Jakarta Guide

The City

Jakarta has been called a study in contrasts: traditional and modern; rich and poor; spiritual and wordly stand side by side in this bustling metropolis. Among the 8 million people who call Jakarta home, one find representatives of the many diverse ethnic and cultural groups which shape Indonesia, a reminder of the nation’s motto: ‘Unity in Diverse’. You may have to search high and low in this multi-cultural collage to find one of the proud ethnic Jakartans, called "Orang Betawi".

Their language.Betawi Malay, has two variations, conventional Betawi Malay, spoken by elder people and bred in Jakarta, and modern Jakarta Malay, a slang form spoken by the younger generation and migrants.

Jakarta is the port of entry for many tourists and business people. It is home to a dynamic contrast between Western-style skyscrapers, modern urban life-styles and traditional Indonesian culture. It’s rapid growth into a metropolitan city reflects the economic, political, social and industrial development of the nation. In recent years, Jakarta has expanded its facilities for visitors with luxury hotels, fine restaurants, exciting nightlife and modern shopping centers. It contains many tourists attractions such as Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful ‘Indonesia in Miniature’ Park), restored colonial period buildings, island resorts in the Pula Seribu (Thousand Island), and an extensive beach recreation complex called Ancol.


History

The strategic position of Indonesia and its waterways between the Indian and Pacific Oceans has led to fascinating and complex cultural, religious, political and economic history.

Evidence of Indonesia's earliest inhabitants include fossils of "Java Man" (Pithecanthropus Erectus), which date back some 500,000 years, discovered near the village of Trinil in East Java by Dr. Eugene Dubois in 1809. Major migration movements to the Indonesian archipelago began about 3000 years ago as the Dongson Culture of Vietnam and southern China spread south, bringing with them new Stone, Bronze and Iron Age cultures as well as the Austronesian language. Their techniques of irrigated rice cultivation are still practiced throughout Indonesia today. Other remnants of this culture such as ritual buffalo sacrifice, erection of stone megaliths and ikat weaving are still visible in isolated areas across the archipelago.

Indonesia came under the influence of a mighty Indian civilization through the gradual influx of Indian traders in the first century, A.D., when great Hindu and Buddhist empires were beginning to emerge. By the seventh century, the powerful Buddhist Kingdom of Sriwijaya was on the rise, and it is thought that during this period the spectacular Borobudur Buddhist Temple was built in Central Java. The thirteenth century saw the dominance of the fabulous Majapahit Hindu empire in East Java, which united the whole of modern-day Indonesia and parts of the Malay peninsula, ruling for two centuries. Monuments across Java such as the magnificent Prambanan temple complex near Yogyakarta the mysterious Penataran temple complex in East Java and the ethereal temples of the Dieng Plateau are all that remain of this glorious period in Indonesia's history.

The first recorded attempt at armed invasion of Indonesia is credited to the notorious Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan, who was driven back in 1293. Arab traders and merchants laid the foundations for the gradual spread of Islam to the region, which did not replace Hinduism an Buddhism as the dominant religion until the end of the 16th century. A series of small Moslem kingdoms sprouted up and spread their roots, but none anticipated the strength and persistence of European invasions which followed.

In 1292, Marco Polo became one of the first Europeans to set foot on the islands, but it wasn't until much later that the Portuguese arrived in pursuit of spices. By 1509 Portuguese had established trading posts in the strategic commercial center of Malacca on the Malay peninsula. Their fortified bases and the inability of their enemies to unify against them allowed the Portuguese to control strategic trade routes from Malacca to Macau, Goa, Mozambique and Angola.

Inspired by the success Portuguese, the Dutch followed at the turn of the 16th century. They ousted the Portuguese from some of the easternmost islands, coming into conflict with another major European power, Spain which had confused its colonial interests in Manila. The Dutch expanded their control of the entire area throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Dutch East Indies, as it was known at this time, fell under British rule for a short period during the Napoleonic Wars of 1811-1816, when Holland was occupied by France, and Dutch power overseas was limited. While under British control the Lt. Governor for Java and its dependencies was Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who was known for his liberal attitude towards the people under colonial rule and his research on the history of Java.

With the return of the Dutch in 1816, a period of relative peace was interrupted by a series of long and bloody wars launched by the local people against the Dutch colonial government. The Indonesian nationalist and independence movements of the 20th century have their roots in this period. Upper and middle class Indonesians, whose education and contact with Western culture had made them more aware of colonial injustice, began mass movements which eventually drew support from the peasants and urban working classes.

