Bogor in General

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 13^th 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.