Bogor
Discover Bogor
Bogor is a city in the Bogor Raya region of Western Java, Indonesia. With almost a million inhabitants, modern Bogor is the 6th largest city of Jabodetabek (Greater Jakarta metropolitan area) and the 14th nationwide. In the Middle Ages, the city was the capital of Sunda Kingdom under name of Pakuan Padjajaran. Its name changed during the Dutch colonial period to Buitenzorg, meaning "without care" in Dutch. The city changed its name to "Bogor" during the Japanese occupation. Originally a mountain resort town, it is now a densely populated city that is part of the Greater Jakarta metropolitan area. The city is most famous for its presidential palace and the extensive botanical gardens (Bogor Botanical Garden), which is one of the oldest in the world. The city is also famous nationwide for its education, especially in Agricultural Science.
Taste of Bogor...
Bogor's local specialities include pickles (asinan) and grilled bean sprouts (tauge goreng). Convenience stores such as Indomaret, Alfamart, and Circle K do not sell beer or any spirits. Drinking beer out in the open is culturally frowned upon, but generally speaking people won't say anything - you might get a few side eyes. That being said, you can still find alcohol in larger supermarkets, bars/bistros, and specialty beer stores, just like any other cities in Java. Bogor is called the 'rain city' due to the fact that Bogor gets more rain than all other cities in Java. Strong winds can occur once or twice a year with speeds of more than 100 km/h for one or two minutes, but never exceeding 200 km/h. Beware of collapsing trees. In January 2015, 4 people died and 21 people were injured when an 8-m long tree, 1.5 m in diameter tumbled and struck employees of one company when they were gathering in Kebun Raya Bogor.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Bogor into what it is today.
What is now Bogor and its surroundings has been inhabited for centuries. According to a 5th-century stone inscription (Prasasti Ciaruteun), the Bogor region was part of the ancient Hindu kingdom of Tarumanagara, the earliest known kingdom in Java and one of the earliest states in present-day Indonesia. After Tarumanagara was defeated by the neighbouring Srivijaya, the kingdom was succeeded by the Kingdom of Sunda. The kingdom reigned over much of western Java, and Bogor was chosen as its capital under name of "Pakuan Padjajaran". In old Sundanese, the name "Pakuan Padjajaran" means "a place between the parallel [rivers]". It was one of the largest cities in medieval Java, with well over 48,000 inhabitants. After Sunda was defeated by the neighboring Sultanate of Banten, most of the area became neglected and remained mostly uninhabited for decades. In the middle of the 17th century, the Sultanate of Banten was brought under the control of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The first temporal colonial settlement was a camp of lieutenant Tanoejiwa, a Sundanese employed by the VOC. Due to its relatively fertile soil, the Dutch transformed Pakuan into a plantation area. In a relatively short time, several agricultural settlements appeared around Pakuan, and, in 1701, these settlements were merged into a single administrative district. In 1744–1745, the residence of the Governor-General (now Bogor Palace) was built and became the seat of government during the summer....
Climate
Bogor's epithet is Kota Hujan, meaning "City of Rain". Statistically, it's the rainiest city on Java, and locals jokingly advise getting any sightseeing done in the morning because it's guaranteed to rain in the afternoon. Then again, tramping through the Gardens can actually be more pleasant in a cool drizzle. Lovers of Bogor will tell you that most of the time it is dry; normally, the rain falls only in heavy bursts late in the day. The nearest major international airport is Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta International Airport.(CGK) There are direct Damri buses from there to Bogor Rp 55,000 every 30 min (1-2 hours, depending on traffic). If you charter a helicopter from Soekarno Hatta airport, you can request in advance for permission to land at Atang Senjaya airport, Bogor. This airport is a military base, but it may be used for civilian flights in the future. Bogor is the southern terminus of the yellow and red lines of Jakarta's commuter rail network (KA Commuter Jabodetabek).
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe nearest major international airport is Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta International Airport.(CGK) There are direct Damri buses from there to Bogor Rp 55,000 every 30 min (1-2 hours, depending on traffic). If you charter a helicopter from Soekarno Hatta airport, you can request in advance for permission to land at Atang Senjaya airport, Bogor. This airport is a military base, but it may be used for civilian flights in the future. Bogor is the southern terminus of the yellow and red lines of Jakarta's commuter rail network (KA Commuter Jabodetabek). Both lines run from Jakarta via Depok to Bogor, with the red line trains originating at Kota station in West Jakarta, and the yellow line trains originating at Jatinegara station in East Jakarta. Trains of both lines call at several stations in South Jakarta as well, while red line trains call at Gondangdia station in Central Jakarta, near the famous backpacker's street Jalan Jaksa....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
There are many pleasant traffic-free walks in Bogor, alongside rivers and canals. The traffic in Bogor is chaotic. There is a daily traffic jam in Bogor from early in the morning to late in the afternoon. On weekend and holiday, people from Jakarta often go to Bogor with their cars. The easiest way to get around Bogor is by angkot, little green minibuses, hordes of which infest Bogor's central streets. Any trip from anywhere to anywhere costs Rp 2,000, paid when you get off. The downsides to using angkot are that the drivers are reckless and theft is all too common (guard your belongings). Also, some angkot like 02 or 03 only depart from their pangkalan (terminals) when full — 10 min on a good day on a busy route, 90 minutes on a bad day on an unpopular one. Horse carts known as delman can be found in central Bogor, and it could be an option if you want to cruise around and take a look at the city. The poor beasts aren't very comfortable in the traffic scrum, though.
Where to Stay
Bogor is called the 'rain city' due to the fact that Bogor gets more rain than all other cities in Java. Strong winds can occur once or twice a year with speeds of more than 100 km/h for one or two minutes, but never exceeding 200 km/h. Beware of collapsing trees. In January 2015, 4 people died and 21 people were injured when an 8-m long tree, 1.5 m in diameter tumbled and struck employees of one company when they were gathering in Kebun Raya Bogor.
Money & Budget
Most exciting are the traditional markets, filled with cheap clothing, toys, fruit, vegetables and the like. You should come every Sunday morning in Sempur for "in the morning" shopping while you have exercise. Tons of things and food for breakfast. Bogor's local specialities include pickles (asinan) and grilled bean sprouts (tauge goreng). Convenience stores such as Indomaret, Alfamart, and Circle K do not sell beer or any spirits. Drinking beer out in the open is culturally frowned upon, but generally speaking people won't say anything - you might get a few side eyes. That being said, you can still find alcohol in larger supermarkets, bars/bistros, and specialty beer stores, just like any other cities in Java.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Bogor is called the 'rain city' due to the fact that Bogor gets more rain than all other cities in Java. Strong winds can occur once or twice a year with speeds of more than 100 km/h for one or two minutes, but never exceeding 200 km/h. Beware of collapsing trees. In January 2015, 4 people died and 21 people were injured when an 8-m long tree, 1.5 m in diameter tumbled and struck employees of one company when they were gathering in Kebun Raya Bogor.