BUKITTINGGI CITY
Bukittinggi (Indonesian for "high hill") is one of the larger cities in West Sumatra, Indonesia, with a population of over 91,000 people and an area of 25.24 km². It is situated in the Minangkabau highlands, 90 km by road from the West Sumatran capital city of Padang. It is located at 0°18′20″S 100°22′9″E, near the volcanoes Mount Singgalang (inactive) and Mount Marapi (still active). At 930 m above sea level, the city has a cool climate with temperatures between 16.1°-24.9°C.
The city currently has extensive bukittinggi + 25 239 km 2 located in the middle of West Sumatra Province with an altitude between 909 M - 941 M above sea level. Temperatures range from 17, 1o C to 24.9 o C, an air of cool climate. Strategic position is a triangle crossings leading to the north, east and south Sumatra.
The city's topography is hilly and panoramic berlembah with the electronic nature and surrounded by three mountains, Merapi and Sago Singgalang buffer was as a milestone for the strengthening of Bukittinggi. This is what causes Bukittinggi also referred to as the "City Tri Arga".
Additionally, Bukittinggi is also equipped with a relic of history that can diketgorikan as such wonders, Lobang Japan, fortress Fort de Kock, at Gadang etc. This proves the old town of Bukittinggi as laden with history, one that is always attached to the history of the nation namely: Bukittinggi became the capital city during the Emergency Government of the Republic in December 1949 - July 1950.
The gift of nature that is supported by the gift of this history, causing Bukittinggi become an attractive tourist destination to be enjoyed. Synergies with other derah excellent potential. Bukittinggi also developed into a tourist trade and services, health tourism, conference tourism and resorts and other services. This can be evidenced by the contribution of the tourism sector to carry the PAD Bukittinggi namely: between 30-40%.
History
Fort de Kock in 182
The city has its origins in five villages which served as the basis for a marketplace.
The city was known as Fort de Kock during colonial times in reference to the Dutch outpost established here in 1825 during the Padri War. The fort was founded by Captain Bauer at the top of Jirek hill and later named after the then Lieutenant Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Hendrik Merkus de Kock. The first road connecting the region with the west coast was built between 1833 and 1841 via the Anai Gorge, easing troop movements, cutting the costs of transportation and providing an economic stimulus for the agricultural economy. In 1856 a teacher-training college (Kweekschool) was founded in the city, the first in Sumatra, as part of a policy to provide educational opportunities to the indigenous population. A rail line connecting the city with Payakumbuh and Padang was constructed between 1891 and 1894.
During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia in World War II, the city was the headquarters for the Japanese 25th Army, the force which occupied Sumatra. The headquarters was moved to the city in April 1943 from Singapore, and remained until the Japanese surrender in August 1945.
Mosque in central Bukittinggi
During the Indonesian National Revolution, the city was the headquarters for the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI) from December 19, 1948 to July 13, 1949. During the second 'Police Action' Dutch forces invaded and occupied the city on December 22, 1948, having earlier bombed it in preparation. The city was surrendered to Republican officials in December 1949 after the Dutch government recognized Indonesian sovereignty.
The city was officially renamed Bukittinggi in 1949, replacing its colonial name. From 1950 until 1957, Bukittinggi was the capital city of a province called Central Sumatra, which encompassed West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi. In February 1958, during a revolt in Sumatra against the Indonesian government, rebels proclaimed the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI) in Bukittinggi. The Indonesian government had recaptured the town by May the same year.
A group of Muslim men had planned to bomb a cafe in the city frequented by foreign tourists in October 2007, but the plot was aborted due to the risk of killing Muslim individuals in the vicinity.Since 2008 the city administration has banned Valentine's Day and New Year's celebrations as they consider them not in line with Minangkabau traditions or Islam, and can lead to "immoral acts" such as young couples hugging and kissing.
Administration
Goverment building
More popularly known as Balai Kota (City Hall), located at Bukit Gulai tangga124 Bancah which was inaugurated in January 2005 by Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. (Ret.) H. Mohd. Ma'aruf, SE. This place has a very beautiful location and the height can be looked at Bukittinggi city from all directions and some say "Putra Jaya 'Bukittinggi.
Bukittinggi is divided in 3 subdistricts (kecamatan), which are further divided into 5 villages (nagari) and 24 kelurahan. The subdistricts are:
Guguk Panjang, Mandiangin Koto Selayan, and Aur Birugo Tigo Baleh.
