Jakarta, formerly (until 1949) BATAVIA, or (1949-72) DJAKARTA is the largest city and the capital of the Republic of Indonesia.

Located at the mouth of the Ciliwung (Liwung River) on the northwestern coast of the island of Java, the city is coextensive with the metropolitan district of Jakarta Raya and in 1966 was designated a special capital region (daerah khusus ibukota), a status approximating that of a state or province.

Jakarta occupies a low, flat alluvial plain that is easily flooded during the rainy season. Its tropical climate is characterized by high temperatures (between 28 and 33° C) and rainfall, together producing oppressive humidity that averages between 75 and 85 percent.

Jakarta has undergone tremendous growth and development since Indonesia reached independence in 1949. As the national capital and the chief centre of state planning, the city contains government ministries that are economically significant. It is also a major centre for trade: north-east of the city, Tanjungpriok, the largest port in Indonesia, handles exports from western Java and imports, many of which are transshipped to other Indonesian islands.

Banking and commerce remain concentrated in the city centre, while new housing and industrial development are concentrated on the city's outskirts. Jakarta's manufacturing sector is minor compared to the city's service and trade functions. The chief industrial establishments are iron foundries, margarine and soap factories, and breweries.

Museum Fatahillah

A mixture of Western and Oriental architectural styles is everywhere apparent in Jakarta. The large public squares, such as Medan Merdeka (Freedom Field) and Lapangan Banteng (Place of the Gaur), are British and Dutch in character, whereas the Oriental style is evident in the city's types of houses, the wide, tree-lined streets, and the spacious gardens and house lots. The kampong (village) house, often built from wood or bamboo mats, is found in large concentrations throughout the city. Kampongs are often substandard, and housing in the city is generally overcrowded.
Traffic jams occur during morning and evening rush hours, and the becak (two-passenger tricycle taxi) is still common in local neighbourhoods.

Large, modern stores in the main shopping areas (Blok M) contrast with the colourful markets and open-air shops.

Kota, or Old City, remains the central business district and the financial capital of Indonesia. It also contains several buildings from the colonial period, notably the Old Portuguese Church and the old city hall, now a museum.

The present city centre, north of Medan Merdeka, is the Presidential Palace, also dating from colonial times, and the National Monument, which, at 360 feet (110 m), is one of the highest structures in Jakarta.
The nearby Istiqlal Mosque was designed to be the largest in Indonesia.

Sunda Kelapa - Pasar Ikan

Jakarta's cultural life is greatly enhanced by its many institutions of higher education. The largest and best-known is the Universitas Indonesia. Jakarta is an important centre for newspaper publishing, and the national radio and television networks broadcast programs from the city. Traditional arts, such as wayang dance and dramas, gamelan music, and wayang puppetry, are presented at the annual Jakarta Fair and at the Taman Ismail Marzuki centre.

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