A substantial metropolis on the Island of Java - Jarkata

A substantial metropolis on the Island of Java - Jarkata

On the most populous island of Java in Indonesia, there is a substantial metropolis - Jarkata amidst the luxuriant forests. It is the world’s second-most populous metropolitan area after Tokyo, and is the bellwether of the nation’s development. The city has been the political and economic centre of this island country since the Dutch East Indies era. Jakarta is deemed to be the miniature of Indonesia. When visiting the “Beautiful Indonesia” Miniature Park, you can have a full view of the whole country in just a couple of hours.

This capital city, which used to be called Batavia in the early days, was once a significant harbour for spice trading. The Dutch merchant ships sailed all the way from Europe to finally reach the port after passing by the Thousand Islands. The merchants then traded their wool for spices from the locals, and porcelains, silk and tea from China. The old town in the city embracing both Indonesian and Dutch characteristics was built by then. Jakarta is one of the earliest developed cities in Southeast Asia. The traces of Dutch culture in Indonesia are kept in the Jakarta History Museum which was transformed from the city hall during the colonial days.
 

Jakarta History Museum

A museum is the best place to learn about the history of a city. Come to the history museum located in the centre of the Jakarta Old Town and have a thorough history class of this city.

The history museum, which was built with the architectural characteristics of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, used to be the headquarter of Dutch East India Company and later the city hall of Batavia, the administrative centre during the Dutch colonisation period. It witnessed how Jakarta transformed from Batavia with Dutch influence to a metropolis undergoing rapid growth. History and artifacts such as paintings, maps, porcelains and furniture from the prehistory period, the founding of Jakarta in 1527, the Dutch colonisation period to the independence of Indonesia in 1945 are displayed in the museum. In front of the building is a large square where people in Jakarta usually hang out. It would be a nice place to spend some time watching the modern local life after learning about the history of the city. 
 

Istiqlal Mosque

Indonesia has the world’s largest number of the Muslim population. There are undoubtedly well-established mosques in the country to hold pilgrims. The Istiqlal Mosque stands in the centre of Jakarta. It is the largest mosque in t Southeast Asia and the third largest in the world. It is able to accommodate as many as 200,000 pilgrims at the same time.

The national mosque of Indonesia was established to commemorate the proclamation of independence of Indonesia. It was named “Istiqlal”, an Arabic word for “independence”. Under the dome is the enormous main prayer room, which can carry almost 60,000 prayers at the same time. It has thus become a major religious ceremonial venue of the country. 

The Thousand Islands

Indonesia, the land of a thousand islands, owns more than ten thousand islands. There are already a few hundred islands in the jurisdiction of Jakarta. Among those, there is an archipelago of islands named the Thousand Islands.

There are approximately 300 and slightly more islands in this island group. Travellers take ferries from Jakarta to the island they love, and make the most of the peace and seclusion of their island life there. When landing on your island of choice, just lie cozily in a hammock at the beach, and be amazed by the picturesque scenery if you are not a swimmer. Playing tree swings in the shadow is also a wonderful choice. For water sports enthusiasts, it cannot be more fascinating than going kayaking with friends, or diving into the crystal blue sea to look at the colourful coral reef. Last but not least, you can fly your camera drone to the clear blue sky to capture the breathtaking photos with hundreds of islands. That is going to be the most beautiful impression of Jakarta for you. 
 

“Beautiful Indonesia” in Miniature Park

Finally comes your long-awaited vacation for Indonesia, yet the schedule is too tight to see the whole country? The Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park is where your wish to have a full view of the entire Indonesia comes true.

The park is the mini version of this island country. The concept is similar to the theme park “Window of the World” in Shenzhen. Each of the six areas in the park is in respect to one of the main islands of Indonesia, and displaying to visitors the ethnical cultures there. From the traditional Balinese architecture to the modern buildings in the early independent days are all-inclusive. The exhibitions in museums complement the singing and dancing performances from different ethnic groups in the park, giving you an all-round experience on the essence of the Indonesian cultures. There is a lake with a miniature of the archipelago located in the middle of the park. Don’t miss the Indonesian Children Castle, which resembles the Cinderella Castle in Disneyland, the aquarium, flower gardens, bird parks, the 4D theatre and more to have great fun with kids!
 

Jakarta Old Town

Indonesia was a Dutch colony since the 16th century and declared independence in 1945. During the colonial period, a harbour named Batavia (present Jakarta) and the headquarter of the Dutch East India Company were established by the Dutch government to lead the spice trading between Europe and Asia. Until today, Jakarta is still the most prominent harbour city in the whole of Southeast Asia.

Wandering in the vibrate downtown Jakarta, you are able to trace the Dutch influence in the city. The colonial buildings from the 17th century are well-preserved in the old town near the Jakarta Kota Station. While some of them have been turned into museums, some have become markets for daily trading. After learning about the past of Jakarta in the history museum, you may want to spare a little time for the nostalgic Cafe Batavia. There on the second floor, you can sit by the wooden louvre window to enjoy a cup of coffee and the old town view. Write down your delicate mind on a postcard and have it posted in an old post office before you head for religious ceremonies in a church or mosque. Before finishing off the day, you can have a visit to the fish market to look for the freshest ingredients, and have a taste of the authentic Jakarta!