gunung Leuser National Park. Visitors can see Orangutans at the nearby rehabilitation centre and for jungle treks. Bukit Lawang is situated 86 km by road north-west of Medan, passing through Tanjung Langkat, Binjai, Bohorok nestling on the banks of the Bohorok river.

A flash flood hit Bukit Lawang during November 2003, killing a substantial proportion of the village and destroying nearly all the buildings including tourist hotels.^[1] Ironically , construction was already underway to move the village away from the river's edge, where it had been constructed without government permission.

Tourism has significantly declined as a result of the flood and tourist fears of terrorism in Indonesia. As at April, 2006, however, the orangutan rehabilitation centre along with many hotels remain open for business.