Indonesia is famous not only for its resorts and tourist centers. There are also authentic cities, pleasing travelers with their exotic culture and almost virgin nature. Among them - the city of Jayapura - the capital of the province of Papua.
Geographic location and climate of Jayapura
The territory of the city extends among valleys, hills, plateaus and mountains. Jayapura is located on the shore of the Gulf of Jos-Sudarso at an altitude of 700 m above sea level. Its area is 94 thousand hectares and is divided into five regions (North, South, Heram, Abepure, Muara-Tami). At the same time, only 30% of the territory is inhabited, the rest is forests and swamps.
History of Jayapura
In the years 1910-1962. The city was called Holland and was part of the Netherlands East India Company. During the Second World War, Jayapura was occupied by Japanese troops. The liberation of the city occurred only in 1944, and in 1945 the work of the Dutch administration was already restored.
In 1949, Indonesia gained sovereignty, and Jayapura became the center of the Indonesian province. Then the city was renamed Sukarnopur. His current name was Jayapura only in 1968. In Sanskrit it means "the city of victory".
Attractions and Entertainment Jayapura
A rich history and geographical location have imposed typos on the culture and life of this Indonesian city. The lowland area of Jayapura, located off the coast, serves as a business and administrative center.
The main sights of the city are:
- souvenir market Hamadi Souvener Market;
- city beaches Base-G and Harlem Beach;
- Mount Jayapura City Hill;
- Lake Sentani.
Arriving in Jayapura, you can go to an anthropological museum located at a local university. Here exhibits are exhibited, telling about the history of the Asmat tribe and the peculiarities of primitivistic art.
Nature lovers should definitely visit Lake Sentani, located at an altitude of 73 m above sea level. In its vicinity, for many centuries, the Sepik tribe has lived, whose members are engaged in painting the tree bark and making wooden statuettes.
Proponents of beach holidays will appreciate the beauty of the beach of Tanjung Ria, located 3.5 km from Jayapura. Just keep in mind that on holidays and weekends there is a lot of people here.
Hotels in Jayapura
In this provincial town there is not a large selection of hotels , but those that are available are characterized by a convenient location and a high level of comfort. Many of them have free internet, parking and breakfast.
The largest hotels in Jayapura are:
- Swiss-Belhotel Papua;
- Grand Abe;
- Aston Jayapura Hotel;
- Front One Hotel;
- Grand Allison.
The cost of living in a hotel in this Indonesian city is approximately $ 35-105 per night.
Restaurants of Jayapur
Indonesia is a huge island state, where representatives of the most diverse nationalities and religious confessions live. Therefore it is not surprising that all this diversity was reflected in her kitchen. The proximity of the sea and the favorable climate also influenced the formation of its culinary traditions. As in other regions of Indonesia, Jayapura's cuisine is dominated by seafood, rice, pork and fresh fruit.
You can taste traditional Indonesian dishes in the following restaurants of the city:
- Pit's Corner;
- Rumah Laut;
- Yougwa;
- Rumah Makan Antariksa;
- Lesehan Atas Laut et al.
Some hotels have their own restaurants. Here you can order traditional Indonesian dishes, as well as taste dishes of Indian, Chinese, Asian or even European cuisine.
Shopping in Jayapur
The main entertainment for locals and tourists is shopping. No other city in Indonesia has such distinctive markets as Jayapur. And this primarily applies to souvenir markets, where a huge variety of products from all the peoples of Papua is represented. Here you can buy :
- carved wooden figures of different tribes;
- daggers of bones;
- stone axes;
- paintings carved on the bark of trees;
- ritual masks.
Another unusual commodity in Jayapura markets are chickens, painted in a variety of colors. In addition to these exotic souvenirs, you can buy fresh seafood and fish, fruits and other products.
Transport in Jayapur
The easiest way to travel around the city is by motorcycles, which can be rented. Public transport is represented by small taxis and minibuses. Despite this, Jayapura is the largest transport hub of Indonesia. And all this thanks to the seaport, which connects the city with other regions of the country, as well as with neighboring states.
In 1944, in the vicinity of Jayapura, Sentani Airport was opened, which was originally used for military purposes. Now here planes land and fly up, which connect it with Jakarta and Papua - New Guinea.
How to get to Jayapura?
In order to get acquainted with this quiet and original city, you need to go to the island of New Guinea. Jayapura is located 3,700 km from the capital of Indonesia in the province of Papua. From Jakarta, you can get here by plane or car. True, in the latter case, you have to spend time on the ferry. Several times a day from the capital airport fly the planes of the airlines Batik Air, Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia. Taking into account the transfers, the flight lasts 6.5 hours.
Autotourists should move towards Jayapura along the roads of Tj. Priok, Jl. Cempaka Putih Raya and Paliat. This route includes ferry and toll sections.