The Japanese replaced the Dutch as rulers of Indonesia for a brief period during World War 2. The surrender of the Japanese in 1945 signalled the end of the Second World War in Asia and the start of true independence for Indonesia. With major changes in global consciousness about the concepts of freedom and democracy, Indonesia proclaimed its independence on August 17 of that same year.

The returning Dutch bitterly resisted Indonesian nationalist movements and intermittent fighting followed. Under the auspices of the United Nations at the Hague, an agreement was finally reached on December 9, 1949 officially recognizing Indonesia's sovereignty over the former Dutch East Indies.


Events

Wayang Orang (Dance Drama)
Performance of the Javanese Wayang Wong or Wayang Orang dance drama can be seen every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening at the Bharata Theatre starting at 8.15 pm. and lasting till about midnight. The stories of the Wayang Wong usually relate episode of the Mahabharata and Ramayana Hindu Epics.

Ketoprak
An offshoot of the Wayang Wong dance drama is the modern popular Javanese theatre which takes its stories from popular folk legends and from history. Like the Wayang Wong, the Ketoprak show is accompanied by gamelan music but is simpler in costumes and dialogue. Performances can be seen in Jakarta at the Bharata Theatre every Monday and Thursday evening, beginning at 8.00 pm.

Traditional Indonesian Dances
Performances of traditional Indonesian dances from the various regions are stages in Jakarta at Taman Mini (Indonesia in Miniature Park) every Sunday from 9.00 to 14.00 pm. and at the Ancol Art Market every Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

Wayang Kulit (Leather Puppet Shadow Play)
Wayang Kulit (leather puppet) shows are performed every second and last Saturday night of the month at the Central Museum in Jakarta. Abbreviated versions, lasting for about on hour, are also presented every Sunday morning at the Wayang Museum Fatahillah Square in downtown Jakarta.

Gamelan Music
Every Sunday morning Sundanese gamelan music of West Java is presented at the Central Museum in Jakarta.

Crocodile Farm
Daily shows with crocodiles at Jalan Tirta Loka, Pluit from 8.00 to 16.00 pm. with snakes and other animals every Sunday.

Pameran Seni Rupa (Art Exhibition)
Permanent exhibition at Balai Seni Rupa Jl. Taman Fatahillah Jakarta, open daily.

Oceanarium
Sea lion and dolphin shows at Taman Impian Jaya Ancol daily from 9.00 to 18.00 pm.

Keong Emas Imax Theatre, TMJI
The Imax film "Beautiful Indonesia" was initiated by the first Lady Madame Tien Soeharto, to present the beauty on the country from all different aspects. The film meant to make the people have more pride and affection for the country. The cinerama theatre screens "Beautiful Indonesia" Mondays through Fridays from 11.00 to 16.00, Sundays and holidays from 10.00 to 16.45 while on each Saturday performed a special theme.


Accommodation

The capital city has a wide choice of fine hotels which are managed by well known international chains. These include the Jakarta Hilton, The Mandarin Oriental, Sahid Jaya Hotel, Hotel Borobudur Inter-Continenetal, Aryaduta, Grand Hyatt, Hotel Sari Pan Pacific, Hotel Indonesia, President Hotel and independent hotels like Hotel Horison, Jayakarta Tower and Hotel Kartika Chandara.

The first five are rated five-star and the remainder four-star. All three and two-star hotels, in Jakarta have air-conditioned rooms, restaurants, bar, room service and laundry with a few exceptions. Most of those in the three-star, category have swimming pools, nightclubs and shopping arcades.

Most of the one-star hotels have conditioned rooms, with attached bathrooms telephones and restaurants.


Meeting Facilities

World class facilities, hotels and recreation options make Jakarta, where all of Indonesia has always gathered. a perfect meeting and convention venue.

A rapidly-developing metropolis of more than eight million people, with a rich 1500 year history. Jakarta is one of the most important cities in the booming Asia-Pacific region.

It is ideally situated in South-East Asia, with direct connections from the major cities in North Asia, Europe. North America and Australia.

Jakarta offers a range of quality venues, supported by a balanced mix of elegant 3 five-star hotels and quality three and four star establishments, making it ideal for small meetings and mega international conventions.

The city administration and the hospitality industry’s joint commitment to winning meetings and conventions business is demonstrated by the recently-established Jakarta Convention Bureau.

The new organisation is aggressively marketing Jakarta and ensuring that customer requirements are matched with the city’s facilities.

