The capital of any state is often very interesting for tourists, as it is usually a cultural and commercial center of the country. The city of Jakarta in Indonesia is no exception. Let's find out what awaits the guests who visited this place.
General information
The date of the foundation of the city with the first name of Sunda Kelap is considered to be 1527. Until 1619, Jakarta was called Jayakarta, and until 1942 it was Batavia. On the map of the world, Jakarta can be found on the northwest coast of the island of Java, in the place where the Chiliwong River flows into the Yavan Sea. The area of Jakarta is 664 square kilometers. km, and the population of the megalopolis is almost 10 million people. Most of the residents of the capital are represented by the Javanese, Chinese and Hindus. The Indonesian rupee is the currency of Jakarta, like the country as a whole.
Almost 90% of the population of Jakarta speak English, although they speak Indonesian, Bahasa. Jakarta is, on the one hand, poor neighborhoods, noisy streets and endless traffic jams, and on the other - a modern metropolis with skyscrapers, museums and shopping centers. Guests of the capital will find cozy beaches , caressed by the sun, coastal rocks, washed by stormy waves, dense rainforests and amazing fruit gardens. In Jakarta necessarily want to return.
Climate
The location of Jakarta in the subequatorial climate zone makes this city popular with tourists throughout the year. Here, a pronounced dry summer and fairly humid weather conditions throughout the remaining months. The average annual temperature in Jakarta is + 28 ° C. The amount of precipitation is not small - up to 400 mm in winter and about 80 mm in summer. Tourism in Jakarta thrives during the dry season, which lasts from April to October. The high humidity is in November-February, when strong monsoons come to the city.
What to see in Jakarta?
This city has a rich and long history. It was destroyed several times and rebuilt, but still there are a lot of interesting sights in Jakarta, known throughout Indonesia:
- Old city. The historical part of Jakarta is located in the north. Much attention of tourists is attracted by Fatahill Square with the old cannon of Si Iago , which is considered a symbol of the fertility of a woman.
- The central places of interest in the city. In the Indonesian capital, on the Medan Merdeka Square , the National Monument is established - a symbol of the country's independence. The height of this structure is more than 130 m, and at the very end a gold construction is installed. In addition to it, you can see the presidential palace , the Gothic Cathedral of Jakarta , the National Museum and the Gallery of Indonesia .
- Istiklal . Indonesia is a multinational country, but Muslims are the majority here. Therefore it is not surprising that the largest mosque in Asia was built in Jakarta, where there are many temples of other faiths.
- Country in miniature. To get acquainted with all the provinces of Indonesia, it is recommended to visit the ethnographic park " Taman-Mini ".
- Zoo Ragunan - in great demand among the guests of Jakarta. It is located in the south of the city and is home to as many as 270 species of animals.
- Museums. A large number of interesting museums are open in Jakarta:
- "Fatahillah" - historical;
- "Bahari" - the sea ;
- "Purna Bhakti Pertivi" - gifts to the president ;
- "Vayang" - dolls and masks ;
- "Ksatriya Mandala" - the armed forces .
Entertainment and recreation
Almost all tourists who come to Indonesia first visit Jakarta, as here the Sukarno-Hatta International Airport and the port are located, but do not stay there for long. This is due to the fact that it is not a tourist or resort town. Great popularity among the guests of Jakarta, except for the Central and Western municipalities, where most of the attractions are located, enjoys the area of South Jakarta. There are many shopping centers, where you can do shopping.
Holidays in Jakarta are chic beaches, a sea of fascinating excursions and a vibrant nightlife. Those who want to sunbathe and buy are sent to the Thousand Islands District , located near Jakarta in the Gulf of the Java Sea. Here you can also go diving and windsurfing . In Jakarta is Ankol Dreamland - the largest amusement park of the island of Java . This place is focused on family holidays and includes a lot of interesting attractions, water park, aquarium, cinemas, spa centers, restaurants and nightclubs.
Accommodation and Accommodation
There are plenty of hotels where you can stay in Jakarta for the night. Most tourists choose the area of Jalan Jaks, since most of the hotels here are located next to museums, Merdeka Square and shopping centers. Travelers in Jakarta can always choose a comfortable hotel, and an inexpensive hostel or a boarding house. Overnight in an elite hotel will have to pay from $ 35 to $ 110, while a boarding house will cost several times cheaper - from $ 15 to $ 25 per night. Especially popular hotels Morrissey Serviced Apartment, The Akmani, Kosenda Hotel and Artotel Jakarta Thamrin.
Kitchen and restaurants
Hungry in Jakarta there will be no one, since with the variety of food here there are no problems. For tourists, absolutely any cuisine of the world is available. However, it should be noted that Indonesians like to add a lot of spices to the dishes. Restaurants Bottega and Sana Sini Restaurant - this is a real world of exotics. Here you can try frog legs, fried locusts and shark fins. In Bakmi GM, Sate Padang Ajo Ramon and Correlate you can enjoy fried bananas, pickled mango fruits or young bamboo shoots. Despite the fact that Indonesia as a whole is considered a Muslim country, there are alcohol in Jakarta in many restaurants.
Shopping
Thanks to the huge number of shopping centers, shopping in Jakarta becomes an excellent pastime for most tourists. Here you can not even look for a specific shopping complex, and find out at the reception where the nearest one is located. The assortment is almost the same everywhere. Fruits, traditional handicrafts and souvenirs are better to buy on street markets, prices will be much cheaper. A good selection of antiques, jewelry and jewelry is presented in the Jakarta Gem Center. If you want to buy electronics and household appliances, go to the Ambassador Mall.
Transport
Jakarta has an advantage over other cities of the archipelago due to a well-developed system of public transport . Regularly there are city and intercity buses. Popular with local residents are three-wheeled mopeds, which here are called bajajis, and small old minibuses - bmo. Tourists often use taxi services. Railway communication is established only on the island of Java, and Jakarta is located on the main junction of railways and highways. Surprisingly, there is no metro in such a megalopolis as Jakarta. The opening of the subway is planned only in 2019.
How to get to the capital?
For a trip to Jakarta, a visa for Russians is not required provided that tourists stay in the city for no more than 30 days. There are no direct flights from Russia, you will have to fly with a connection in Singapore , Abu Dhabi , Bangkok or Istanbul. The most convenient are the flights of such airlines as Singapore Airlines, Garuda and Transaero. The air gate to the capital is Sukarno-Hatta International Airport, and for domestic flights use a small terminal Halim. From the airport to the center of Jakarta can be reached both by public transport and by taxi.
Tourists arriving in Jakarta are often interested in the question of how to get to Denpasar on the island of Bali. The most convenient and cheapest way is to fly to one of the local loukosterov, as the trip by bus takes about 12 hours. From Jakarta, tourists often go to the island of Lombok , using the services of local tour operators. The flight from the capital to the island takes only 30 minutes. In addition, recreation is popular in the ancient city of Yogyakarta . From Jakarta to Yogyakarta you can get by train, by plane (45 minutes flight) or by bus (about 8-9 hours).