Bogor is a city in West Java, Indonesia. In the Dutch
colonial era, Bogor known as Buitenzorg which means "no worries" or "safe
and sound".
It is located 59 km in south of Jakarta, and its area is in
the middle of Bogor District.
In the north border is sub-district Kemang, sub-district
Bojong Gede, and sub-district Sukaraja.
In the east border is sub-district Sukaraja, and
sub-district Ciawi.
In the west border is sub-district Darmaga and sub-district
Ciomas.
And in the south border is sub-district Cijeruk and
sub-district Caringin.
The width of Bogor city is 118,50 km² and the population is 1.030.720
million inhabitants. Bogor is located 300 meters above sea level. The average
temperature each month is 26°C with the lowest temperature is 21.8°C and the
highest temperature is 30.4°C. 70% humidity, average rainfall each year about
3500-4000 mm with the heaviest rainfall in December and January that’s why Bogor
is known as rain city, because it has a very high rainfall. Bogor is located at
the foot of Mount Salak.
The height of Mount Salak is 2211 m above sea level. According to a popular
belief, the name "Salak" derived from salak, a tropical fruit with
scaly skin; however, according to Sundanese tradition, the name was derived
from the Sanskrit word Salaka which means "silver". Mount Salak can
be translated to "Silver Mountain".
Bogor has been known to be the center of education and
national agricultural research. This is where a variety of institutes and
research centers of agricultural and biological stood since the 19th century.
One of them is, Institute of Agricultural Bogor, established since the early
20th century.
History of Bogor is began from Salakanagara Kingdom. Salakanagara
believed to be the Sundanese ancestor, it is because the area of civilization
Salakanagara exactly the same as the Sundanese’s region of civilization for
centuries.
Founder of Salakanagara is Dewawarman, while founder of Tarumanegara
is Maharesi Jayasingawarman. Rajatapura is the capital city of Salakanegara
which is up to years 362 became the central of administrative of Kings
Dewawarman (from Dewawarman I - VIII).
Jayasingawarman founder Tarumanegara was the son in law of
King Dewawarman VIII. After Jayasingawarman established Tarumanagara, the
center of administrative switched from Rajatapura to Tarumanagara. Salakanagara
then turned into the Kingdom Region. Tarumanegara kingdom is a continuation of
salakanagara.
Before standing as an independent kingdom, Sunda is
subordinate Tarumanagara. Tarumanagara last king is Linggawarman. Linggawarman
married and had two daughter. Both of his daughter married and he has son in
law, the first son in law is Tarusbawa. Tarusbawa who came from Kingdom of
Sunda Sambawa then replace Linggawarman and became the 13th ruler of
Tarumanegara.
In years 670 he change name of Tarumanegara to Sunda
Kingdom. This causes the ruler of Galuh, Wretikandayun rebelled and breaking
away from Tarumanagara, as well as establishing an independent Galuh Kingdom.
In 1482, King Dewa Niskala hand over the Galuh Kingdom
throne to his son Jayadewata. Similarly, the King Susuktungal handed the Kingdom
of Sunda throne to his son in law Jayadewata. With this events, both of kingdom
became one and called as Sunda Galuh Kingdom.
Pakuan Pajajaran or Pakuan became the capital city and
central of administrative of Sunda Galuh Kingdom. In the past, in Southeast
Asia there is a habit of naming the kingdom by the name of its capital so that
the Kingdom of Sunda Galuh often referred to the Pajajaran Kingdom. Pajajaran
era began by rule of Jayadewata who has titled Sri Baduga Maharaja who ruled
for 39 years. Jayadewata or Sri Baduga Maharaja also known as Prabu Siliwangi.
Prabu Siliwangi famous for its authority and wisdom. In his era Pajajaran
Kingdom achive its glory.
In the Indonesian myth, to avoid bloodshed with their
grandchildren who had embraced Islam, Prabu Siliwangi and his followers who
still loyal to him isolate theirselves until the end of life in the jungle
before finally disappearing. Some of Sundanese people believe that Prabu
Siliwangi has metamorphosed into tigers after isolate theirselves until the end
of life in the forest. That’s why the regional military command symbol in West
Java is tiger and name Siliwangi.