To accommodate large international conventions two major centres have been developed, the Jakarta Convention Center and the Jakarta Fair Grounds.

The entertainment and shopping facilities are as fine as those found in any other bustling, sophisticated city around the world.

There are numerous golf courses in the vicinity of Jakarta and most are championship standard.

Kota in the centre of old Batavia, the former Dutch colonial capital, offers an amazing slice of history. while the nearby Ancol beach resort and entertainment area has something to entertain everyone.

Just a short drive out of the city limits is the relaxed city of Bogor, which is famous for its botanical gardens. The nearby Javana Spa also offers a refined enclave nestled in cool, mountain surroundings.

Those who prefer marine activities would do well to consider The Thousand Islands, an enchanting group of islands stretching out into the Java Sea from the Bay of Jakarta.

The Jakarta Convention Center and The Jakarta Fair Grounds

With the Jakarta Fair Grounds and the Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia’s premier city can accommodate the largest international meetings and conventions.

The Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) is Indonesia’s biggest and best equipped venue.

It can house up to 5000 delegates at a single session, offer simultaneous interpreting systems in at least eight languages, together with multiple satellite links.

It is also surrounded by quality hotels, excellent golf courses and enchanting cultural and scenic diversions.

A low-rise building, the ICC was built for the 10th Non-Aligned Movement Summit, which took place in September 1992 and was attended by 54 national leaders and delegations from 109 countries.

Recently, it was the principal venue for the 1994 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum.

But while the JCC can readily host large gatherings, it is equally suited to small groups.

The facility also contains a number of small meeting rooms, as well as high-tech audiovisual systems and more than 2000 telephone lines.

Next door, the Senayan Sports Complex includes an 18-hole golf course, Olympic size swimming pools, 32 tennis courts, a fitness centre and other recreational facilities.

The Jakarta Fair Grounds, located at the former Kemayoran Airport, occupies more than 44 hectares and provides an integrated exhibition, convention and business meeting venue.

Designed to meet the needs of the worlds business community, the complex includes a six-storey Trade Mart that functions as a display window for Indonesia products, three large exhibition halls, an open exhibition space of 10.000 square metres, showrooms, conference, meeting and banquet facilities, cafés, restaurants, a business centre and a retail shopping area.

The skilled and experienced staff of both centres are dedicated to ensuring that meetings and conventions run smoothly and professionally.


Accessibility

As Indonesia’s main gateway, Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is the central transportation Hub of Indonesia. It serves a growing number of international airlines and is the nexus point for domestic flights across the vast expanse of the archipelago. Local transport of all forms within the city is readily available.


Attractions
Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is a sprawling cosmopolitan city where the modern and the traditional meet head on. There are fine museums and superb examples of colonial architecture, traditional temples and marketplaces as well as a plethora of antique shops, shopping malls, restaurants and discotheques.

Indonesian National Museum
Located on the west side of Merdeka square, the National Museum in Indonesia, if not South-east Asia. Established in 1778 by U.M.C. Rademacher under the auspices of the Batavia Association of Arts and Sciences, it offers historicals, prehistorical, archaelogical and ethnographic aspects of Indonesia through its extensive collection of artifacts and relics which date as far back as to the Stone Age. It has one of the most complete collections of bronzes and ceramics dating back to the Han, Tang and Ming Dynasties.

The Museum has one of the finest numismatic collections in the world. The religious art section is filled statuary and sculpture salvaged from sites of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic edifices. Its collection of Cultural instruments, household utensils, arts and crafts provide an introduction to the life of the various ethnic groups which populate Indonesia. This museum is popularly known as Gedung Gajah or "Elephant Building" because of the stone elephant offered by King Chulalongkorn of Thailand in 1871, placed on the front lawn of the building.

The National Monument (Monas)
The National Monuments one of the many monuments built during the Sukarno era of fierce nationalism. The 137-metre tall marble obelisk is topped with a flame coated with 35 kgs.of gold, and represents the people’s determination to achieve the freedom. It towers over Merdeka (Freedom) Square, and serves as Jakarta’s most prominent landmark. The monument is open to the public and houses a historical museum and meditation hall. An elevator carries visitors to the top, offering a bird’s eye view across the city to the sea.

Taman Ria Remaja Senayan
Located at Jalan Pintu VIII Senayan, this Park has a beautiful lake for boating, canoeing and paths for cycling. Other facilities for children include bumper cars, a miniature train and a merry-go-round. Evening entertainment features live music and popular local comedians. Open daily from 16.00 - 22.00 hrs, Saturday to midnight, Sundays and holidays from 08.00 – 22.00 hrs.

