The nice and cozy city of Bandung (Bandung) is the third largest city in Indonesia , behind only Jakarta and Surabaya . It has a European atmosphere, you can see many architectural monuments and flower compositions on the streets and in parks, thanks to which Bandung in Indonesia is often referred to as "Paris-on-Java" or "Flower City" (Kota Kembang).
Location:
The city of Bandung is located in the mountains of Parahangan, on the island of Java in Indonesia, 180 km from Jakarta and is the administrative center of the province of Western Java.
City `s history
The first mention of Bandung refers to 1488. However, the real development of it began in 1810, when the city received the city status. Here came the Dutch conquerors, making these lands part of their colonial power. This continued until the end of World War II, when Bandung gained independence from the colonialists, and eventually became one of the leading cities in Indonesia. Nowadays it is the largest industrial center with a population of more than 2.5 million people.
Climate and weather
The city is at an altitude of 768 m above sea level, the climate here is subequatorial, mild and pleasant. In the summer months it is warm and dry, during the rest of the year heavy rains often occur. For comparison, in July, 70 mm of precipitation falls, and in January - about 400 mm. The average annual air temperature in Bandung is between +22 and + 25 ° C.
Nature
The city has a volcanic and quite diverse landscape: there are mountain gorges, sharp peaks of volcanoes , sandy beaches surrounded by palm trees and moist rainforests. It is an ideal place for relaxation and for finding harmony and tranquility.
In Bandung, very fertile soils, perfectly suited for the cultivation of tea plantations and henna.
City breaks and Bandung attractions
The city offers guests ample opportunities for a wide variety of recreation . In Bandung, you can:
- Enjoy a beach holiday. There is the beach of Asnier, where you can rent a boat and make an exciting boat trip to the coral reefs.
- To be engaged in ecotourism. Take a walk through the rainforests, visit the park Dago Pakar, which serves as a reservoir for the city. In it you can see the waterfall and caves, admire the beautiful scenery or organize a picnic.
- Visit the active volcano Tungkuban Perahu , which is 30 km north of the city. Its top is perfectly visible from all points of the city. Before the crater of the volcano it is possible to climb on foot or by car from the nearby town of Lembang. The cost of visiting the national park with the volcano Tangkuban Perahu is $ 15.4. During the excursion you can see not only the main crater of Kavakh Ratu, but also the Kavakh Domas crater, located just 1.5 km away, with more intense volcanic activity. Also here are the hot sulfur springs Charita (you can swim in them).
- Cultural rest (museums, theaters, architectural compositions). On the territories of many hotels there are regularly theatrical performances with national dances, anyone can take part in them. The visiting card of the city is the newly constructed Pasopati Bridge, towering over the red-tiled roofs of houses in Bandung.
Of interest are architectural pearls in the Art Deco style, built in the late XIX - early XX centuries. Among them, the most important structures are:
- Isola villa, built in Indo-European style in 1932 and very often featured in guidebooks among the photos of Bandung's attractions ;
- Hotel Savoy, famous for the fact that earlier it was visited by such famous personalities as the Queen of Belgium , the monarchs of Siam and Charlie Chaplin;
- the building of the Dutch Indian company, combining the features of Renaissance architecture, Moorish style and Thai pagodas;
- The Chipagandi mosque with a very original design.
- Visit nightclubs, bars and discos. Among them, the most famous clubs are the "North Sea", "Caesar Palace" and the "Braga" bar.
- Go to a small town Lembang (Lembang) in the suburban part of Bandung, reminiscent of the colonial past of Indonesia. On the way to it you will meet the only observatory in the country.
Hotels in Bandung
At the service of tourists in the city are several dozens of hotels of different levels, ranging from the most modest establishments and ending with luxury hotels with luxury apartments. The list of popular 5 * hotels in Bandung includes The Trans Luxury Bandung, Padma Bandung, Hilton Bandung, The Papandayan and Aryaduta Bandung. Of the more budget options, tourists enjoy success:
- Noor 3;
- California Bandung 3 *;
- Mercure Bandung Setiabudi 4 *;
- Ivory by Ayola Bandung 3 *;
- Tibera 2 *.
Cuisine and restaurants in the city
Bandung is an excellent place for gourmets. There is a large number of restaurants serving local cuisine . One of the most popular dishes - batagor - is fried meat, which is served with peanut butter and soy sauce. Great demand is also enjoyed by:
- Marbak - it's baked pancakes with a variety of fillings;
- chicken noodles "mi ayam";
- nimbib - baked in banana leaves rice;
- lax bandung - chicken soup, cooked on coconut milk, with the addition of turmeric and bean sprouts.
Among the most famous institutions in Bandung are "Kampung Daun", where lunch or dinner is served in huts in a clearing overlooking the river or waterfall, and "Sierra Cafe", which is located near the mountain of Dago Pakar and offers to enjoy not only the amazing cuisine, but and a stunning panorama of the city.
Shopping
Lovers of pampering themselves with shopping should pay attention to shops located on the street Braga (Jl.Braga). In Bandung, there are elite retail outlets and expensive boutiques with quality branded or exclusive clothing. You can also visit the local market, where it is customary to bargain and get a discount on the things you like.
The main souvenirs brought by tourists from Bandung in Indonesia are colorful and textured fabrics, silk, ornaments, metal and wooden accessories for home, all kinds of figurines. Souvenirs are relatively inexpensive, and their choice is very large.
Transport of Bandung
The main modes of transport in Bandung are:
- Minibuses ("Angkot"). They cost from 3 to 5 thousand rupees ($ 0.25-0.4). On the windshield, only the beginning and end of the route are indicated.
- Buses and trains departing for Jakarta, Surabaya, Surakarta , Semarang.
- Aircraft of domestic airlines. Bandung Airport is small enough and is located in the mountains, therefore it takes only small airliners. Therefore, in some cases it is more convenient to use Jakarta International Airport for the flight.
- Motor transport. You can also rent a car (including a driver) or take a taxi (choose an official taxi with a counter, for example, the company "Blue Bird" with cars in blue).
How to get to Bandung?
To visit the city of Bandung, you can take one of the following travel options:
- By plane. A large number of flights of local airlines from major cities of Indonesia and neighboring countries, for example, from Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar , Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, regularly fly to Bandung Hussein Sastranegar airport. From the airport to the city get only 4 km, travel costs 50 thousand rupees ($ 3.8). Also, you can fly to Jakarta and then go to Bandung (the route takes about 3 hours).
- By bus. This method is worth choosing if you need to get to Bandung from the island of Bali or from the cities of central Java. A lot of voyages of minibuses (every 5-10 minutes) are sent daily to Jakarta and back. The journey takes almost 3 hours, the ticket costs $ 15-25 per car.
- By car. Bandung and Jakarta are connected by a new high-speed toll highway Chipularang. The road by car from the capital of Indonesia to Bandung will take about 2 hours.
- By train. This option is suitable for trips from Surabaya (13 hours en route, ticket costs $ 29 to $ 32) and Jakarta (3 hours by train, about $ 8).
Travel Tips
In Bandung, as in all of Indonesia, couples should not openly show their feelings in public, even hold hands for a walk. This can be misunderstood. Do not raise in the topics of politics and religion, they are strictly taboo.