The small, but fast growing city of Bogor ( 300,000 inhabitants ) is located 60 km south of Indonesia's capital Jakarta, at the base of the Gunung Salak vulcano. Bogor is located at an altitude of 260 metres, which causes it to be remarable cooler than the coastal area's. It's a good place to escape the heat and chaos of Jakarta. That's the same as what the Ducht governor-general Van Imhoff though; in 1745 he built his own refuge in this picturesque place, which he suitable called 'Buitenzorg'.
Bogor is known for it's botanical gardens which are located just behind the beautifull 19th-century Presidential Palace. The city also has an official world record ( 300 days with thundershowers in one year ), two important inscriptions in stones and one of the last gamelan-workshops on Jawa.

The old royal residence

One of the oldest - known- kingdoms of Indonesia, the Hinduist Tarumanagara from the 5th century, was probably located near Bogor. In the area a number of inscriptions has been found, under them a remarkable one which still can be seen in Ciampea, 15 km west of the city. It's a big stone in a riverbank which contains several lines of Indian style inscriptions, and two king-size footprinte, which should have been from the conqueror and king Purnawarman.
A replica of the stone can be found in the Fatahillah Museum in Jakarta. The name of the kingdom seems to have close ties with the river which runs through the Bandung Basin east of Bogor to the coast, the River Citarum. Because the inscriptions were found here, historicans concluded the capital of Tarumanagara should have been here, also because it's a good place for defence, and it also provides entry to the fertile hinterlands andthe nearby trading harbours at the Sunda Strait.
A later batutulis ( batu; stone and tulis; writing ) was found in Bogor in Jalan Batutulis, aproximately two kilometres Southwest of the botanical gardens. This inscription tells about the influence of king Surawisesa of Pajajaran in 1533, an important Hindu-king.

Image  Kebun Raya Bogor

Like most other Sundanese places of historical value, there are no architectural remains to be found. This does people think that temples and other structures were built from wood, or just from stone, but they did re-use the stones for later buildings in the area.
The holy inscriptions are still being honoured meanwhile. Sukarno ordered the construction of a house very close to the batutulis, because of it's mystical powers. He even wanted to be buried there, but this wish was not fullfilled.
The city grow around the house of 'Buitenzorg', and became a popular place among the Dutch because of the unhealthy living conditions in Batavia. Raffles lived in the house from 1811 to 1816. From 1870 to 1942 it was extended and restaurated and it became the residence of the Dutch governor-generals.
Since the independence Istana Bogor is one of the five official residences of the President. Suharto didn't want to spend his time there, but Sukarno liked to; it is said that is ghost is still living there, between an impressive collection of art, the most sensual objects carefully hidden away. An hord of stained deers, imported from the Netherlands as food for official diners, is now living decoration of the 24 hectare domain.

Biological treasures

The botanical garden Kebun Raya is the pride of Bogor. However the rumors are that Raffles started a small garden with the help of the famous London Kew Gardens, the Kebun Raya was officially built by the Dutch with leadership from C.G.C. Reinwardt in 1817. he and the next generations botanical experts collected over 15.000 species of tropical fauna from all over the world. On the carefully built terrain of approximately 87 hectares are over 400 species of palm trees, 5000 trees and orchids in 3000 varities. On weekdays it's a nice day out on paths, fields and ponds. Sunday's it's flooded with visitors.
The Kebun Raya has five dependances across Jawa, Sumatera and Bali; the biggest one is Cibodas Park, south of Bogor. The gardens are designed to server as an research institute, and this function is still being fullfilled. In the Institut Pertanian Bogor, the agricultural institute at the East side of the city, they are working on de the development of new rice species and other important vegetation.
Close to the entrance of the park there is a zoological museum with an huge collection ( 300.000 objects ) land- and sea-animals from all over Indonesia. The museum also posesses an entire library, the skeleton of a whale and the last rhino which was seen on the Bandung Plateau.
At the entrance is also the headquarters of the Service for Forestprotection and Nature conservation ( PHPA ). Here all permissions for all Indonesian nature reserves are available; they are also given out at all local offices of PHPA.
Take a bemo from the Ramayana-cinema to Pak Sukarna's gamelan workshop at Jalan Pancasan 17 ( towards Jalan Chihampus ). Here the hot bronze plates are made into big bells. Across the street people can order an instrument or even an entire orchestra, as well as a big variety of wayang golek puppets.