In traditional belief of Sunda Wiwitan, Prabu Siliwangi
figure revered as a picture of the ideal leader of Sundanese people. He is
respected and recognized as the ancestor of Sundanese nobleman. In the temple
complex of Parahyangan Agung Jagatkarta, on the northern slopes of Mount Salak,
there is a temple built to honor sundanese figures, Prabu Siliwangi. This
temple is located in the district of Taman Sari, Bogor, West Java. Prabu
Siliwangi is worshiped and has its own altar in the Temple of Kwan Se Im Nam
Hai Pu Sa, Simpenan, Sukabumi.
Pakuan or Pajajaran which was the capital city of Sunda
Kingdom is believed to be located in Bogor City and became the central of
administrative of Prabu Siliwangi who was crowned on June 3, 1482. Today his
coronation was officially became the anniversary of Bogor in 1973 and is
celebrated every year until now.
In 1745, Governor-General Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff built
Bogor Palace. Bogor planned as a farm area and resting place in summer for the
Governor General that’s why it called Buitenzorg Summer Palace. Gunernur General Imhoff create sketches Buitenzorg
by himself. But until his position as Governor General ended, the building has
not been completed. Completion of the new building Bogor Palace was completed
during the authority of Governor-General Charles Ferdinand Pahud de Montager
(1856-1861) with a lot of changes from the initial design.
Buildings in Buitenzorg was severely damaged when the
earthquake occurred on October 10, 1834 because the eruption of Mount Salak.
With authority of Governor-General Albertus van Twist Duijmayer Yacob
(1851-1856) the palace rebuilt and in addition, also built two bridges
connecting the Main Building and the building right wing and left wing.
With these developments, the Bogor area began to develop.
The idea of Botanical Garden came up from Prof. Caspar Georg Karl Reinwardt,
who in 1816 was appointed as Director of Agriculture, Arts, and Education for
Java.
On 15 April 1817 Reinwardt give an idea to establish a
botanical garden to the Governor General G.A.G.P. Baron van der Capellen.
On May 18, 1817, Governor General G.A.G.P. van der Capellen
formally established a botanical gardens in Bogor, which was then called by the
name of 's Lands Plantentuin te Buitenzorg. In the implementation of the
construction of the Botanical Gardens led Reinwardt by himself, assisted by W.
Kent James Hooper a curator of the famous Kew Gardens in Richmond, England.
Reinwardt who became the first director of Bogor Botanical
Gardens (1817-1822) and then started to collect plants and seeds from other
parts of the archipelago. Soon Bogor became the center of the development of
agriculture and horticulture in Indonesia. At that time, estimated to be about
900 live plants grown in the garden. Reinwardt also a pioneer in the field of
making herbarium. He became known as a founder of the Herbarium Bogoriense.
After independence, the Bogor Palace began to be used by the
Indonesian government since January 1950. The function itself turned into
presidential office and became the official residence of the President of the
Republic of Indonesia. President Soekarno was president who most often settled
at the Bogor Palace. After handing the presidency to President Soeharto, Soekarno
and his family leave Bogor Palace in March 1967 and then moved to Hing Puri Bima
Sakti or Batutulis Palace in Bogor.
Kujang Monument is a symbol of Bogor city. This monument was
built in 1982 and the height is about 26m. The monument ornament itself is made
of stainless steel sized 7m and the weight approximately 800 kilograms. Kujang
is traditional Sundanese weapon. Kujang formerly used as farm tools by
Sundanese people. Its existence as an agricultural tool has been recorded in
history in the 8-9 century. About 9-12 century the use of kujang turned into a
valuable, sacred and symbolic weapon. Kujang words comes from the ancient Sunda
language "Kudi" and "Hyang". Kudi means weapons that have
supernatural powers and Hyang meaning God.
