“Jakarta is sinking.” Imagine those words echoing in your mind as you stand in Panunggangan Utara. This area, like much of Jakarta, faces a unique challenge. Jakarta lies on a flat alluvial plain. Historically, this area had extensive swamps. The parts of the city farther inland are slightly higher.
Jakarta faces frequent flooding during the rainy season. Draining swamps for construction and decreasing upland forests exacerbate this issue. This increases flood danger. The province of Jakarta has grown, absorbing many villages. Jakarta is a mix of villages now crossed by main roads. These villages are called kampungs. You might be cruising down a wide avenue then suddenly find yourself squeezed onto a small street.
Jakarta’s history is long and complex. From the 4th century, the Tarumanagara people controlled this port area. Later, it was part of the Kingdom of Sunda. In 1527, a Javanese general renamed the port town Jayakarta.
Europeans arrived in the 1500s seeking spice trade routes. The Dutch and English were fierce rivals. The Dutch renamed the city Batavia in 1619. As the capital of the Dutch colonies, Batavia boomed into a major port city. Chinese and Indonesian immigrants flooded in.
During World War II, nationalists sought help from the Japanese. After Japan’s victory in 1942, they renamed the city Jakarta. In 1950, Jakarta became the capital of independent Indonesia.
Jakarta is a large city. It is hot and often steamy. It has crowded slums and modern buildings. Traffic congestion is a major problem. Jakarta is the chief port and financial center of Indonesia. But it is not its cultural center. Jakarta is the center of Indonesia’s modern culture.
Jakarta is built on a wide flat delta. Thirteen rivers intersect it. Many tiny islands lie in Jakarta Bay. These are known as the Thousand Islands or Pulau Seribu. People come here to escape the city.
Jakarta has a multicultural population. Indonesians come from all over the archipelago. The main ethnic groups are Sundanese and Javanese. There is also a substantial Chinese population.
Jakarta faces many problems. These include flooding and pollution. The traffic can be terrible. Sometimes it is quicker to walk than drive. The province of Greater Jakarta contains six municipalities. These include Central Jakarta, South Jakarta, West Jakarta, East Jakarta, North Jakarta and the Thousand Islands.
Jakarta was where Indonesia proclaimed independence on August 17, 1945. Jakarta’s history shapes its present. As you explore Panunggangan Utara, remember Jakarta’s past and consider its future. Jakarta continues to evolve.