Transportation
Bukittinggi is connected to Padang by road, though a dysfunctional railway line also exists. For inner-city transport, Bukittinggi employs a public transportation system known as Mersi (Merapi Singgalang) and IKABE that connect locations within the city. The city also still preserves the traditional horse-cart widely known in the area as Bendi, although the use is limited and more popular to be used as vehicle for tourist, both domestic and foreign.
Tourism
It is a city popular with tourists due to the climate and central location. Attractions within the city include:
(Ngarai Sianok) Sianok Canyon
Lobang Jepang (Japanese Caves)
a network of underground bunkers & tunnels built by the Japanese during World War II
"Lubang Jepang" or Japanese holes is a tunnel, the Japanese army built it around the second world war in Bukittinggi, West Sumatera, Indonesia. It have a length of approximately 1400 m (725 m because it is partially closed in 2004, 2 m wide and height about 3 m. Meanwhile, to enter and exit the tunnel there are 3 main door and 6 emergency door. There are 3 doors in the main road of Sianok Canyon, in
the Panorama Park and on the side of the Bung Hatta Palace ( Triarga Building).
For now only one door that is used for the public, the doors located in Panorama Park, while the 2 doors and 6 doors emergency closed.
In Lubang Japang alley there are some that ramify. Previously, the alleys used for various purposes, such as meeting place, a place to eat, sleep rooms, military barracks and detention space. There are 12 rooms that are used for military barracks; 12 room for the bed; 6 rooms for ammunition, 2 rooms for food, 1 room for romusha and the room for the hearing. The spaces of any room is still well and can be visited by the tourists until now .
In Lubang Japang, you can still be found various types of equipment that leave by Japanese army, that used to torment the prisoners during the second world war. Equipment is stored in one of the lane that is estimated as a place of torture.
Other Interesting Objects Around Lubang Japang
After you have finished around the Lubang Japang, you can take tired-sit while sitting in the tourism object Panorama Park with a view of the natural beauty of the Sianok Canyon that spread wide in front of the eye. Accidental, Lubang Japang
one is in the same location with the tourism object Bukittinggi City named Taman Panorama or Panorama Park.
Not far from Lubang Japang, there is a Museum of Indonesia Struggle. In this place, you will see evidence of the people the history of resistance against the imperialist West Sumatra. The struggle of a nation trip, which expresed in various media, whether photos, objects and document. You does not need to use the vehicle to go to this place. Simply walk from Panorama Park, only about 100m.
How to Go to Lubang Japang
We assume you just stop at Minangkabau International Airport in Padang. To reach this location, you must go to Bukittinggi city. From the city of Padang to Bukittinggi, travel can be more or less for 2 hours by using general transport, with the cost around Rp. 15,000-Rp 20,000 per person (March 2008). After reaching the Bukittinggi city, travel can proceed with use city transportation to the location Lubang Japang. To anticipate your transportation, the tourists are encouraged
to use the travel service, private cars or hire car which can be directly to the tourism object location. Entrance ticket price is Rp. 5.000, - for children, and Rp. 8000, - for adults.
How to Find Food and Lodging
Due to the location of Lubang Japang in the center of Bukittinggi City, the tourists from outside area who want to stay overnight in hotels in the area of the city. You can select the hotel according to your ability. Ranging between Rp.75.000 .- until Rp.300.000, - for one night, until the class Rp.1.500.000, - a night there. You will not distress to get it. Again, you can just live walk from Lubang Japang only about 300 m.
For the food, the tourists are pampered by the variety of cuisine. Kapau Rice become one of the menu is interesting to try that are in the Pasar Lereng (on the side of the main traditional market) in Bukittinggi. One portion with enough money around Rp.10.000. After completed the Lubang Japang, you can do shopping in the Pasar Atas. Here you will find a variety of unique souvenirs of the regions of West Sumatra.
Jam Gadang (Clock Tower)
a large clock tower built by the Dutch in 1926.
clock Tower is the designation for a tower clock located in the heart of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra Province. Clock Tower is the name given to the Minangkabau community building clock tower, because it has a clock tower was a "large sieve", or "at large" (at large sieve = large clock; "large sieve" means big in Minangkabau language).
In such a phenomenal building clock tower is called the Clock Tower was built at the time, so that since the establishment of the Clock Tower has become the focus of every person. It also resulted in the Clock Tower used as a marker or landmark of Bukittinggi and also as one of the icons of West Sumatra province.
Clock Tower was built in 1926 by architect Yazid Sutan Gigi Ameh. This clock is a gift from the Dutch Queen to Rook Maker, Controleur (City Secretary) Bukittinggi on the Government of the Netherlands East Indies first. Laying the first stone at this do Rook Maker's first son who was then aged 6 years.
