Jakarta: Seaport city bathed in history
August 30, 2012
The Indonesian capital of Jakarta is a fascinating city, with a long and proud maritime history.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Jakarta boasts a vibrant maritime history because of its location along the spice route
- Travelers can get a taste of Jakarta's nautical past
- Indonesia is a melting pot of cultures and people
Each week The Gateway
goes behind the scenes of the world's major transport hubs, revealing
the logistics that keep goods and people moving. This month, the show is
in Jakarta, Indonesia.
(CNN) -- Jakarta has always had a rich and fruitful
relationship with the sea. A trade gateway linking east and west, the
modern city can still show travelers glimpses of its long maritime
history.
Now the Indonesian
capital, it was initially settled as the port of Sunda Kelapa by the
Hindu Kingdom of Sunda around the fifth century and was designed to
develop a vibrant sea trade for the realm.
Sunda Kelapa port
The "coconut of Sunda"
(the port's name translated from Sundanese) soon flourished and
attracted the attention of other maritime-invested nations including the
Portuguese, Dutch and British. To this day, you can still see the
influence of the Dutch colonialists in the architecture of many of the
buildings in the old city.
Today, Indonesia is an
independent republic that has become a melting pot of cultures and
people. Nicknamed by travelers as the "Big Durian" (a pungent-smelling
but sweet-tasting local fruit), the modern metropolis of Jakarta is a
swelteringly smoggy city bursting at the seams with people.
Jakarta's maritime history
Female captain fights armed robberies
Its moniker is probably a
good description of the city. It may not be everyone's idea of a
typical vacation spot -- some portions of the city are grungy,
dilapidated streets with scruffy slums. But underneath the seemingly
overpopulated, polluted exterior lies a vibrant city rich in history and
eclectic tourism options. Here are our top picks for tourists wanting
to sample Jakarta's maritime heritage.
Often missed by
vacationers, the historic harbor of Sunda Kelapa sits at the mouth of
the Ciliwung River. The original settlement is a fantastic insight into
the city's history and is home to what is said to be the world's last
wind-powered seafaring trade fleet.
Walk amongst the
traditional pinisi ships -- simple but sturdy wooden vessels -- that
once provided trade from Indonesia to Europe and Africa. Climb up
Syahbandar Tower and gaze upon the beautiful views from the top.
Pasar Ikan
Literally meaning "Fish
Market" in Bahasa Indonesia (the country's native tongue), Pasar Ikan
sits at the end of Sunda Kelapa harbor. Although the market now sells
all types of wares, Indonesian fishermen still gather here daily to sell
their catch. The best time to visit and join locals purchasing the best
goods is in the morning before it gets too hot and the smell of fish
becomes overwhelming.
Nearby, you can also see
traditional kampung houses (dwellings on stilts) where local families
live. Don't be shy and say hello to the incredibly friendly and
welcoming folks that reside next to the market.
Museum Bahari
A short distance from Pasar Ikan are several repurposed Dutch East India Company warehouses, which now operate as Museum Bahari.
Today, the museum lets you step back in time through the country's
nautical past and emphasizes how important the sea still is to the
economy of present-day Indonesia.
On display are
beautifully decorated fishing boats and pinisi schooners as well as
shipbuilding tools and explanations of Indonesian folklore and maritime
traditions.
Steering away from the
old harbor, visit the Kota Tua (Old Batavia) area. In the 16th century,
the Dutch settled in Indonesia -- renaming Jakarta "Batavia" -- after
seeing a high demand for the country's spices. It is in the popular Kota
district that tourists can see the influence left by Indonesia's former
colonists.
Kota Tua
The buildings
surrounding Fatahillah Square have distinct Dutch facades and
architectural elements. Stroll down roads lined with stalls, street acts
and tourists to visit the Jakarta History Museum, Wayang (Puppet)
Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics.
Outside the Jakarta
Historical Museum sits Si Jagur -- a disused Portuguese cannon that is
believed to bring fertility to women who touch it. And a few blocks west
of Fatahillah Square is the Great Canal, with its historical Dutch
drawbridge, Jembatan Pasar Ayam, rising over the waterway. No longer
operational, in the past the drawbridge was built to connect the Dutch
and British forts stationed on each side of the canal.
Finally, end your visit
to Jakarta by visiting the National Monument (known locally as "Monas")
in the center of Merdeka Square. It was erected in the 1960s as a
tribute to Indonesian independence and today stands as a reminder of
Jakarta's vibrant and multicultural history.
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