Jambi is one of the three provinces in Indonesia that share the name of its provincial capital. Located on the east coast of Sumatera, this historical city was a Malacca Strait trading post for the Sriwijaya dynasty, before it was ceased by the Dutch in the 19th century. Small remnants from the Sriwijaya kingdom still remain today, and can be found at the ancient Muaro Jambi temple site. The location is recognized as a world heritage site, dating back before the 7th century. The Jambi administration is currently building a large elephant habitat, to ease the conflict between wild elephants and locals.
Not only the largest city in West Sumatra, Padang is also the capital of the province. Its famous for its delicious spicy Padang cuisine which includes the world renowned "beef rendang" as voted by CNNGo.com. A historical city, steeped in Minangkabau culture assimilated with a thick Islamic heritage. Many historical buildings from the time of the Dutch occupation can still be found around the city and the traditional long houses or "Rumah Gadang" can also still be found.