Do you know that Kelapa Gading Timur is known as a city within a city? It is a district in North Jakarta. This area offers integrated residential and commercial planning. It also has supporting facilities.
Kelapa Gading Timur was once an undeveloped marshland. It also had sparse agricultural land. That changed in 1976. A local real estate developer PT Summarecon Agung transformed the area. They established an integrated residential-commercial area. It featured a grid-like urban plan. It included main boulevards and supporting facilities. Schools and hospitals were part of this plan.
Kelapa Gading Timur is one of three kelurahan. It is an administrative village. The others are Kelapa Gading Barat and Pegangsaan Dua. The area code for Kelapa Gading Timur is 14240.
The residences in Kelapa Gading are targeted toward the middle to upper market. There are exceptions with non-gated residences. Kuta and Artha Gading Villa in Bukit Gading Villa are up-market areas. Prime location and luxury contribute to the price factor. About 65% of Kelapa Gading residents are Chinese Indonesians. Since the late 1990s vertical residences started to appear. There was Kondominium Menara Kelapa Gading on the east gate. Then came Wisma Gading Permai and Gading Mediterranean Residences. More apartment buildings continued to fill Kelapa Gading.
Kelapa Gading is famous for its food. You can find Indonesian food like Chinese food. Minang food and Javanese food are available. There is also non-Indonesian cuisine. This includes Thai Japanese and Western foods. Gading Food City is a central point in Kelapa Gading. The Jakarta Fashion and Food Festival is held annually in this area.
The district has multiple shopping malls. Mal Kelapa Gading is the first and largest. It opened in 1990. Other malls include Mal Artha Gading. There is also Kelapa Gading Trade Center Bella Terra and Mall of Indonesia.
Kelapa Gading is popular for its nightlife. Several bars and entertainment places stay open late. It is known as the world’s capital of Bakmi meat noodle. Kelapa Gading has a large variety of Bakmi noodles. You can find noodles from Bangka. Makassar and Pontianak noodles are available. Japanese ramen and Korean-styled noodles are also options.
Despite being well-developed Kelapa Gading faces flooding. This is mainly during the rainy season. The area has geographically low plain characteristics. It is five meters above sea level. There is a lack of an effective flood diversion network. The district was severely affected by the 2007 Jakarta flood. It was the worst flooding disaster in Jakarta.
Flood control infrastructures exist. There are several small reservoirs in Kelapa Gading Barat. These reservoirs have linking water channels. Since 2010 the East Flood Channel began functioning. It diverts water that used to cross Kelapa Gading’s surrounding waterway. Many hope this channel can make Kelapa Gading flood-free.
Many homes in Kelapa Gading are built elevated. This is because of the ongoing risk of flooding. Inclined driveways lead up from street level. They go to the ground level of the house.
North Jakarta Intercultural School is located in Kelapa Gading. SIS Kelapa Gading is an IB curriculum school. Raffles Christian School Kelapa Gading uses a Cambridge curriculum. Sekolah Menengah Atas Kristen 5 BPK Penabur Kelapa Gading is a prestigious Christian school. Mahatma Gading School provides national and Cambridge curriculums. State-run schools are also in the district.
Kelapa Gading has good road access. A network of inner-city toll roads connects the area. These roads connect to all parts of the city and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The Kelapa Gading Pulo Gebang Toll is another option. The area is served by the TransJakarta bus network. The Jakarta LRT passes through Kelapa Gading.
Kelapa Gading is believed to be located in the Dragon’s Head. This is according to old Chinese beliefs. Dragons symbolize wealth. This belief makes the area attractive to property developers. Floods are considered to bring prosperity and success.
Kelapa Gading a place of constant change has transformed from marshland to a city within a city.