Visit Jakarta

Jakarta

Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is the largest city in Indonesia. The city has all the modern amenities. But in its quest for modernization the city has not forgotten its past and has carefully preserved its rich cultural heritage. Apart from the skyscrapers, colonial structures built by European powers form an integral part of Jakarta's skyline.

Jakarta is a city of many fascinating facets. It is the main gateway to Indonesia. In recent years, Jakarta has expanded its facilities for visitors with multi-star luxury hotels, fine restaurants, exciting nightlife and modern shopping centers. Food is quite cheap in Jakarta and is available in great variety.

History of Jakarta


Jakarta was a small harbor town when the last Hindu Kingdom of Java, Kingdom of Pajajaran, was ruling in 14th century. Muslim ruler Fatahilklah conquered the city and changed the name to Jayakarta or the City of Victory on June 22, 1527.


Later on, the Dutch conquered the city in 1619 and built a new city Batavia, which remained the center of power for them in South East Asia for more than 300 years. The city came under the siege of Japanese Imperial Forces in 1941 during the Second World War and its name was changed back to Jakarta (from Jayakarta).

The defeat of Japan did not allow them to remain in Indonesia for long. Dutch again tried to capture the city but by now freedom struggle was already quite strong in the country and on August 17, 1945, the Indonesian leaders proclaimed its independence from foreign rule in Jakarta.

Weather of Jakarta


Jakarta has tropical climate with a high average humidity. There is not much difference in the day and night temperature.


Average day temperature is 28ºC while average night temperature is a bit cooler at 25ºC. October to April is the wet season while the dry season is from May to September.


Best Time to Visit Jakarta

Dry season is also the best period to visit this part of the world because weather is clear, roads in the interiors are open, and temperatures are at their best.

Tourist Attractions/Places to See in Jakarta :

The National Monument, or "Monas" as it is popularly called:


Is one of the monuments built during the Sukarno era of fierce nationalism. It stands for the people's determination to achieve freedom and the crowning of their efforts in the Proclamation of Independence in August 1945.

The 137-metre tall marble obelisk is topped with a flame coated with 35 kg of gold. The base houses a historical museum and a hall for meditations. The monument is open to the public and upon request the lift can carry visitors to the top, which offers a bird's eye view of the city and the sea.


Istiqlal Mosque:

It is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the second largest in the world. The mosque took 17 long years to build and the grandeur of its walls and dome is visible from quite far away.


Taman Impian Jaya Ancol (Ancol Dreamland):


The dreamland is present with its captivating beauty of Jakarta Bay and four other attraction, Sea world, Fantasy World (Dunia fantasy), Atlantis Water Adventure and Marina Beach.


Old Town of Jakarta:

Jakarta Old Town, also known as Old Jakarta, and Old Batavia (Oud Batavia), is a small area in Jakarta, Indonesia. This special region spans 1.3 square kilometres of both North Jakarta and West Jakarta.


Now, many remaining historical buildings and architecture are steadily deteriorating; at best, "dilapidated". such as; Museum History of Jakarta (ex-Dutch Indies general governoor palace), Museum Bahari, Sunda Kelapa harbour, and Omni Batavia hotel.


Ragunan Zoo:


Is Zoo Ragunan is a zoo located in the area Ragunan, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, Indonesia. Zoo area of 140 hectares was established in the year 1864. In it, there is a collection consisting of 295 species and 4040 specimens and at the zoo there is also this "Schmutzer Primate Center".


Orchid Gardens:

Indonesia has some of the most exotic orchid gardens. Several commercial orchid gardens are open to public. Some of the best known of them are located at Slipi, Ragunan and Taman Mini.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature):


Situated just outside Jakarta, the park has miniatures of all the 27 provinces of the country reproduced in its Central Lake. This is a wonderful place to know about the entire archipelago in just one day. Regular cultural programmes and ceremonies are held in the park representing different regions.


Pulau Seribu:


This group of islands in the Jakarta Bay offers a haven away from the bustle of city life. There are golden beaches fringed with coconut palms. The surrounding waters are a paradise for scuba divers.


The islands can be reached from Tanjung Priok or Pasar Ikan (Sunda Kelapa) by ferry or by chartered boat. Some of the islands in this group developed for tourism are Pulau Bidadari, Pulau Ayer, Pulau Laki and Pulau Putri.


