Bukittinggi

The city has its origins in five villages that served as the basis for a marketplace.{{cite book|title=The Indonesian Town Revisited |last=Nas |first=Peter J. M. |year=2002 |publisher=LIT Verlag |isbn=978-3-8258-6038-7}} It was known as Fort de Kock in colonial times in reference to the Dutch outpost established here in 1825 during the Padri War.

The fort was founded by Captain Bauer at the top of Jirek hill and later named after the then Lieutenant Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Hendrik Merkus de Kock.{{cite book |title=Indonesian Houses |year=2004 |last=Domenig |author2=Nas, P |author3-link=Reimar Schefold |author3=Schefold, Reimar |first=Gaudenz |publisher=National University of Singapore Press |isbn=978-9971-69-292-6}} The first road connecting the region with the west coast was built between 1833 and 1841 via the Anai Gorge, easing troop movements, cutting the costs of transportation and providing an economic stimulus for the agricultural economy.{{cite journal |title=A Moving History of Middle Sumatra, 1600–1870 |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=1–38 |journal=Modern Asian Studies |year=2005 |last=Colombijn |first=Freek |doi=10.1017/S0026749X04001374|s2cid=146399326 |url=https://research.vu.nl/en/publications/16df8c23-a7d9-4cf6-b012-076a27ae81d9 }}

In 1856 a teacher-training college (Kweekschool) was founded in the city, the first in Sumatra, as part of a policy to provide education opportunities to the indigenous population.{{cite book |title=Mission Schools in Batakland (Indonesia), 1861-1940 |last=Aritonang |first=Jan S. |publisher=BRILL |year=1994 |isbn=978-90-04-09967-8}} A rail line connecting the city with Payakumbuh and Padang was constructed between 1891 and 1894.{{cite web |author=Krishnamurti, Indra |title=History of Railways in Indonesia |date=9 December 2004 |url=http://keretapi.tripod.com/history.html |access-date=3 October 2007}}

During the Japanese occupation of West Sumatra in World War II, the city was the headquarters for the Japanese 25th Army, the force that occupied Sumatra. The headquarters was moved to the city in April 1943 from Singapore and remained until the Japanese surrender in August 1945.{{cite journal |title=Some preliminary observations on West Sumatra during the revolution |last=Kahin |first=Audrey |journal=Indonesia |issue=Oct |year=1974 |pages=76–117 |doi=10.2307/3350695 |volume=18 |jstor=3350695 |hdl=1813/53591 |hdl-access=free }}

File:Masjid Raya Bukittinggi Okt 2020.jpg in central Bukittinggi]]

During the Indonesian National Revolution, the city saw a failed coup attempt by Islamist militias against the Indonesian republican government in 1947.{{cite book |title=Kronik revolusi Indonesia |publisher=Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia |isbn=978-979-9023-46-9 |page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z9C7NuTllisC&pg=PA57 |language=id}} During the second 'Police Action' Dutch forces invaded and occupied the city on 22 December 1948, having earlier bombed it in preparation. The city was surrendered to Republican officials in December 1949 after the Dutch government recognised Indonesian sovereignty.{{cite book |title=Rebellion to Integration: West Sumatra and the Indonesian Polity |last=Kahin |first=Audrey |year=1999 |publisher=Amsterdam University Press |isbn=978-90-5356-395-3}}

The city was officially renamed Bukittinggi in 1949, replacing its colonial name. From 1950 until 1957, Bukittinggi was the capital city of a province called Central Sumatra, which encompassed West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi. In February 1958, during a revolt in Sumatra against the Indonesian government, rebels proclaimed the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI) in Bukittinggi. The Indonesian government had recaptured the town by May the same year.

