Bukittinggi Town

 

Bukittinggi is one of the loveliest, friendliest, most relaxed town in all Sumatra. This town is situated more or less 930 meters above sea level.

Bukittinggi, formerly named Fort De Cock by the Dutch, has a cool climate and is surrounded by three volcanoes: Tandikat, Singgalang and Merapi. In the outskirts of the town is the Ngarai Sianok canyon, a canyon separating Bukittinggi from Kota Gadang, 12 km away overland. Kota Gadang is renowned for its fine silver filigree and hand embroidery. 

A center of attraction is the town's clock-tower, topped with a horn- shaped roof and referred to by the people as Jam Gadang. It overlooks the market square and the city's magnificent surroundings.

Also worth visiting is the Museum which is a Rumah Gadang, a traditional extended family house built in the 19th century. There are dance performances at the museum's open stage every Sunday and on public holidays. Night dance performances are at Sliguri. It is also worth seeing the bullfights at Padang Lawas (6 km south of Bukittinggi) every Tuesday at 5.00 p.m.

Bukittinggi in Dutch Colonial was become an important area, for they build their defensive fort in 1825 and still exist until present days known as Fort De Kock. This town also became the resting place of Dutch officers who are settled in the area towns.

In Japan colonialism, Bukittinggi was used as a control center for the military government’s of Sumatra region, even to Singapore and Thailand, because here was the location to the 25th Military commanders.
During the Indonesia’s independence struggle, Bukitinggi roled as the city struggles. From December 1948 until June 1949, it was appointed as the capital of Bukittinggi Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI), after Yogyakarta was falling into the hands of the Dutch.

Bukittinggi is known as “Tourism City” for there are lots of destinations in this city that worth to be visited. For instance, Sianok Canyon and Panorama park. In Panorama park, there is Lobang Jepang or Japanese Hole that being used by Japan hideaway when the era of world war II. There is also Bundo Kanduang Park, which used to be the museum of Rumah Gadang replica. Moreover, Jam Gadang is the icon of Bukittinggi, a big watch in the heart of the city seemslike a well-known Big Ben in London. Jam Gadang is near to Pasar Atas, a traditional market and the center of handicraft and West Sumatra souvenirs.

Geographically, Bukittinggi is consist of hills area and that makes the road is up and down. Therefore, since the new order, Bukittinggi was divided into 5 corners or Kurai Limo Jorong: Jorong Guguak Panjang, Jorong Mandiangin Koto Selayan, Jorong Bukit Apik Pintu Kabun, Jorong Aua Birugo, and Jorong Tigo Baleh.
In addition, Bukittinggi is also famous as a tourist town with a cool weather, and siblings (sister city) with the Seremban Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia. 

Bukittinggi has a nickname as the "city tour" because of the many attractions located in this city. 

Tourism in Bukittinggi Town :

·         Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon)

• Lobang Jepang (Japanese Caves) – a network of underground bunkers & tunnels built by the Japanese during World War II
• Jam Gadang – a large clock tower built by the Dutch in 1926.
• Pasar Atas and Pasar Bawah – traditional markets in downtown.

• Taman Bundo Kanduang park. The park includes a replica Rumah Gadang (literally: big house, with the distinctive Minangkabau roof architecture) used as a museum of Minangkabau culture, and a zoo. The Dutch hilltop outpost.