The city was once the capital of the ancient partly Hindu partly Buddhist kingdom of Srivijaya (Sriwijaya) that controlled a large part of what is now Malaysia and Indonesia. Following a 1025 raid by the Chola Empire of southern India it began to gradually decline in importance. Srivijaya’s capital eventually moved northward to Jambi.
Records of its beginning are scarce while estimations range from the 3rd to 5th centuries CE[citation needed], but the earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6 months; the Kedukan Bukit Inscription is dated 683. The kingdom ceased to exist between 1200 and 1300 due to various factors, including the expansion of Majapahit. In Sanskrit, sri means “shining” or “radiant” and vijaya means “victory” or “excellence”.
Makara portal guardian at Candi Gumpung in Muaro Jambi Palembang is also the origin of Parameswara, the ruler of Malacca (a state in Malaysia) who established the most important empire in Malaysian history.
The Famous Ampera Bridge