Satria Mandala Museum
The Museum of the Armed Forces displays exhibits on the development of the Indonesian Armed Forces, its role in the struggle for the nation’s independence, and other military relics. Open daily except Mondays.

Perintis Kemerdekaan Building and the Soerkarno-Hatta Monument
Both are located at Jalan Proklamasi 56, on the site of the former residence of the late President Soerkarno where the nation's Independence was proclaimed. By the Perintis Kemerdekaan Building stands the Soerkarno-Hattan Monument, in commemoration of the nation's first president and Vice President, who together proclaimed Independence on behalf of the Indonesian People. Open daily from 8.00 a.m.

Jalan Surabaya
This street is located in one of the city's 'upscale' residential areas and is well-known for its flea market. Stalls offer a wide range of goods, some of them antiquities, including ornate lamps, porcelain, brassware, handicrafts. Bargaining is necessary, as is the skill to distinguish true antiques from the 'instant antiques'.

Sunda Kelapa
Sunda Kelapa , also known as Pasar Ikan (Fish Market), is located in the far north of the city at the mouth of the Ciliwung river. This is where the Portuguese traded with the Hindu King dom of Pajajaran in the early 16th century. The fish catch of the day was auctioned in the early morning at the old fish market. The street leading to it was lined with shops selling all sort of shells, dehydrated turtles, lobsters and everything else the seafarer might need.

Dutch domination of Jakarta and the rest of Indonesia began from this area, and the remnants of Kasteel Batavia, an old fort and trading post of the Dutch East Indies Company, can still be seen. Sunda Kelapa is at present fisherman's wharf and in inter-island port. Tall masted Bugis schooners from South Sulawesi anchoring there offer one of the finest sights Jakarta has to offer. They belong to one of the last fleets of sail boats in the world and still ply the seas between the islands, as they did centuries ago, carrying merchandise.

Indonesia in Miniature Park
The idea behind Taman Mini is to give the visitor a glimpse of the diversity of the Indonesian archipelago. In a single location. This extensive park represents Indonesia's 27 provinces and their traditional characteristic, reflected most strikingly in the exact regional architecture of the province. It has its own orchid garden varieties are grown. There is also a bird park with a walk-in aviary, a fauna museum and recreational grounds with a swimming pool and restaurants.

Of special interest at Taman Mini is the Museum Indonesia. A richly decorated building in Balinese architecture, it houses contemporary arts craft and traditional costumes from the different regions of the country. Open from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily.

"Teater Imax Keong Emas"
Also known as (Golden Snail Theater). Located in the Taman Mini is the Imax theater which presents "Beautiful Indonesia" on a gigantic screen using the latest Imax system. Not to be missed if you're visiting Taman Mini! Open from 11.00 hrs-17.00hrs.

Museum Komodo
Built in the form of the Veranus Komodiensis (the only pre-historic giant lizard found exclusively) on Indonesia's Komodo Island ), it exhibits dioramas depicting the amazing variety of fauna indigenous to Indonesia. Located at Taman Mini and open daily from 8.00 - 15.00 hrs.

Museum Perangko

The Stamps Museum at Taman Mini has an attractive collection of stamps once issued in the country over the years. The Museum is ideal for the philatelist. Open daily except Monday, from 08.00-15.00 hrs.

Ragunan Zoo
Jakarta's zoo is situated in the subsurb of Ragunan in the southern part of the city. Indigenous animals such as the Komodo dragon , tapir, Java tiger, wild ox and brightly coloured birds are given ample room in a lush tropical setting. For a taste of Indonesian families on an outing visit on a Sunday or holiday when the zoo is most crowded. Open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Orchid Gardens
Some of the world's most beutiful and exotic orchids come from Indonesia. Jakarta has a several extensive Commercial orchid gardens which are open to the public, the best known of them are located at Slipi, Taman Mini and the Ragunan Zoo.

Condet
This village in southern Jakarta is a protected area where the old rural life style of Jakarta is preserved. Condet is also famed for its fruit orchards.

Lubang Buaya Heroes Monument
Situated in the southeast of the city about 20 km from downtown, it is a memorial park dedicated to the six army generals and one army officers who were slain on October 1,1965, in an abortive communist inspired coup d'etat . The centerpiece is the Pancasila Monment with statues of the seven heroes, standing near the Old well in which their bodies were thrown after having been tortured and executed by communist militia squads.

