Siak is one of the new regencies which formerly belonged to Bengkalis Regency. The area possesses numerous tourism objects and attraction, mainly in historical and cultural tourism. Siak Sri Indrapura, the main town of the Regency, was the central site of the former Siak Sultanate, the greatest Islamic Malay Kingdom ever in Riau. To this day, it remains to be the center of economic, cultural and governmental activities for the local community and its surrounding
The present royal palace of Siak was built during the reign of Sultan Assyayidis Syarief Hasyim Abdul Jalil Sysifuddin Syah (the 11th Sultan) in 1889 and was named Assirayatul Hasyimiah. Prior to its contraction, the Sultan took a tour to Europe, visiting the Netherlands and germany, Inspired by the European trip, the palace architecture shows influence of european style, harmoniously blended with that of Arab and traditional Malay's.
The interior of the palace is full of cultural objects of high art value, including the monarchy ceremonial objects, such as the gold plated crown with diamonds, the golden throne and personal items of Syarif Qasyim Sultan and his princess such as "Komet", a musical instrument of hundreds years old which they said, there are only 2 in the whole world. The Komet is still functioning up to this moment, playing master pieces of great composers such as Beethoven, Strauss and Mozart.
The establishment of Siak palace was also not free from myth story. They said, when the Sultan and all of the kingdom high authority were holding discussion to negotiate the plan of the palace establishment, suddenly a white dragon snake appeared from the surface of Siak river. The presence of that dragon was believed as a sign that such intention has been blessed and at the same time it was also a sign that sometime in the future, this sultanate will grow to a great kingdom.
In order to immortalize the presence of the dragon, the Sultan made that mystical creature as the official symbol of the kingdom. The palace pillars were also decorated with ornaments in form of dragons, so as to add the beauty and grandeur of the palace.
Aside from the grand palace and all its furnishing brought from Europe, the Sultan also founded a ball of assembly, named Balairung Sari, not far from the palace. Lying at the right of the main gate of Syahabuddin Mosque is the royal family cemetery, full with ornaments reflecting Islamic art