West Java Province
The Capital City of West Java Province is
“Bandung”
Oddly, no further
accounts were found of the area’s history until, many centuries later. The
Hindu kingdom of Pajajaran emerged, only to be eclipsed in the 15th
century A.D by the advent of Moslem. First the sultanate of Cirebon was
established, then Banten. Moslem was well established in West Java when the
Dutch seceded in consolidating their influence in the early 18th
century.Not less than 98% of West Java’s population embrace Moslem region, in
fact, this religion influence their life too, whether in the way of behavior or
culture. No wonder when there are found the Mosques everywhere in the cities or
villages. One of the provinces that send a greatest number of collective
pilgrimage to Mecca in West Java. Also customary law which prevails here is
extremely influenced by Moslem religion. Moslem had already been here since 15th
Century through Banten and Cirebon.
West Java is the
heartland of the Sundanese culture, whose exertions reflect quite well the
outward looking, light hearted nature of it’s population. Java Island possesses
a lot of place of interests, from Ujung Kulon National Park of Wildlife
Conservation, Mysterious Baduy Tribes, to the East of Java. Began the Kingdom
of Taruma Negara in 15th Century, then successively followed by the
Kingdom of Pajajaran, Banten, Cirebon, Sumedang, Kuningan, Galuh and Sunda,
West Java possesses it’s own language and cultures. The West Java inherits
namely Angklung, Pencak Silat, Celempung, Debus, Gamelan, Helaran, Ibing,
Kacapian, Iwak, Mecakal, Ngotrek, Orkes, Pantun, Auro, Ronggeng, Sandiwara,
Terbangan, Vocalia, Wayang, Jaipongan,
and Tari Topeng. Some of the have survived, and creative Sundanese people have
develop them artistically into a magnificent art level side by side with modern
one without loosing their originality.
West Java itself
was actually called Tanah Sunda or Tanah Pasundan, while Central Java and East
Java used to be called Tanah Jawa. Lets
go together to Bandung Tanah Pasundan also as Paris van Java.
BandungRegency
Bandung grew from
an insignificant village into one of Java’s pretties in the 1930s and 40s due
to the prosperity brought by the surrounding tea, quinine and rubber
plantations. Many stately old buildings and peaceful from that era of greatness
still grace the city.And others name, Tanah Pasundan or Priangan but popularly
Bandung, covers the area from Bogor to Cirebon, Kuningan to the Northeastern
coast, close to the border of West Java and Central Java, and Tasikmalaya to
the South East. The area is mostly
mountainous and is blessed with fertile soil resulting from volcanic explosions
hundred of years ago, making it very rich in minerals. Coffee and tea
plantations, vegetable farms are abundant, especially in the area of Lembang.
Rice fields occupy most of the area around Cianjur, Garut and Sumedang and
Karawang.
High rainfall also
makes this area much cooler than the rest of West Java. Some towns are
surrounded by still active volcanoes. Bandung and the highlands the city are
also called “Bumi Parahyangan”, meaning : “The Abode of The Gods” as in most
similar topographical areas waterfalls and hot springs could be found in many
places making it attract many tourists and Tour Adventurous, as a result a huge
number of resorts and retreat places
sprout like soaked green beens.
Visit to Ciwidey
Valley south of Bandung and white crater of Mountain Patuha, a sulfuric hot
spring, Lake Patenggang, Tangkuban Perahu Mountain a dramatic volcano as the
Sangkuriang and Dayangsumbi legend, and
few kilometers away are the invigorating hot springs of Ciater, and the golden
Crater of Mount Papandayan, with it’s shocking yellow sulfur deposits. Also we
could visit Gedung Sate, Bathing at Ciwalini Hot springs, Rancabali tea estate,
bamboo music,
Dating back of
Bandung, the famous Sundanese king was Sri Baduga Maharaja who ruled The Hindu
Kingdom of Pajajaran around 15th century. His successor was defected
by the Moslem army of Banten during it’s invasion in 1579. After arrival of the
Dutch, things changed drastically. In 1602 Dutch traders founded the East India
Company (VOC) to monopolize the spice trade. VOC was allowed to acquire
Parahyangan by the current King in return for it’s favor in helping him to
ascend the throne.
In 1799 VOC went
bankrupt and the Dutch Government took over. The monopoly of the spice trade
was expanded to the East. In 1808 the appointed Governor General, Daendels,
carried out the construction of a 1,000 km road from Anyer in West Java to
Panarukan at the end of East Java. This project took the lives of over 30,000
Javanese coolies in forced labor. When the French took hold of the Netherlands,
the British under Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles ruled Java for a short period of
time from 1811 to 1815. The man who later on founded the famous city of
Singapore was also responsible for shaping Pasundan area.