Museum Gadjah:

The National Museum of Indonesia is situated at Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat. It contains around 85,000 items, the largest in the world of Indonesian artefacts. There is one of the largest and rare collections of Oriental ceramics in this museum.


Shopping in Jakarta

Jakarta unlike its recent past is now home to glittering shopping arcades full of merchandises.
Taman Surapati is full of paintings displayed by peddlers.

Glodok and Pancoran in the Chinatown are the best places to buy antique furniture, Old Dutch lamps, and Chinese porcelains. There are many souvenir shops selling the best of Indonesian arts and crafts.


In recent years, Jakarta has expanded its facilities for visitors with luxury and modern shopping centers.

How to Reach Jakarta


Soekarno - Hatta International Airport is the principle gateway of Indonesia and almost all the major airlines operating in the region stop here. It is situated around 35 km away from the city centre.

Taxies and buses ( busway ) are the best transport to ferry you to the city.

source: indonesiatravel.org.uk

Indonesia Travel Tips

Travel Tips for Indonesia

For a pleasurable and convenient trip to Indonesia follow these useful travel tips:

Health:

Immunization against hepatitis A is recommended for all travelers. Depending on length of stay and itinerary, vaccination for Japanese encephalitis, rabies, typhoid and hepatitis B may be needed. Malaria and dengue fever exist in many parts of the country. Therefore take adequate protection mosquito bites and keep anti-malarial medicine with yourself. Drink water only from sealed bottles, and avoid swimming in freshwater lakes or streams as disease-causing organisms such as schistosomiasis may be present. Take precautions against heat and humidity. Wear sunscreen and a hat and drink lots of water.

Dress Code:

In business circles, wearing a suit is the norm for both men and women. For formal occasions, either a suit or a long-sleeved, good quality, batik shirt are recommended for men, whilst evening or cocktail dresses are suitable for women. As Indonesia is primarily a Muslim country, modesty in dress is advised; remember to cover up if you intend visiting a mosque.

Local Customs:

Indonesia has a high Muslim populace and it is important to understand and respect the local beliefs. Scanty clothing is not advisable in public places in deference to local customs. Shorts are not allowed in mosques and women should have their arms and head covered.

Offices:

Most government offices are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Commercial offices and businesses are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Saturdays. Hours for businesses and commercial offices are staggered.

Electricity:

Cities run on 220 volts, 50 cycles AC system. Rural areas may only be able to provide 110 volts.

Important Dos and Don'ts:

Calling people by crooking your finger is considered impolite.
Patting someone on the head is not done among adults and should even be avoided with children.
Climbing over monuments or places of worship is considered highly disrespectful. (In Bali, waist sashes should be worn when visiting temples.
Take off your shoes when entering a mosque or temple
Take off your sunglasses inside someone's house, unless you have an eye disease.
Use your right hand when receiving something from or giving something to someone. Talking with one's hands on one's hips is considered impolite. Important Dos and Don'ts.

source: indonesiatravel.org.uk

Visa Rules for Indonesia

Indonesia Visa Rules

There are several types of Indonesia visas such as Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Multiple-entry Visa (for business trips only) and Transit Visa. All travelers to Indonesia must possess passports, valid for at least six months after arrival, and proof of onward passage out of the country.

Visa Guidelines:

Visas are not required for tourists who are nationals of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, The Philippines, Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR), Macao Special Administration Region (SAR), Chile, Morocco, Peru, and Vietnam.

Countries and districts eligible for a visa on arrival are: United States of America, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Hungary, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Norway, France, Poland, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Taiwan.

These visas can be obtained from the following airports on arrival:

Polonia (Medan), Sultan Syarif Kasim II (Pekan Baru), Tabing (Padang), Soekarno - Hatta (Jakarta), Juanda (Surabaya), Ngurah Rai (Bali), Samratulangi (Manado).

The following seaports also offer visa on arrival:

Sekupang, Batu Ampar, Nongsa and Marina Teluk Senimba (Batam), Bandar Bintan Telani Lagoi and Sri Udara Lobam (Tanjung Uban), Belawan (Belawan), Sibolga (Sibolga), Yos Sudarso (Dumai), Teluk Bayur (Padang), Tanjung Priok (Jakarta), Padang Bai (Bali), Jayapura(Jayapura).

