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 / 0.30556°S 100.36917°E / -0.30556; 100.36917, 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.
History
Fort de Kock in 1826
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 Cental 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
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.
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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
- Jam Gadang – a large clock tower built by the Dutch in 1926.
- Pasar Atas and Pasar Bawah – traditional markets in downtown.
- Taman 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.
- Museum Rumah Kelahiran Bung Hatta (Museum of Bung Hatta Birthplace) – the house where Indonesian founding father Mohammad Hatta was born, now a museum.
Notable nearby destinations include Lake Maninjau and the Harau Valley.
Tourism Object
Bukittinggi is a famous tourism destination in West Sumatra province, with cozy weather and beautiful landscape. About these month were a school holiday in Indonesia, it’s make Bukittinggi so crowded with a local tourism, mostly kids and their families. The tourism objects in Bukittinggi city:
1. Kinantan Zoo
It built at Holland tyrant in 1990, it’s named Stormpark di atas Bukit Cubadak Bungkuak. It built by Conteleur Gravenzande who worked in Bukittinggi. At first, it has animal’s collection yet.
2. Sianok Canyon
In Bukittinggi city there are Panorama Park and the Japanese hole. From here, travelers can view Sianok Canyon. Valley walls visible from a distance, it’s beautiful unmatched. No wonder if the world tourists flock to Sianok Canyon to witness and capture the natural feel that very curvy.
In the Sianok Canyon there also Japan Hole, in Japanese colonial era become tunnel for defense purposes. Now it has been revitalized, so that visitors can go down into the tunnel at the end can directly view Sianok canyon from the floor.
3. Jam Gadang
Jam Gadang (“Jam” mean Clock, and “Gadang” mean “Massive” in the Minangkabau language) is a clock tower situated in the heart of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. How phenomenal of Jam Gadang for domestic and foreign tourists, making it is as a landmark of Bukittinggi and also be one of West Sumatra icons.
Jam Gadang was built in 1926 by architects Yazid Sutan Dental Ameh. This clock was a gift from the Dutch Queen to Rook Maker- the Bukittinggi Controleur. Jam Gadang built without iron supports and mortar, but with a mixture of lime, egg whites, and white sand. The clock’s diameter is 80 centimeters, the base’s dimension is 13 metres in length and 4 meters wide, and it stands 26 meters tall.
The clocktower has undergone several changes in the form at the top. During the Dutch colonial period, the heyday of Jam Gadang installed with rooster statue. However, when the Dutch were defeated and change by Japanese colonialists, the top replaced with pagoda. Furthermore when Indonesian independence period, the top of Jam Gadang replaced with traditional Bagonjong roof – Minangkabau traditional house.
Construction of Jam Gadang spend cost of 3,000 Guilder. One unique feature of Jam Gadang is that it uses the “IIII” for the number 4 instead of its traditional Roman Number “IV”.
4. Rumah Gadang Museum
where you can see the Minangkabau’s art and culture.
5. Limpapeh Bridge
The bridge which is connecting the zoo and the fortress, from this bridge you can watch the view of Bukittinggi city with two famous mountain background on both side; the Marapi mountain and Singgalang mountain.
6. Fort De Kock
The Dutch Fortress which establish to conquer the Minangkabau’s civil war, and some canons. Fort De Kock itself was taken after the name of Commander Baron Hendrick Markus De Kock.
For note:To come to this zoo area we will be charging about Rp. 5,000.00/ person; at the museum we will charging about Rp. 1,000.00/ person. And for kids, on the fort De Kock, there are a riding horses around the fortress, and it will charging about Rp. 5,000.00/ child.
It is not to hard to find Bukittinggi Zoo area, because it is situate in the center of Bukittinggi city, from the famous Jam Gadang we can just go for a walk to the zoo area. Bukittinggi Zoo area is a cozy place for families gathering, sightseeing, and for culture and history tourism.
