Bukittinggi

Bukitinggi is a town which is located in west sumatra Indonesia, 95 km from Padang, the capital city of west sumatra. Bukittinggi is geographically located at Bukit Barisan series that ran along the island of Sumatra, surrounded by three volcanoes is Mount Singgalang, Mount Marapi and Mount Sago, and at an altitude of 909-941 meters above sea level. The city is also air cool with temperatures ranging between 16.1 - 24.9 ° C. While the total area of the current town of Bukittinggi (25.24 km ²), 82.8% have been devoted to cultivation of  land, while the rest is protected forest.

Bukittinggi city began standing in line with the arrival of the Dutch who later founded the blockhouse in 1825 on Padri War period in which there is one hill in this town, known as Fort de Kock, as well as a resting place of the Dutch officers who are in the colonies. Later in the reign of the Dutch East Indies, the area is always enhanced role in the constitution which later developed into a Stadsgemeente (city), and also serves as the capital Afdeeling Padangsche Bovenlanden and Onderafdeeling Oud Agam.

            During the Japanese occupation, the city of Bukittinggi used as a control center for the region of Sumatra military government, even to Singapore and Thailand, where the city became the seat of the military commander to 25 Kenpeitai, under the command of Major General Hirano Toyoji. Later the city changed its name from Fort de Kock became Stadsgemeente Bukittinggi The Yaku Sho, whose land was broadened to include the surrounding villages-villages like Sianok Anam Tribe, Gadut, Kapau, Ampang Tower, Taba and Bukit Batu Batabuah. Now Nagari-Nagari is entered into the Agam regency.

            After the independence of Indonesia, Bukittinggi was chosen to be the capital of the Province of Sumatra, with its governor Mr. Teuku Muhammad Hasan. The United Kingdom is also defined as an area municipality under the Province of Sumatra Governor Decree No. 391 dated June 9, 1947.

            At the time of maintaining the independence of Indonesia, the City Bukitinggi role as the city struggles, where on December 19, 1948, the city is designated as the capital of Indonesia after the Yogyakarta fell into Dutch hands, known as the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI). Later on, the event was designated a State-Defense Day, based on the Decree of President of the Republic of Indonesia Number 28 Year 2006 dated December 18, 2006.

Since the Dutch colonial era, the city has become an educational center on the island of Sumatra, began in 1872, with the establishment Kweekschool voor Inlandsche Onderwijzers (school teachers for teachers bumiputera) or also known as king of the school’s name, which later evolved into volksschool or school people. Then in 1912 came Holandsch Inlandsche School (HIS), followed by the establishment of the School Guardian School voor Opleiding Inlandsch Ambtenaren (OSVIA) in 1918. In 1926 also has established MULO in the town of Bukittinggi.

            In the early days of independence in this city once stood Policewomen school and cadets as well as Civil Service is the first school in Indonesia, even Andalas University was first established in the city of Bukittinggi.

The economical of Bukittinggi is centered at Pasar Ateh, Pasar bawah, and Aur Kuning. Galuang Loih market developments now called Pasar Ateh, making the Dutch East Indies government then re-develop the market, by rebuilding a loods to the east in 1900, precisely at the waist area of the hill adjacent to the ditch that flows at the foot of the hill, because market place is located in the slope of the local people call it by name Teleng market (Italic) or market slope. The next development in the surrounding area appear again in the next several markets including the Lower Markets and Market Banto. In structuring the market, the Dutch East Indies government also connects each market with long and slender (stairs) and among the famous is called by the name of bunch 40.

        To reduce build up on one area of ​​the town of Bukittinggi and then develop the urban area to the east by the pasar Aur Kuning building, which currently is one of the wholesale trade center for goods convection in the town of Bukittinggi. While the traditional markets around the area such as the Clock Tower Ateh Market, Market and Market Bottom Slope, now evolved into a place selling handicrafts and souvenirs typical of Minangkabau.

                Bukitting is also known as tourism object with its clock tower as landmark of Bukittinggi, beside that Bukittinggi which is save town and have fresh air will make many people always visit Bukittingi.

The development of tourism is one of the leading sectors for the city of Bukittinggi, the many interesting attractions, make this city dubbed as the “city tour”. Currently in the town of Bukittinggi has been there about 60 hotels and 15 travel agencies. Hotels located in cities such as The Hills Bukittinggi (formerly Novotel), Hotel Pusako and so on.

        Sianok canyon valley is one of the main attractions. Panorama Park is located in the town of Bukittinggi allow tourists to see the beautiful scenery Sianok canyon. Inside the park there is also a cave Panorama hideaway former Japanese soldiers during World War II is referred to as Japan’s Hole Bukittinggi ( Lubang Japang).

Beside Sianok canyon valley, the other famous tourism object is Bukittinggi zoo. The zoo was built in the Dutch colonial period in 1900 with the name on the Mount Cubadak Stormpark Bungkuak. Development was designed by Conteleur Gravenzande who served in the United Kingdom. Wildlife Parks Kinantan Culture is the oldest zoo in Indonesia and is the zoo animals that have the most complete collections of Sumatra. In this garden there is a bridge crossing the animals that beranama “jambatan limpapeh” that connects this zoo attraction fort Fort de Kock.

        Market Ateh (pasas above) are adjacent to the Clock Tower which is the center of the city. In the market there are many sellers Ateh handicrafts and embroidery as well as snacks souvenirs typical of West Sumatra as Karupuak Sanjai (cassava chips ala Sanjai area in London) is made from cassava, Karupuak Jangek made ​​from cow or buffalo leather and Karak Kaliang, a kind typical of Bukittinggi snacks shaped like a figure 8. Currently, he also has built several modern shopping centers in the city of Bukittinggi like Ramayana at Pasar Ateh and BTC(Banto Trade Center) at Pasar Bawah.