Jakarta, officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, is the capital and most

populous city of Indonesia. Located on the northwest coast of the world's most populous
island of Java, the city is the center of economics, culture and politics of Indonesia, with
a population of 10,075,310 as of 2014. Greater Jakarta metropolitan area, which is
known as Jabodetabek (a name formed by combining the initial syllables of
Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi), is the second largest urban
agglomeration in the world, with a population of 30,214,303 inhabitants as of
2010 census. Jakarta's business opportunities, as well as its potential to offer a higher
standard of living, attract migrants from all over the Indonesian archipelago, making the
city a melting pot of many communities and cultures

Capital of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta is a huge, sprawling metropolis, home to 9

million people. During the day the number increases with another 2 million as
commuters making their way to work in the city, and flock out again in the evenings.
Located on the northern coast of Java, the province of Jakarta has rapidly expanded
through the years, absorbing many villages in the process.

In fact, Jakarta is a conglomeration of villages known as kampung, now crossed by

main roads and super highways. It is small wonder therefore, that you may drive down
one wide avenue one minute then suddenly find yourself squeezed into a small street
together with scores of cars and motorbikes. Together with its many suburbs Jakarta
has become a megapolitan city. Therefore, when you visit Jakarta it is best to invest in a
good map, or rely on GPS.

As capital city of a Indonesia, Jakarta is not only the seat of the national government
and the provincial government, this city is also Indonesias political center. Moreover,
Jakarta is also the center and hub of Indonesias national finance and trade. It is no
wonder, therefore that you will find Jakarta an ever dynamic city, a city that never
sleeps.

Here, one finds restaurants serving international cuisine or regional dishes from the
archipelago, ranging from exclusive restaurants to road-side stalls to satisfy everyones
taste buds.

Jakartas nightlife is second to none. Discos, nightclubs, music rooms in top class hotels
or stand-alone offer a wide variety of music and dance opportunities.
Jakarta is, moreover, a great place for shopping, and is able to compete in choice and
price with many favourite shopping cities around the world like Singapore and Hong
Kong. Every year, the Jakarta Great Sale offers huge discounts attracting thousands of
shoppers from the provinces and South East Asia.

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia, located on the northwest of the
island of Java. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre and the
most populous city not only in Indonesia but in Southeast Asia as a whole.

Although the city is known for its heavy traffic and high level of pollution it is filled with
an exciting nightlife and vibrant shopping areas. The city is also the centre and melting
pot of Indonesian culture which might be the thing for you to enjoy Jakarta.

One excellent surprise you'll find in Jakarta is that once you past the taxi drivers who
offer their services at the airport and really meet the locals, you will find that the people
are among the most friendly, hospitable, and helpful people you'll find on earth, if you
keep away from the mini-bus drivers who are notorious for being the harshest on earth.
However, understand that Jakarta being a melting pot, you are guaranteed to meet
people of all sorts here.

Administrative divisions of Jakarta

Map of the municipalities (Kota administrasi) in Jakarta province. Each city is divided
into districts(Kecamatan).
Jakarta consists of five Kota Administratif (Administrative cities/municipalities), each
headed by a mayor and a Kabupaten Administratif (Administrative regency). Each city
and regency is again divided into districts/Kecamatan. The administrative
cities/municipalities of Jakarta are:

Central Jakarta (Jakarta Pusat) is Jakarta's smallest city and home to most of
Jakarta's administrative and political centre. It is divided into 8 administrative
districts. It is characterised by large parks and Dutch colonial buildings. Landmarks
include the National Monument (Monas), Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, Jakarta
Cathedral, and museums
West Jakarta (Jakarta Barat) has the highest concentration of small-scale industries
in Jakarta. This city has 8 districts. The area includes Jakarta's Chinatown and
Dutch colonial landmarks such as the Chinese Langgam building and Toko Merah.
West Jakarta contains part of Jakarta Old Town.
South Jakarta (Jakarta Selatan), originally planned as a satellite city, is now the
location of large upscale shopping centres and affluent residential areas. South
Jakarta is again divided into 10 territorial districts. Jakarta Selatan functions as
Jakarta's ground water buffer,[66]but recently the green belt areas are threatened by
new developments. Much of the CBD area of Jakarta is concentrated in Setiabudi,
South Jakarta, bordering the Tanah Abang/Sudirman area of Central Jakarta.
East Jakarta (Jakarta Timur) territory is characterised by several industrial sectors.
Also located in East Jakarta are Taman Mini Indonesia Indah and Halim
Perdanakusuma International Airport. This city has 10 districts/kecamatan.
North Jakarta (Jakarta Utara) is the only city in Jakarta that is bounded by the sea
(Java Sea). It is the location of the Tanjung Priok. Large-scale and medium-scale
industries are concentrated in North Jakarta. North Jakarta contains part of Jakarta
Old Town, formerly known as Batavia since the 17th century, and was the centre
of VOC trade activity in Dutch East Indies. Also located in North Jakarta is Ancol
Dreamland (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol), currently the largest integrated tourism area
in South East Asia.[68] North Jakarta is divided into 6 districts.