*NOTE: The information supplied here is meant as a guide only and is subject to change without warning. Therefore all travelers should check the visa and immigration details with the local Indonesian Embassy or Consulate.

source: indonesiatravel.org.uk 

Currency of Indonesia

Indonesian Rupiah is also called as IDR:

Indonesian Currency rupiah - The local currency of Indonesia is Rupiah (Rp) and1Rp = 100 sen.

Bills come in denominations of Rp 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 1,00,000.

Coins come in denominations of Rp 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000.

Foreign currencies, either banknotes or travellers cheques, are easily exchanged at banks and moneychangers in major tourist destinations.

Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants in main cities.

It is advisable to carry sufficient amounts of Rupiah when traveling to smaller towns or outer provinces.

Culture & Religion of Indonesia

Culture & Religion of Indonesia

The present day culture of Indonesia is an outcome of the interplay of age-old- traditions from the time of early migrants and the Western thought brought by Portuguese traders and Dutch colonists. The basic principles, which guide life include the concepts of mutual assistance or "gotong royong" and consultations or "musyawarah" to arrive at a consensus or "mufakat".

Derived from rural life, this system is still very much in use in community life throughout the country. Though the legal system is based on the Old Dutch penal code, social life as well as the rites of passage is founded on customary or "adat" law, which differs from area to area. ''Adat'' law has been instrumental in maintaining gender equality in Indonesia.

Indonesian art forms are greatly influenced by religion. The famous dance dramas of Java and Bali are derived from Hindu mythology and often feature fragments from the Hindu epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata.

The crafts of Indonesia vary in both medium and art form. As a whole the people are artistic by nature and express themselves on canvas, wood, metals, clay and stone. The batik process of waxing and dyeing originated in Java centuries ago and classic designs have been modified with modern trends in both pattern and technology. There are several centres of Batik in Java, the major ones being Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Pekalongan and Cirebon.

Indonesia is rich in handicrafts. Various forms of handicrafts practiced are: woodcarvings for ornamentation and furniture, silverwork and engraving from Yogyakarta and Sumatra; filgree from South Sulawesi and Bali with different styles of clay, sandstone and wood sculptures. These are but a few of the handicrafts found in Indonesia.

Religion in Indonesia: The majority (about 88%) of the population follows Islam. In fact Indonesia is the nation with largest Muslim population. However, freedom of religion is provided by the Indonesian Constitution, which is defined in the First Principle of the State Philosophy' "Pancasila", which upholds a "Belief in One Supreme God". Others religions followed in Indonesia are Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism.

source:indonesiatravel.org.uk

Best Time to Visit Indonesia

Best Time to Visit Indonesia

Best time to visit Indonesia is during dry season between April and October.

The humidity is relatively less and weather is pleasant at this time of the year.

Though travel in the wet season is possible in most parts of Indonesia, it can be a deterrent to some activities.

Best Season to Visit Indonesia = Between April and October.

Entry Point

Entry Point

Any one coming to Indonesia shall have at least 6-moth valid passport as of the arrival date and have permit document to pass. No Visa is needed for tourists from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, French, Greek, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italia, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippine, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, England, America and Venezuela.

Free entry visa is also provided to delegates registered in a conference that is officially held. In addition, tourist visa can be obtained from every Indonesian Embassy or Consulate. Come in and out of Indonesia must pass number of specific gates, namely by air via Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Manado, Biak, Ambon, Surabaya and Batam; by sea via Semarang, Jakarta, Bali, Pontianak, Balikpapan, Tanjung Pinang and Kupang. The length of stay in Indonesia is permitted for maximum two months.

Customs Office regulation in Indonesia allows to bring in 2 liter alcoholic drinks, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 gram tobaccos and sufficient amount of perfume for adults. Number of items that needs special permit to be brought in Indonesia is car, photography instrument, and other electronic devices. All films and videos must be censored by Indonesian Film Sensor Agency. Then fresh fruits, plants, and animals should also have quarantine permit. In general, narcotics and weapons are illegal items to be brought in Indonesia.

source: indonesia.travel