Rengat is a historical city with a myriad of stories in every corner of the city. As an old city, Rengat was also the center of a Malay kingdom called the Indragiri Kingdom.
The historical evidence proves the existence of the Indragiri Kingdom at that time, one of which is the existence of Raja Lake. Raja Lake, which is right on the edge of Rengat District, is a special attraction for the surrounding community or people outside of the Indragiri Hulu Regency (Inhu).
Apart from offering beauty, the myths that are hidden behind the Raja Lake are also an attraction for curious visitors to find out about it. Raja Lake is located on the edge of Rengat District which is the capital of Indragiri Hulu Regency. From Pekanbaru, it can take three to four hours to get to Rengat District.
Upon arrival at Rengat, visitors will be immediately greeted with a stretch of water and green trees that surround Raja Lake.
Here, the visitors can enjoy the breeze blowing, under the shade of big tree branches. Raja Lake is inseparable from its legendary historical background. Previously, the name of Raja Lake was Seliku Lake, which means cape.
The formation of Raja Lake itself was due to the process of natural evolution, namely the silting of the Indragiri River. Even so, it cannot be explained when the process of forming the Raja Lake became a lake. On the shores of Raja Lake, there was once the Indragiri Royal Palace, during the reign of Sultan Isa Mudoyat Syah 24 in the 18th century.
In addition to being a bathing place for the King’s daughter, there is a myth that says that in Raja Lake there is a magical palace that is inhabited by a creature in the form of a yellow crocodile.
This myth makes some people think that Raja Lake is a sacred place. This myth also becomes real. One of them is that the lake water will not overflow or be flooded when heavy rains hit and it will not dry out even though the long drought hits.
This myth has also become the consumption of most Inhu people, especially those who live in the Rengat District.
The existence of Raja Lake has now turned into a mainstay tourist attraction in the Indragiri Hulu Regency.