The only administrative regency (kabupaten) of Jakarta is:

 Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu), formerly a district within the city of North
Jakarta, is a collection of 105 small islands located on the Java Sea. It has of high
conservation value because of its unique and special ecosystems. Marine tourism,
such as diving, water bicycling, and wind surfing, are the primary touristic activities
in this territory. The main mode of transportation between the islands are speed
boats or small ferries.

Culinaries

You can find Jakartan versions of many dishes, often tagged with the
label betawi (Indonesian for "Batavian").

Sop iga sapi, beef spare rib soup that takes a simple Dutch dish and piles on
Indonesian spices.

Soto betawi, coconut milk broth with beef tendons, intestines, tripe.

Kerak telor, omelette from egg cooked with glutinous rice and served with shredded
coconut and a dried shrimp topping.

Ketoprak, rice roll, tofu, bean sprout, crackers in peanut sauce.

Bubur Dingin, lit. Cold Pouridge with beef sweet soup

Nasi uduk, rice cooked in coconut milk similar to nasi lemak, served with choices of
various toppings; such as fried chicken, beef, fried shalots sambal

Nasi ulam, rice cooked in coconut milk served with fried minced beef, sweet fried
tempe, many other toppings, cucumber, and sambal (chilli sauce).

Landmarks
 Monas (National Monument). Located at Lapangan Merdeka (Freedom Square),
Jakarta's best known landmark, the 137 metre monument is located in the centre of
Merdeka (Freedom) square. From the observation deck, you can view the city. At
the basement there are dioramas that portray the dramatic story of Indonesia
history. Entrance ticket Rp 2,500, ticket to the top of Monas, Rp 7,500.

Presidential Palace, (north of the National Monument). Official residence and office
of the Indonesian president is open to the public on weekends for free, preferably
make reservation first and use formal clothes, no sandals.

Gelangang Bung Karno Stadium, (Senayan Sport complex in South Jakarta). A

large stadium surrounded by a large park, the area is a good way to enjoy a fresh air
away from the congestion and as well to see a large stadium provided you are
interested in it.

Bundaran HI, (Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle). A large fountain with a statue, located
in Central Jakarta and is in front of the city's grand major malls.

Themeparks

Ancol Dream Park (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol). Ancol Dream Park is located right
on the coast. The Park itself is well worth the visit, however, don't hold high
expectations for the beach or for the quality of the sea water. Both the beach and
the sea water are polluted and best avoided. The Park consists a theme park, Dunia
Fantasi (Fantasy world) with ticket fee Rp 195,000 per person in week days and
Rp 275,000 per person on week end-Sunday-and-Holiday, Atlantis Water Adventure
(Waterboom) ticket fee Rp 100,000 per person, Seaworld (for the largest aquarium
in South East Asia), Gelanggang Samudra (Ocean Park) animals show ticket Rp
90,000 per person, Fantastic Multimedia (Laser) Show ticket fee Rp 50,000 per
person, resorts, hotel, beach, marina, and great restaurants. It's one of the biggest
such parks in Asia. Entrance ticket fee to the complex Rp 25,000 per person
excluding parking fee
 Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, (Beautiful Indonesia in little park). See the whole
Indonesian culture from here. It offers an exciting tour of 30 provinces of Indonesia
with samplings of the country's more than 250 cultures. Highlight features are the
Museum Indonesia and the Keong Emas IMAX theater. Entrance ticket fee to the
complex Rp 10,000 per person and individual attractions must also be paid for -
prices range from 5,000-40,000 depending on the attraction.

Jungleland Sentul City, located in Bogor regency however far from the city center
lies Indonesia's largest and newest theme park. There are much more variety of
rides in the theme park compared to Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy world), complete with a
science park and a dinosaur land, a great place for both kids or adults who like to
get their adrenaline boiled.

Museums

(note that majority of the museums in Indonesia do not have English translation, but
major museum does)

Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, (Jakarta Arts Theater). Neo-renaissance structure,

previously meticulously restored, and now one of the proud landmarks among the
Jakarta buildings which have been conserved. Some of the city best performance by
both local and visiting artists are often held here.

