Bogor, a city known as the “Rainy City” in addition to having stunning natural beauty, also holds a wealth of history.
Located in West Java Province, Indonesia, Bogor has witnessed various important periods in Indonesian history, from the kingdom era to the colonial era and independence.
The following is the history of Bogor and its geographical conditions that make this area interesting to study.
Kingdom Era
Talking about Bogor cannot be separated from the Tarumanegara Kingdom, one of the oldest Hindu kingdoms in Indonesia. When Tarumanegara was in power in the 4th-7th centuries AD, Bogor became part of that kingdom.
After Tarumanegara collapsed in the 8th century, the Sunda Kingdom controlled Ujung Kulon to the Serayu River. The Kebon Kopi II inscription (in 932) states that the capital of the Sunda Kingdom was Pakuan Pajajaran, which is now the city of Bogor.
Colonial era to independence
The entry of the Dutch into Indonesia brought major changes to Bogor. In 1745, Governor General Baron van Imhoff built a rest house named Buitenzorg, which is said to be the origin of the word “Bogor”.
In 1925 the Dutch East Indies formed the Province of West Java. The formation of the province was an implementation of the Bestuurshervormingwet of 1922, which divided the Dutch East Indies into provincial regional units.
On August 19, 1945, the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI) announced West Java as one of 8 Provinces in Indonesia.
Geographical conditions of the Bogor region
Geographically, Bogor is located in the central part of West Java Province, about 60 kilometers south of Jakarta. The area of Bogor is about 118.5 square kilometers with an altitude of between 190 and 330 meters above sea level.
These geographical conditions give Bogor a cool and humid climate, with high rainfall throughout the year. These climatic conditions have earned Bogor the nickname “Rain City”.