The Food in Bukittinggi
1. Itiak Lado Mudo The Hot Spicy Food From Bukittinggi
When you are a fan of hot and spicy foof maybe you should eat Itiak Lado Mudo. Itiak Lado Mudo or Itiak Lado Ijau itself is a duck meat in green pepper curry. It is very hottest spicy food, just to remember that you have to brought a lot of tissues to wipe out your sweats. It is an angel but also a demon taste of food, even you try to watering the duck meat the hot and spicy flavor will not remove from it.
Everything so perfect, the hot spicy flavor and a soft duck meat are mingle in one tone taste, and also its will serve with a slice of cucumbers and karupuak jangek. Karupuak jangek is a chips from skin of cows.
Just come and taste the itiak lado mudo at Rumah Makan Ngarai which locate at Jalan Ngarai Binuang, Bukittinggi- Indonesia. It is at Ngarai Sianok bottom level exactly took place. Very nice place for your culinary tourism and also nature tourism, and don’t worry if you want to brought as a souvenir the frozen itiak lado mudo are serve to carry back home.
2. Rendang The Minang Cuisine
Rendang or ‘Randang’ in minang language is the famous cuisine from Minangkabau, not only in Indonesia but also at overseas. Rendang always served at Minangkabau ceremonial occasion, it is one of some peculiar foods that Minangkabau have. Rendang mostly made from beef, but sometimes chicken, duck, water buffalo, mutton or even some of vegetables like jack fruit also could be another kind of Rendang.
To make Rendang we need a lot of spices, which are: ginger, garlic, red anions, chillies (red and ghost chillies), lemon grass, galangal/ wild ginger, turmeric leaves, nutmeg and others. Then we need coconut milks to mix all spices with beef. Making wet Rendang or also known as ‘Kalio’ not take much time to cook. But when we want dried Rendang are need two or three days cooking, it can be kept for three or four months without moldy.
Hotel in Bukittinggi
1. The Hills Hotel Bukittinggi
- The Hills
This hotel provides a swimming pool, kid’s club, volley ball field, basket corner, table tennis, billiard, 7 Meeting rooms are available with 1 Convention Center up to 1000 persons, 24-hour Business Corner and WiFi access on public area (03/09 CB).All 98 rooms and suite have stunning views of Sianok canyon, town and the surrounding volcanoes. Medium in size rooms are adequately decorated and are in good condition. Not luxurious, but nevertheless rooms are comfortable. They feature TV with cable network, high speed internet connection (chargeable), coffee & tea maker, air condition, IDD telephone and mini bar. Hills Bukittinggi was formerly known as Novotel Bukittinggi Hotel. It is is located in the center of the mountainous town of Bukittinggi, only 60kms from Minangkabau International Airport and only 0 Kilometer from jam gadang (Clock Tower), as Land Mark of Bukittinggi. The open,air main restaurant features local Padang specialities, Indonesian dishes and International Cuisines. The resort is a perfect blend of Moorish and Minangkabau architectural styles. Lobby is large in size.
2. Pusako Hotel Bukittinggi
With its central location, Pusako Hotel is within easy reach of most tourist attractions and business addresses in Padang. The Pusako Hotel boasts a convenient location with modern amenities in every guestroom and superb service. Each of the hotel’s guestrooms offers inhouse movies, hair dryer, television, separate shower and tub, balcony/terrace, satellite/cable TV.Services and amenities available for guests at this Padang accommodation consist of meeting facilities , restaurant, family room. Hotel’s guests can experience on-site latest leisure and sports facilities such as outdoor pool .These top-class facilities are complemented to excellent services to meet the needs of visitors to Padang. For your reservation at the Pusako Hotel Padang, please select your dates of stay and fill in our secure online booking form.
3. Campago Resort Hotel Bukittinggi
Campago Resort Hotel distance 60KM from Minangkabau International Airport. 10 minutes drive to Clock Tower, the centre of Bukittinggi City. Our Hotel located top of the Campago Hill. So we can see view of the Merapi and Singgalang Mountain.