Ground-plan (building footprint following the steps overlooking the Upper Market) from Clock Tower is 13x4 meters while the height 26 meters.
Clock Tower is engaged in mechanical and consists of four hour / four hour advance overlooking the four corners of the wind direction with each face at a diameter of 80 cm.
This clock tower has undergone several changes in shape at the peak. At first peak of this clock tower is round and on it stands a statue of a rooster. When you sign colonize Indonesia, the Japanese occupation government to change it to shape pagoda top. At the time of independence, the shape changed again into ornaments Minangkabau traditional house.
Development of the Clock Tower is said to spend a total cost of construction of about 3,000 Gulden, costs classified fantastic for the size of the time. But it paid off with the famous Clock Tower is a landmark that once a symbol or icon of Bukittinggi. Clock Tower is also set as the zero point of Bukittinggi.
There is a uniqueness of Roman figures at the Clock Tower face this. When writing Roman numerals usually include the symbol "IV" to symbolize the four roman numbers, the Clock Tower is labeled with the number four roman under the symbol "IIII" (usually IV).
Market
Traditional markets in downtown.
Pasar (Traditional market) in Bukittinggi City, West Sumatra Province, comprises Pasar Atas, Pasar Bawah, and Pasar Aung Kuning. As the centre for economic activities in Bukittinggi, many people come to the location for selling, trading and having social relationship with other people. The local government of Bukittinggi has been planned those ...
Taman Bundo Kanduang (Bundo Kanduang park).
The park includes a replica Rumah Gadang (literally: big house, with the distinctive Minangkabau roof architecture) used as a museum of Minangkabau culture, and a zoo.
The Dutch hilltop outpost Fort de Kock is connected to the zoo by the Limpapeh pedestrian overpass.
Kebun Binatang Kinantan (Kinantan Zoo)
the north end of Jalan Jend A Yani runs between two hills that have recently been linked by a footbridge. On top of the hill to the west is Fort de Kock, built by the Dutch in 1825 as a defensive site during the Padri Wars. Very little of the fort remains apart from a few rusting cannons and a moat. The centre of the decaying fortifications is dominated by a water tower. However, the views of the town and the surrounding countryside are worth the trip (although trees are beginning to obscure the view). To the east, and linked by a footbridge, on the other side of Jalan Jend A Yani, is Bukittinggi’s high point, Taman Bundokandung – ‘Kind-Hearted Mother Park’. The park contains both a museum and a zoo. The Bukittinggi zoo (daily 0730-1700, fort and zoo: 5000Rp (8000Rp on public holidays)) is hardly a lesson in how to keep animals in captivity, but it does have a reasonable collection of Sumatran wildlife, including orang-utans and gibbons. Within the zoo is a museum (daily 0730-1700, 1000Rp) established in 1935 and the oldest in Sumatra. The collection is housed in a traditional rumah adat, or Minangkabau clan house, embellished with fine woodcarvings and fronted by two rice barns. The museum specializes in local ethnographic exhibits, including fine jewellery and textiles, and is not very informative. There are also some macabre stuffed and deformed buffalo calves here.
Jembatan Limpapeh (Limpapeh bridge)
the Limpapeh bridge connects the zoo with fort fort De Kock. In Bukittinggi,
Museum Rumah Kelahiran Bung Hatta (Museum of Bung Hatta Birthplace)
the house where Indonesian founding father Mohammad Hatta was born, now a museum.
Mohammad Hatta was born in
Bukittinggi on 12 August 1902 into a prominent and strongly
Islamic family. His grandfather was a respected
ulema in
Batuhampar, near
Payakumbuh. His father, Haji Mohammad Djamil, died when he was eight months old and he was left with his six sisters and his mother. As in the
matrilineal society of
Minangkabau tradition, he was then raised in his mother's family. His mother's family was wealthy, and Hatta was able to study
Dutch as well as finishing
Qur'an after school
Motto
Motto: Saayun Salangkah
(in english: Same turn, same step)
Location of Bukittinggi in Indonesia
Coordinates: 0°18′20″S 100°22′9″ECoordinates: 0°18′20″S 100°22′9″E
Country : Indonesia
Province :West Sumatra
Area
- Total :25.24 km2 (9.7 sq mi)
Elevation :930 m (3,051 ft)
Population :(2000)
- Total :91,983
- Density :3,644/km2 (9,437.9/sq mi)
Time zone :WIB (UTC+7)
