Bandung

 

Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2^nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 765 m above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta. Bandung has cooler temperature year than most other Indonesian cities. The city lies in river basin surrounded by volcano mountains. The topography provides a good natural defense system, which was the primary reason for the Dutch East Indies government's plan to move the colony from Batavia to Bandung. The Dutch colonials first opened tea plantation around the mountains in the eighteenth century, followed by a road construction connecting the plantation area to the capital (180 kms or 112 miles to the northwest). The European inhabitants of the city demanded the establishment of a municipality (gemeente), which was granted in 1906 and Bandung gradually developed itself into a resort city for the plantation owners. Luxurious hotels, restaurants, cafes and European boutiques were opened of which the city was dubbed as Parijs van Java (The Paris of Java).

The northern part of the city is hillier than the rest, the distinguished truncated flat peak shape of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano (Tangkuban Perahu literally means 'up turned boat') can be seen from the city to the north. Long term volcanic activity has created fertile andosol soil in the north, suitable for intensive rice, fruit, tea, tobacco and coffe plantation. In the south and east, alluvial soils deposited by the Cikapundung river are mostly found.

Geological data shows that the Bandung Basin is located on an ancient volcano, known as Mount Sunda, erected up tu 3,000 - 4,000  meters (9,850 - 13,100 ft) during the pleistocene age. Two large scale eruption took place : the first formed the basin and the other (est. 55,000 before present) blocked the Citarum river, turning the basin into a lake known as 'The Great Lake of Bandung'. The lake drained away, the reason for which is the subject of on going debate among geologist.


Due to its elevation, the climate in Bandung is cooler than most Indonesian cities and can be classified as humid, the average temperature is 23.6^o C throughout the year. The average annual rainfall ranges from 1,000 millimeters in the central and southeast regions to 3,500 millimeters in the north of the city. The wet season conforms with other Indonesia regions around November to April. 

Bandung has served for popular weekend break destination for people living in Jakarta. The cooler climate of highland plantation area, the varieties of food, the cheaper fashion shop located in factory outlets and distros, golf courses are attractions of the city.


In the 1990s, local designers opened denim clothing stores along Cihampelas street which transformed into a 'jeans street'. The city attract people from other big cities to buy local fashion wears, as they are cheaper than branded items. Beside at Cihampelas street, many factory outlets also opened at Riau street, Setiabudi street and Djuanda street (known as Dago). Textile factories on the outskirts of Bandung have opened factory outlets on site selling what is marketed as sisa export (rejected or over produced export quality items). Bandung supermall, Bandung Indah Plaza, Ciwalk acronims of Cihampelas Walk and Paris van Java are famous shopping centres in Bandung.


In the north of Bandung, Bosscha Observatory, is the only observatory in Indonesia. Construction of the observatory began in 1923 and was completed in 1928. In 1922, the first international publication from Bosscha Observatory was published and in 1959, the observatory was included as a part of the department of astronomy in the Institut Tehnologi Bandung (Bandung Institute Technology).

Bandung economy is mainly built upon tourism, manufacturing, textile/apparel, education institutions, technology, retail, service, plantation/agriculture, financial, pharmaceutical, food, among others. Those are the major investments and most popular fields/industries being sought here.