Museum Nasional, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat no.12 (BRT Monumen Nasional,
Monas, Transjakarta Busway stop Gambir, Line I), +62 21 3868172, +62 21 381
1551 (museumnasional_ina@yahoo.co.id, fax: +62 21 3447778), [2]. Tu-Fri 8:30AM-
4PM, Sat-Sun 8AM-5PM and closed on Mon and public holidays. Houses a vast
collection of prehistoric, ethnographic and archaeological artifacts, including one of
the world's largest collections of Southeast Asian ceramics and Hindu Javanese art.
The museum was opened in 1868. See the Jakarta/Central article for more detail,
including tour information. Admission charge: Indonesian residents: Rp 5,000,
foreign visitors: Rp 10,000. edit
 National Gallery of Indonesia. The National Gallery of Indonesia has existed as a
cultural institution in the field of visual arts. Today the museum kept 1770 artworks
by Indonesian and foreign artists, among the most notable are Indonesian artists
Raden Saleh, Affandi, Basuki Abdullah, and also some foreign artists such as
Wassily Kandinsky, Hans Hartung, Victor Vasarely, Sonia Delaunay, Pierre
Soulages, and Zao Wou Ki.

Museum Art Mon Decor. A new museum located in Jakarta, it houses various
numbers of modern artwork by various Indonesian artist from all over the region.

Textile Museum. Houses a large collections of textiles related to the religious and
social practices of the major islands of the archipelago, including batik, ikat and kain
ulos.

Gedung Proklamasi, (Proclamation Building). The historical site of Indonesian

independence, where on August 17th, 1945 Soekarno-Hatta (Indonesian first
President and vice-President) declared the nation's independence.

Lubang Buaya. Marks the site where an alleged failed coup d' etat by Partai
Komunis Indonesia (PKI), the Indonesian Communist Party, met its end, alongside
the bodies of several high-ranking generals who are believed to have been tortured
to death.

Museum Taman Prasasti. A museum that is located in what formerly is a wealthy

Dutch graveyard, the museum is surrounded with tombs and monuments with
European designs and arts.

Museum Polri. Indonesia's police force Museum, located in the southern part of the
city.

Satria Mandala Museum. A war museum located in Southern Jakarta, displaying

sets of weapons, tanks, and war planes.
 Museum Adam Malik,. Small museum dedicated to Mr Adam Malik, a renowned
figure who represented Indonesia in the United Nations, among many of his other
feats including as an Indonesian foreign minister.

Museum Bank Mandiri, (in the Old Town or Kota Tua area opposite the Northern
Terminus of Corridor 1 of the Busway and Kota Station). See the history of banking
in the Dutch colonial era. Sections include the history of how the Dutch segregated
the services offered to bankers by race, the history of the creation of Bank Mandiri
and it's memorabilia , Colonial Era Bank Governors and Rupiah bank notes through
time.

Museum Bank Indonesia a museum located next to Bank Mandiri, it is one of the
most modern museum in Indonesia, with a history of trades and currency in
Indonesia during the colonial times.

Museum Wayang, (Puppet Museum). Dedicated to puppetry and is located at Kota

Tua, one of Indonesia's most famous traditional art forms. On display are the
wayang kulit shadow puppets, three-dimensional wooden puppets and special
dance masks. Wayang performances are presented on Sunday at 10AM.

National Archieve Museum. Formerly the Dutch archive building now is a

museum, it is also located in the Kota Tua area.

Museum of fine ceramic and art. Formerly the court of justice in Dutch colonial
era, now houses potteries and artworks of Indonesia.

Historical Heritages

Kota Tua, (Old town Batavia). Is the old town of Jakarta, situated at north of Jakarta
nearby the Glodok China Town. The area collides modern Jakarta with its old Dutch
colonial charm. It includes a square of the old city, complete with sets of Musseum
and cafes. and is filled with street vendor selling goods and food at reasonable
range of price. The place is home to many historical museum, which are Museum
 Fatahillah the old Dutch Town hall building that are now historical museum,
Museum Wayang, Museum Mandiri, Museum Maritime (old warehouses) and Bank
Indonesia Museum. This area is popular among local populace as a family
recreational destination, as well artist and photographer's playground.

Jembatan Kota Intan, (Kota Intan drawbridge). The bridge was developed coincide
with the development of Batavia by Jan Pieterzoon Coen in 1628, and the only one
of the rests of many suspension bridge ever decorating Batavia city.

