Kota Tua Jakarta is one of the tourist symbols of the capital and is full of historical value. The history of ancient Jakarta is interesting to know because it is closely related to the birth of Jakarta. This area has many historical attractions and historical buildings from ancient times and still standing today.
Some of them are Fatahillah Museum, Bank Indonesia Museum, Bank Mandiri Museum, Kota Intan Bridge, Sunda Kelapa Port. Visiting these historical places will be more interesting if visitors have a brief understanding of the history of Kota Tua Jakarta.
The Origin of the Kota Tua
Kota Tua or also known as Oud Batavia (Old Batavia) was founded in 1526. At that time, the Kingdom of Demak sent a commander named Fatahillah to attack the port of Sunda Kelapa. As a result, Fatahillah took over the area and named it Jayakarta.
The area was then attacked by the VOC under the leadership of Jan Pieterszoon Coen in 1619. A year later, the VOC built a new city on the ruins of Jayakarta. The city was named Batavia in honor of the ancestors of the Dutch people named Batavieren.
History of the Kota Tua Expansion
In 1635, the city of Batavia expanded to the west of the Ciliwung River. The city was designed to have a defensive system in the form of moats and walls surrounding the city. The city then became the headquarters of the VOC in the East Indies and the center of Asian trade.
The name Batavia was used from 1621 to 1942. With the arrival of Japan in 1942, the name Batavia was changed to Jakarta, which is still used today.
A new story for Jakarta
Since Ali Sadikin became governor of DKI Jakarta, the revival and development of Kota Tua Jakarta has continued. In 1972, he issued a gubernatorial decree to declare Kota Tua a cultural heritage site. This decision was made to protect the historical heritage.
The reason is that in the old city there are many historical buildings that are used as museums. For example: Wayang Museum, Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics, Fatahillah Museum, Mandiri Museum and Indonesian Museum.
Tourist attraction for tourists
Because it acts as a tourist attraction, Kota Tua Jakarta has various facilities. One of them is the easy access to the place by Transjakarta Bus and commuter line KRL. In addition, Kota Tua Jakarta also offers a bicycle rental service that allows guests to explore the surrounding area.