In the history of Indonesia
struggle for freedom, Bandung was also well known as the heroic city. One of
the most well known events is “Bandung
Sea of Fire”. The freedom fighters who were forced to leave Bandung, with
their firm will they would not leave Bandung voluntarily as it was to the
colonial Dutch and chooses to make scorched earth policy on the city. The even
took place on March 23rd, 1946.
Bandung is also
well known internationally because the African-Asian Conference was held here
in April 18th, - 24th, 1955, opened by Soekarno, the
first President of Republic of Indonesia. The conference was held in the
historic building (The Freedom House) attended by 29 representatives of
Africa-Asia countries. Organized by Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and
Birma (today Myanmar).The conference gave rise to a decision called “Dasa Sila
Bandung” or Bandung Ten Principles. Finally, the Bandung ten principles have
become the basic principles which give rise to Non Alignment Movement. And the
countries participated are : Afghanistan, Cambodia, China Socialist Republic,
Egypt, Ethiopia, Pantai Emas, Iran, Japan, Yordania, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia,
Libya, Nepal, Philippine, Arabic Saudi, Sudan, Syria, Muangthai, Turkey, North
Vietnam, South Vietnam, and Yaman.
Today’s Bandung still
reflects the image of it’s heyday. Though flowers could only be seen if we
really make the effort to go to certain places., the structures and colonial
style houses are pretty well conserved and could still be seen around Bandung.
Such as Gedung Sate (Satay Building) on Jalan Diponegoro. This building is
synonymous with Bandung and was used as the seat of the Dutch government during
it’s occupation. It now serves as the office of the Governor of West Java. The
pointed structures at the roof top resembles sate or satay, the Indonesian
shish kebab.
Traditional
Costumes
From once to the
next era, Parahiyangan (Popular name of West Java) especially Priangan and
Cirebon territory, improved their traditional fashion mode adjust to the
change. The role of the government influenced this change particulary in manners.The
men's (Jajaka) costume are long sleeve shirt combined with a harmony trousers
and complemented Dodot cloth and Batik Dodot headdress.The formal costumes for
women (Mojang Priangan) are Kebaya, soft Batik cloth, harmony shawl, and
sandals Selop.
Bogor Regency
The Epigraph
This
is the footprint of King Purnawarman of Taruma Negara Kingdom, the greatest in
the world. Such is a sentence written on a stone in Pallawa letter at Ciampea,
Bogor Regency. The Pallawa letter itself was originally came from South India,
and it’s language was Sanskrit. This inscribed Stone was originally in the
times of King Purnawarman who ruled the Taruma Negara Kingdom about the year of
450 AD. A pair of footprint decorated this stone which is said it was the
footprint of King himself. For those who interested in history or archaeology
it is good for not to miss this inscribed stone.
The Bogor Palace
Bogor’s
Botanical Gardens
Bogor
is Well known Botanical Gardens is a “Museum” of thousand of Flora’s species,
lies 60 km south of Jakarta established in 1817, situated just behind the 19th
century presidential palace, with over 20,000 species of plants. This is the largest collection of
tropical plants in the world. And also collecting plants from the whole world.
The width of the area is 111 hectares. At the beginning, the Bogor Botanical
Garden was the part of the palace’s yards. J.E. Teysmann who headed this
botanical garden from 1926 until 1929, he separated the botanical garden from
the palace with a divider fence. Then, DR. RHCC Scheffer who replaced Teysmann,
expanded this garden and equipped it with cultivation of seedlings.
The Wild Animals Safari Park
The Puncak Tea Plantations
The objects of interests are:
Accommodation
Hotels listed in
West Java are scattered throughout the province. From four star Hotels on the
southern coast at Pelabuhan Ratu to the city of Bandung also to Cirebon and
cottage type Hotels in the mountain and sea resorts.
Transportation
Places
of interest within the city of Bandung could be reached by Plane and also by Regular City bus, as Angkutan Kota minibus or
other public means of transportation like “Colt” minibuses and bemos. Buses
also serve destinations out side the city. Taxis cost more, but ensure greater
personal comport, cheap transportation, but usually avoiding the main arteries.
It provided by becak (pedicabs), which are available in many places. Bandung is
linked to Jakarta by air and railroad, and to other places in West Java by
Inter-city bus and railroad services.
West Java Folksong: Sabilulungan, Colenak, etc.
For complete information you
could have on the “Text Book Guiding To Indonesia” By F. I. Fatrick.
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