Bukittinggi City

Tourism Object in Bukittinggi 

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 / 0.30556°S 100.36917°E / -0.30556; 100.36917, 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

fort de kock in 1826

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.

mosque in central bukittinggi

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 and kissing.

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

Sianok Canyon

It is a city popular with tourists due to the climate and central location. Attractions within the city include:

• Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon)
• Lobang Jepang (Japanese Caves) - a network of underground bunkers & tunnels built by the Japanese during World War II
• Jam Gadang - a large clock tower built by the Dutch in 1926.
• 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 pedestrian overpass.
• Museum Rumah Kelahiran Bung Hatta (Museum of Bung Hatta Birthplace) - the house where Indonesian founding father Mohammad Hatta was born, now a museum. 

Notable nearby destinations include Lake Maninjau and the Harau Valley.

Hotels

The Hills Hotel Bukittinggi

The Hills Hotel

This hotel provides a swimming pool, kid's club, volley ball field, basket corner, table tennis, billiard, 7 Meeting rooms are available with 1 Convention Center up to 1000 persons, 24-hour Business Corner and WiFi access on public area (03/09 CB).All 98 rooms and suite have stunning views of Sianok canyon, town and the surrounding volcanoes. Medium in size rooms are adequately decorated and are in good condition. Not luxurious, but nevertheless rooms are comfortable. They feature TV with cable network, high speed internet connection (chargeable), coffee & tea maker, air condition, IDD telephone and mini bar. Hills Bukittinggi was formerly known as Novotel Bukittinggi Hotel. It is is located in the center of the mountainous town of Bukittinggi, only 60kms from Minangkabau International Airport and only 0 Kilometer from jam gadang (Clock Tower), as Land Mark of Bukittinggi. The open,air main restaurant features local Padang specialities, Indonesian dishes and International Cuisines. The resort is a perfect blend of Moorish and Minangkabau architectural styles. Lobby is large in size.

Pusako Hotel Bukittinggi

 

Pusako Hotel

With its central location, Pusako Hotel is within easy reach of most tourist attractions and business addresses in Padang. The Pusako Hotel boasts a convenient location with modern amenities in every guestroom and superb service. Each of the hotel's guestrooms offers inhouse movies, hair dryer, television, separate shower and tub, balcony/terrace, satellite/cable TV.Services and amenities available for guests at this Padang accommodation consist of meeting facilities , restaurant, family room. Hotel's guests can experience on-site latest leisure and sports facilities such as outdoor pool .These top-class facilities are complemented to excellent services to meet the needs of visitors to Padang. For your reservation at the Pusako Hotel Padang, please select your dates of stay and fill in our secure online booking form.