Bandung

Welcome to Bandung!

Bandung is the capital city of West Java in Indonesia. It is about 135 kilometres (84 miles) southeast of Jakarta. Bandung is special because it has a cool climate. This is because the city is situated 708 meters (2,323 feet) above sea level.

In the past, the Dutch used the area around Bandung for tea plantations. They called it Parijs van Java or "The Paris of Java" because it was beautiful. After Indonesia declared independence in 1945, Bandung grew into a busy city with many tall buildings and lots of people.

Today, Bandung is a major technology centre and a Smart City. It uses technology to help with services and keep people informed. The city hosted an important meeting called the Bandung Conference in 1955. It also has a new international airport called Kertajati International Airport that opened in 2018.

A City with History

Bandung has a long history. People lived in the area as far back as 1488. In the 1700s and 1800s, the Dutch built roads and farms around Bandung. In 1810, they built a major road called De Groote Postweg, now Jalan Asia-Afrika.

In 1880, the first train from Batavia (now Jakarta) to Bandung was finished. This helped the city grow. By 1906, Bandung became an official city. In the 1920s, the Dutch planned to move their capital to Bandung and built many government buildings.

Geography and Climate

Bandung is surrounded by tall volcanic mountains. The city lies in a wide flat area called the Bandung Basin. This area provides water for drinking, farming, and fishing.

Bandung has a tropical monsoon climate. This means it has wet and dry seasons. The temperatures stay fairly cool because of its higher elevation.

A Place to Visit

Bandung is a favorite weekend spot for people from Jakarta because of its cool weather, tasty food, and affordable shops. The city has many places to shop for clothes and visit, including golf courses and a zoo.

Near Bandung, there are interesting places to see such as Tangkuban Prahu volcano, Kawah Putih lake, and Patenggang Lake. The city also has museums worth visiting, like the Geological Museum of Bandung and the Asian-African Conference Museum.

Getting Around

Bandung can be reached by highways from Jakarta. The fastest way is the Cipularang Toll Road, connecting Jakarta, Karawang, Purwakarta, Padalarang and Bandung. Driving time is about 1.5 hours.

The city has two intercity bus terminals: Leuwipanjang, for buses from the west, and Cicaheum, for buses from the east. Taxis and Carpooling are easy to find. The main way people get around is by angkot minibuses.

Bandung has two large railway stations, Bandung and Kiaracondong Stations. Railway lines connect Bandung to many cities in Java.

Learning in Bandung

Bandung is an important place for learning in Indonesia. It has many colleges and schools for children. There are 16 universities in the city, including the Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia’s oldest technical university, founded in 1920.

In the north of Bandung is the Bosscha Observatory, Indonesia’s only observatory. It was built between 1923 and 1928 and later became part of the Bandung Institute of Technology’s Department of Astronomy.