A group of Muslim men had planned to bomb a cafe in the city frequented by foreign tourists in October 2007, but the plot was aborted due to the risk of killing Muslim individuals in the vicinity.{{cite web |title=S'porean admits terror plot |date=21 January 2009 |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_328916.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130035526/http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/SE+Asia/Story/STIStory_328916.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 January 2009 |access-date=14 February 2009 }} Since 2008, the city administration has banned Valentine's Day and New Year's celebrations as they consider them not in line with Minangkabau traditions or Islam that can lead to "immoral acts" such as young couples hugging and kissing.{{cite web |author=Syofiardi Bachyul Jb |title=Valentine's celebrations banned in Bukittinggi |date=14 February 2008 |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/02/14/valentine039s-celebrations-banned-bukittinggi.html |access-date=14 February 2009}}

File:Balai Kota Bukittinggi simetris.jpg

Bukittinggi is divided into three districts (kecamatan), which are further divided into 24 urban villages (kelurahan). The districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and the 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kota Bukittinggi Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1375) The table also includes the numbers of villages within each district.

Bukittinggi is connected to Padang by road. Up until early 1980s, there was a railway service from Padang Panjang that used to serve the city. For inner-city transport, Bukittinggi employs a public transportation system known as "Mersi" (Merapi Singgalang) and "IKABE" that connect locations within the city. The city preserves the traditional horse-cart widely known in the area as Bendi, although the use is limited and more popular with tourists, both domestic and foreign.

File:Bukittinggi.jpeg

It is a city popular with tourists due to the climate and central location. Bukittinggi is also a popular shopping destination due to cheap textile and fashion products, especially for Malaysian. Best way to see Bukittinggi is by motorbike, car or by foot (trekkings). Attractions within the city include:

File:HIMPUNAN BERSATU TEGUH.JPG

File:Ngarai Sianok.jpg

• Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon)
• Lubang Jepang (Japanese Caves) — a network of underground bunkers and tunnels built by the Japanese during World War II
• Jam Gadang — a large clock tower built by the Dutch in 1926.{{cite web|url=http://travel.kompas.com/read/2009/03/19/07532046/jam.gadang.gengsi.kota.bukittinggi|trans-title=Jam Gadang, the Prestige of Bukittinggi |language=id |title=Jam Gadang, Gengsi Kota Bukittinggi |work=Kompas |date=March 19, 2009|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013320/http://travel.kompas.com/read/2009/03/19/07532046/jam.gadang.gengsi.kota.bukittinggi|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live}}
• Pasar Atas and Pasar Aur Kuning are traditional markets 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 Fort de Kock is connected to the zoo by the Limpapeh Bridge pedestrian overpass.
• Museum Rumah Kelahiran Bung Hatta (Museum of Bung Hatta Birthplace), the house where Indonesian founding father Mohammad Hatta was born, now a museum.{{cite web|title=Museum Rumah Kelahiran Bung Hatta|url=http://www.museum-indonesia.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=300&Itemid=88|access-date=21 March 2010|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021164712/http://www.museum-indonesia.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=300&Itemid=88|url-status=dead}}
• Janjang Koto Gadang also known as Great Wall of Koto Gadang. It is like a miniature of Chinese great wall, with hundred-step stairs connects Taman Panorama and Koto Gadang village.

Notable nearby destinations include Lake Maninjau, Lake Tarusan, Kamang Cave, and Tarang Cave.

• {{flagicon|Malaysia}} Seremban, Malaysia{{cite web|title=Bukittinggi: Jabaran Rencana Kota Kembar |publisher=Bukittinggi Department |url=http://www.bukittinggikota.go.id/index.php?class=text&file_id=157 |access-date=10 July 2013 |language=id |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324122324/http://www.bukittinggikota.go.id/index.php?class=text&file_id=157 |archive-date=March 24, 2012 }}

{{Commons category|Bukittinggi}}

{{portal|Indonesia}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929180352/http://www.bukittinggikota.go.id/ Pemerintah Bukittinggi] - Bukittinggi City Council {{in lang|id}}
• {{Wikivoyage-inline|Bukittinggi}}
• [http://infopendaftaranpns.blogspot.com/2013/07/lowongan-cpns-pemko-bukit-tinggi-kota.html CPNS Pemko Bukittinggi]

{{West Sumatra}}

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