Bird Market (Pasar Burung)
Tropical bird lovers won't want to miss Pasar Burung at Jalan Pramuka with its amazing array of colorful, tropical birds, including the unique "perkutut" song bird, the pride of the Javanese people. Open daily from 9.00 hrs.

T.I.M. Art Centre
The focal point of cultural activities in Jakarta is Taman Ismail Marzuki, or TIM for short. It is said to be the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia and consists of exhibition halls, theaters, an academy of arts , archives building and planetarium. There are performances almost performances almost every night with everything from traditional and modern dance, local and foreign film festivals, poetry readings and theatre, to music of every style imaginable. TIM serves not only as the center of contemporary Indonesian art, but has become in recent years a central showcase for international performing arts in Indonesia. A monthly programme of events is tourist offices and are listed in the Jakarta Post.

Pulau Seribu

This group of island scattered across the Java Sea to the north of Jakarta offers a heaven away from the bustle of city life. Golden beaches fringed with coconut palms line the sea; the surroundings waters are a paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers. The multi-colored coral reefs are home to a phenomenal variety of tropical fish. The islands can be reached from Tanjung Priok or Pasar Ikan (Sunda Kelapa) by ferry or by chartered boat. Among the island developed for tourism, with bungalows, restaurants, diving and sailing facilities are; Pulau Bidadari, Pulau Ayer, Pulau Laki and Pulau Putri. Pulau Tanjung near Putri has an airstrip.

Jaya Ancol Dreamland
This is Jakarta's largest and most popular recreation park. Its extensive range of attractions includes sea and fresh-water aquariums, swimming pools, an artificial lagoon for fishing and boating, a bowling alley, as well as an assortment of nightclubs restaurants, and massage parlors. The Ancol complex includes a marina, Dunia a Fantasi (Fantasy Land), a golf course, hotels and a drive-in theatre. "Pasar Seni" or art market has a varied collection of Indonesian handicraft, paintings and souvenirs on sale. An open-air theatre features live performances by local artists.

Fantasy Land
The latest addition to Jakarta's growing recreation facilities is the Fantasy Land, a 9.5 hectare (23.75 acres) entertainment park located inside the Ancol Dreamland, and is great for kids. The park offers a number of restaurants and souvenir shops. It is open on Monday to Friday from 2 to 9 pm, on Saturdays from 2 to 10pm.

Maritime Museum
Two of the original ware houses from the first trading post of the Dutch East Indies Company in Java now house the Maritime Museum. Exhibits include large models of boats from various islands. The old harbour master's tower stands nearby. Open from 8.00 a.m. till 2.00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. On Fridays closed at 11.00 a.m. and on Saturday at 1.00 p.m. It closed on Monday.

The Wayang Museum
This museum on the western side of Taman Fatahillah in "The Old Town" area has the finest displays of wayang puppets in Indonesia including puppets from all parts of Indonesia and other parts Southeast Asia as well. The wooden and leather puppets displayed here represent the finest craftsmanship in this particular form of traditional theatre. The museum also show shortened performances of the wayang kulit leather puppets every Sunday morning.

Jakarta Museum
Completed in 1627, the building initially served as the Dutch East Indies company's Town Hall. Additions and renovations including a stone gate, offices and renovations were added between 1705 and 1715. The well-known Indonesian hero, Diponegoro,was said to have been imprisoned in its dungeon before his exile to South Sulawesi.

The building was being used as military barracks and offices when the Jakarta City Administration decided in the early 1970s to make it the focus of a restoration plan of old Batavia. Now a Museum, it provides the historical background of Jakarta through displays of old maps and antiquities. Including furniture and porcelain used by the Dutch rulers of Batavia, as well as a 16th century Portuguese cannon which stands just across the cobblestone square.

The Jakarta Hilton Convention Center (JHCC)
This convention centre an accommodate three conferences, and three public functions simultaneously. The main hall has a seating capacity of 3300, and is equipped with a giant video-wall,and a hi-tech lighting and sound system. It has a VIP lounge, a speaker's waiting room, 3 board rooms, 3 meeting rooms, 10 translation booths, and an administration office. The exhibition Hall measures 6,120 square metres with a 14-foot ceiling and 350 square metre lobby. The ballroom can seat 3.000 or can be divided into 3 separate areas for 1000 person each. There are 7 multi-function meeting rooms which can seat 220 people each. The main lobby can be utilized as a pre-cocktail area or for a coffee break for 3.500 persons. The car park can accommodate 10.000 cars.