Alvin Anwar

KOTA TUA (Old Batavia) Indonesia is an archipelago with an estimated population of over 252

million peoples which is comprising 13.466 beautiful Islands, making Indonesia

be the one and only great destination in south-east Asian. Every visitors who ever

came in Indonesia was always amazed with all of things in Indonesia such as,

Ethnics, Traditions, Indonesians Society, Foods, and a lot of wonderful places In

Indonesia, but the most desirable thing is Historical side of Indonesia because

beside Indonesia is a paradise of world which is containing many places with

friendly peoples and comfortable situations, Historical sector is the actor of every

reasons why Indonesia became a central destination in Asian.

Based on the History, Indonesia has been colonized by European for a long

time that make Indonesia has many buildings, statues, monuments, and traditions

which is reach of Histories like remaining historical buildings in Kota Tua which

is also known as Old Jakarta or Old Batavia that spans 1.3 square kilometers of

North Jakarta and West Jakarta.

Kota Tua, Jakarta is an area of Dutch colonization inheritance which was

well-known as Batavia in the 17th century. At Kota Tua area you can see old

buildings with architecture style influenced by the Dutch or European

architecture style, Chinese and even some of them with combination of Dutch

and Chinese architecture. Some of the old buildings at Kota Tua area occupied as

museums by the governor of DKI Jakarta. Kota Tua is one of a very interesting

place or area to visit when you travel to Jakarta since its a center of historical

tourism object in Jakarta.

Kota Tua, Jakarta, was the pioneer of the current Jakarta City. It was started

from a small port at the mouth of Ciliwung River in about centuries ago. The port

city was then developed became a busy international trading center. Journals

from European journalists said that theres a city, named Kalapa, seemed as the

main port for a Hindu Kingdom named Sunda, with a capital of Pajajaran, located

near to the current location of Bogor. Portuguese was the first fleet from Europe

that came to the Kalapa Port.

Kalapa, the port city was then attacked by Demak Kingdom, a kingdom in

Kalapa neighborhood, under the leadership of Fatahillah. Kalapa Port was

successfully conquered on 22nd June 1527 and since then the name was

changed from Sunda Kalapa to Jayakarta, which means city of glory or victory.

The date of 22nd June 1527 was then celebrated as the birthday of Jakarta City.

The Dutch came and taken away Jayakarta in the end of 16th century

under the leadership of Jan Pieterszoon Coen. The Dutch changed the name of

Jayakarta became Batavia and constructed buildings with the architecture style as

they had in their country. In the Japanese colonization time from 1942 to 1945,

the name of Batavia was changed to Jakarta.

Based on the History above, Kota tua or Old Jakarta became a Historical

place which has many Interesting places or tourism objects that is reach of

histores are including Jakarta History Museum which is also called as Fatahillah

Museum, Wayang Museum, Fine Art and Ceramic Museum, Bank Mandiri

Museum, Bank Indonesia Museum, Jakarta Kota Station or also called Beos,

Maritime Museum or Museum Bahari, Sunda Kelapa Harbor, Kota Intan Bridge,

Syahbandar Tower, Batavia Caf, Batavia Hotel and other old buildings.

You can visit Kota Tua Jakarta by riding personal vehicle or taxi. You can

also alternatively ride TransJakarta Busway from the first corridor, which routed

from Blok M to Kota. If you ride the TransJakarta Busway, you can get off at Kota

Station which is where busway from the first corridor ended. Kota Station is part

of Kota Tua area.

If you plan to visit other tourism objects at Kota Tua area by walk, its

recommended to start your visit there since morning to avoid the stinging heat of

the sun. You may need to wear a cover for your head like hat or umbrella and

wear comfortable footwear. Besides by walk, you can also try to ride bicycle ojek

to go along Kota Tua.

Finally, welcome to Indonesia, and have a nice vocation in Kota Tua.