Batusangkar (batu: stone, rock, sangkar: cage) is the capital of the Tanah Datar regency of West Sumatra, Indonesia.
The town is near the former seat of the Minangkabau royalty established by Adityawarman in Pagaruyung, represented by the reconstructed Pagaruyung Palace. A number of stones bearing inscriptions (batu bersurat) left by Adityavarman that remain in the region are the first written records in West Sumatra. After the death of Adityavarman (1375 ) no more stone inscriptions were produced.
The town was known as Fort Van der Capellen during colonial times, when it was a Dutch outpost established during the Padri War (1821-37). The fort was built between 1822 and 1826 and named after the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Godert van der Capellen. The city was officially renamed Batusangkar in 1949, replacing its colonial name.
