BUKITTINGI
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.
History
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.
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, kissing and not to mention fornicating.
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.
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)
( picture ngarai sianok)
- Lobang Jepang (Japanese Caves) - a network of underground bunkers & tunnels built by the Japanese during World War II
picture of japanese caves
- Jam Gadang - a large clock tower built by the Dutch in 1926.
Each clock face has a diameter of 80 centimeters. Its base is 13 metres long and 4 metres wide, and it stands 26 metres tall.One unique feature of the clock is that it uses "IIII" for the number 4 instead of the traditional Roman number "IV". Based on a local story, the figure four made of four vertical lines represents the four persons who died while constructing the building.The laying of the Jam Gadang cornerstone was done by the 6-year-old son of Rook Maker, the city secretary of Bukittinggi at the time.
- 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 Bridge pedestrian overpass.
*Rumah gadang (Minangkabau: "big house") - or more correctly called by Minangkabau people rumah bagonjong (Minangkabau: "house with horn-like roof") - are the traditional homes (Indonesian: "rumah adat") of the Minangkabau. The architecture, construction, internal and external decoration, and the functions of the house reflect the culture and values of the Minangkabau. A rumah gadang serves as a residence, a hall for family meetings, and for ceremonial activities. With the Minangkabau society being matrilineal, the rumah gadang is owned by the women of the family who live there - ownership is passed from mother to daughter.
The houses have dramatic curved roof structure with multi-tiered, upswept gables. Shuttered windows are built into walls incised with profuse painted floral carvings. The term
rumah gadang usually refers to the larger communal homes, however, smaller single residences share many of its architectural elements.
*Limpapeh bridge is a bridge in over Ahmad Yani street, Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. This bridge has a length of 90 meters and width of 3.8 meters. Fort de Kock fortification is connected to the Bukittinggi zoo by this bridge.
* Museum Rumah Kelahiran Bung Hatta (Museum of Bung Hatta Birthplace) - the house where Indonesian founding father Mohammad Hatta was born, now a museum.
*Bung Hatta Library is a comprehensive library, located at Bukit Curried Bancah exactly in the western part of the Office of City Hall. The national standard library is named Bung Hatta Library and equipped with audio visual facilities, conference rooms, auditoriums and mushalla. Meeting Room on the 3rd floor that is also rented out for various events such as weddings, etc. Built on a land area of 5609 m² of this library is a twin brother with the national library in Blitar.
*Wildlife Parks and Cultural Kinantan or better known as the Zoo. This tourist attraction was built in 1900 by a Dutch named Controleur Strom Van Govent the Dutch. Then in 1929 the zoo made by Dr. J. Hock and is the only zoo in West Sumatra, and is the oldest zoo in Indonesia. In the middle of tourist sites have shaped the Cultural Museum of Minangkabau traditional house, the Museum of Zoology and children's playground.
*In front of panorama Park there is a museum called the Museum of Power Tri Eka Dharma. This museum is one means of communication between generations to pass on the values of the fighting 45. In this museum we can see historical relics such as aircraft, weapons, means of communication as well as photographs during the struggle against colonial Dutch and Japanese and others.
*Palace of Bung Hatta or Arga Tri State Building is located at the center of Bukittinggi precisely in front of the Clock Tower park. Formerly, in 1946 the building was in use as the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia first, Drs. Mohammad Hatta, and In 1947 the building was made as the Central Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia. Now, name the building was replaced with a building of Bung Hatta Palace of to commemorate the services of Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia.
Real Name: Jung Yun Ho (정윤호)
Real Name: Kim Jae Joong (김재중)