Sunda Kelapa Port/Old Harbour. The old port area of Sunda Kelapa remains
today as a bustling hub for inter islands trade. Graceful Bugis phinisi schooners, the
world's last wind-powered sailing fleet used for trade, still berthed at the quay as
they have for century.

Fish Market and Museum Bahari, ("Maritime Museum), (at the mouth of the
Ciliwung river). This market area bustles with activities related to the sea. The
Museum Bahari situated at the harbour, is housed in restored Dutch warehouses
dating back to the first trading post of the Dutch East Indies.

Pasar Baru. Although the name means New Market, it doesn't mean the place is
new at all. Dating back to the Dutch colonial era, it has been one of the main hub for
commodities trading. And nowadays, it has been nothing short of a mixture of stores
packed up in a very limited space. You can bet to find unbranded items of medium
to high quality and fairly low price here.

Paleis Van Daendels. Formerly a palace for a notorious Dutch East Indies
Governor General, Herman Willem Daendels, now is the financial department
building. You are not allowed to go inside, however this building is a must for
colonial architecture fans and is just a little further from the Monas area.

Religious Site
 Istiqlal Mosque, The biggest mosque in Southeast Asia with a capacity of 120,000,
located near the Monas Square. It was designed by Frederich Silaban, a Christian
architect. Foreign visitors of all religions are welcome; remove your shoes before
entering and stop by the desk for a free tour with an English-speaking guide.

Cut Mutiah Mosque, A mosque that is named after an Indonesian national heroine
Cut Nyak Meutia who took part in the struggle against Dutch colonialism in Aceh,
formerly a Dutch property for an architecture firm.

Jakarta Cathedral, A Dutch colonial Neo-Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral, and the
seat of the Bishop of Jakarta. There is a museum attached to the Cathedral on the
top floor.

Immanuel Church, A Dutch colonial Protestant church located near the Monas
Square, designed in classic architecture

Gereja Ayam, Or in English means Chicken Church, a beautiful Dutch colonial

church located near Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta.

Sion Church, The oldest church in Jakarta, located near the Kota Tua area.

Vihara Dharma Sakti, An old Buddhist temple located inside the Glodok Chinatown.

Others

Pekan Raya Jakarta. Or in English language "Jakarta Fair", an annually held event
in Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran. It features exhibitions, trade promotions,
shopping, music performances, various shows, amusement rides and a food
festival. The fair is meant to celebrate the anniversary of Jakarta. The Jakarta Fair
sees exhibitors from across the country display a whole range of goods and
products ranging from specialty food items to traditional handmade arts and crafts.
In addition to the many exhibitors, there is also live entertainment including music,
dance and cultural performances.
 Jalan Surabaya, (Surabaya Street). Lively open-air antique market on the fringes of
the Menteng residential neighborhood. A good place to bargain for exotic treaures.

Taman Ismail Mazurki. A park complex with a theater building and Jakarta's
planetarium.

Ragunan Zoo, (in South Jakarta near Pasar Minggu). A 185-hectare city zoo
contains a comprehensive collection of some 3,600 species of wildlife from
throughout Indonesia. Look for the rare Komodo dragon. Pusat Primata Schmutzer
consists of gorillas and other primates. Entrance ticket fee is only Rp 4000 ($0.5)
due to subsidies from Jakarta administration. Perhaps a better alternative to
Ragunan, however, is Taman Safari near Bogor (see the Get Out section for
details.)

Bird Market, Jl. Barito in South Jakarta and Jl. Pramuka in Central Jakarta. Various
colourful tropical birds and other animals are on sale.

Bird Island, in the Thousand Islands

Jakarta Hidden Tours, [3]. Ronny and Anneke will lead you around some local
slums where you will have a chance to meet local people and witness how they live.
The proceeds of your tour will go to the local people and Ronny's Interkultur
foundation. edit

Jalan Jaksa, is a short street situated just to the south of Monas, in the Sarina area.
It is popular with ex-pat backpackers and the party crowd. Accommodation in Jalan
Jaksa ranging from Rp100,000 to 250,000 per night. There is also a string of cafes,
inexpensive restaurants with cheap beer and a variety of entertainment. You'll either
love it or hate it.

Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands), (north of Jakarta in the Java Sea). The
Kepulauan Seribu are easily accessible by speed boat from Ancol marina for a
price, or simply go to Muara Karang Fishing Port where scheduled passenger boats
(ojek kapal) leave every 7am in the morning. This spray of some 300 hundred
sandy, picturesque islets offers invigorating respitee for those wishing to escape
from the bustling city.