The Land of Batak Karo

THE LAND OF BATAK KARO

By: Wendy Hutahaean

The Karo, or Karonese, are a Batak people of the 'tanah Karo' (Karo lands) of North Sumatra and a small part of neighbouring Aceh. The Karo lands consist of Karo Regency, plus neighbouring areas in East Aceh Regency, Langkat Regency, Dairi Regency, Simalungun Regency and Deli Serdang Regency.1 In addition, the cities of Binjai and Medan, both bordered by Deli Serdang Regency, contain significant Karo populations, particularly in the Padang Bulan area of Medan. The town of Sibolangit, Deli Serdang Regency in the foothills on the road from Medan to Berastagi is also a significant Karo town.

A.   Area of Batak Karo Kenjulu

Kabupaten Karo is the home of Batak Karo Ethnic. The people who live around Sinabung Mount and Sibayak Mount name the area as Taneh Karo Kenjulu. They have some differences in costum and habbit compare to other Batak Karo people. The area consists of:

1.    Kec. Berastagi

2.    Kec. Kabanjahe

3.    Kec. Tigapanah

4.   Kec. Barusjahe

5.    Kec. Merek

6.    Kec. Merdeka

7.    Kec. Dolan Rayat

B.   Area of Batak Karo Teruh Deleng

Batak Karo people who live in western area of Sinabung Mount and Sibayak Mount name the area where they live as Taneh Karo Teruh Deleng. This people have some differences compare to other Batak Karo people. The area consists of some districts of Kabupaten Karo, which are:

1.    Kec. Payung

2.    Kec. Simpang Empat

3.    Kec. Kutabuluh

4.    Kec. Mardingding

5.    Kec. Lau Belang

6.    Kec. Tiganderket

7.    Kec. Naman Teran

C.   Area of Batak Karo Singalor Lau

Southern part of Kabupaten Karo is the homeland of Batak Karo Ethnic. They name the place as Taneh Karo Singalor Lau. It covers southern part of Kabupaten Karo, which are:

1.    Kec. Juhar

2.    Kec. Tigabinanga

3.    Kec. Munte

D.   Area of Batak Karo Baluren

In eastern part of Kabupaten Dairi, on the border with Kabupaten Karo, there are Batak Karo homeland. They name this area as Taneh Karo Baluren. It covers some districts of Kabupaten Dairi, which are:

1.    Kec. Tanah Pinem

2.   Kec. Tigalingga

3.    Kec. Gunung Sitember

E.   Area of Batak Karo Bingei

The people who live in the southern part of Kabupaten Langkat are Batak Karo Ethnic. They name the area  as Taneh Karo Bingei. The area covers some districts (kecamatan) of Kabupaten Langkat, which are:     

1.    Kec. Bahorok

2.    Kec. Batangsarangan

3.    Kec. Salapian

4.    Kec. Stabat

5.    Kec. Binjai

6.    Kec. Selesai

7.    Kec. Sei (Lau) Bingai

8.    Kec. Kuala

9.    Kec. Kutambaru

10. Kec. Wampu

11. Kec. Serapit

F.    Area of Batak Karo Dusun

Batak Karo people have already existed in Kabupaten Deli Serdang long time before Melayu People come to that area. They name the area as Taneh Karo Dusun. It is covered some districts in southwest of Kabupaten Deli Serdang, which are:

1.    Kec. Biru-Biru

2.    Kec. Tanjongmorawa

3.    Kec. Hamparan Perak

4.    Kec. STM Hilir

5.    Kec. STM Hulu

6.    Kec. Kutambaru

7.    Kec. Sunggal

8.    Kec. Pancurbatu

9.    Kec. Sibolangit

10. Kec. Namborambe

G.   Area of Batak Karo Timur

In between Kabupaten Deli Serdang and Kabupaten Simalungun, there are Batak Karo Ethnics. The area where they live named as Taneh Karo Timur. which consist of some districts in southeast of Kabupaten Deli Serdang and some district in west of Kabupaten Simalungun:

1.    Kec. Lubuk Pakam (Kabupaten Deli Serdang)
2.    Kec. Bangun Purba (Kabupaten Deli Serdang)
3.    Kec. Galang (Kabupaten Deli Serdang)
4. Kec. Gunung Meriah (Kabupaten Deli Serdang)
5.    Kec. Dolok Silau (Kabupaten Simalungun)
6.    Kec. Silima Kuta (Kabupaten Simalungun)