The city of Bukittinggi is the second largest city in the province of West Sumatra, Indonesia. This city was once the capital of Indonesia during the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia. The city has also been the capital of Sumatra Province and Central Sumatra Province. This city in the Dutch colonial era called Fort de Kock and earned the nickname as Parijs van Sumatra. Bukittinggi is known as the nation's struggle city and is the birthplace of some of the founding figures of the Republic of Indonesia, among them Mohammad Hatta and Assaat who are both proclaimers and officials of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.
Bukittinggi City is located in the Bukit Barisan Mountains range or about 90 km north of Padang City. This city is on the edge of the Sianok Gorge and is surrounded by two mountains namely Mount Singgalang and Mount Marapi. Its location at an altitude of 909-941 meters above sea level makes Bukittinggi a cool air with temperatures ranging from 16.1 to 24.9 ° C. Bukittinggi's de jure area is 145.29 km², referring to Government Regulation number 84 of 1999. But currently de facto, Bukittinggi is still 25,24 km² because some people of Kabupaten Agam refuse to expand the area.
The city of Bukittinggi is one of the largest wholesale trade centers on the island of Sumatra. The main trading center is in Ateh Market, Under Market, and Aur Kuning Market. From the economic sector, Bukittinggi is the second largest PDRB city in West Sumatra, after Kota Padang. Bukittinggi is also known as a leading tourist and sister city (sister city) with Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Tourist spots are crowded visited Jam Gadang, which is an hour tower located in the heart of the city as well as a symbol for Bukittinggi.
The history of Bukittinggi
The city of Bukittinggi was originally a market (week) for the people of Agam Tuo. Then after the arrival of the Dutch, the city became their stronghold against the Padri. In 1825, the Dutch built a fort on one of the hills within the city. This place is known as Fort de Kock fortress, as well as a resting place of Dutch officers who reside in its colonies. During the reign of the Dutch East Indies, the region was always enhanced in a state structure which later developed into a stadsgemeente (city), and also served as the capital of Afdeeling Padangsche Bovenlanden and Onderafdeeling Oud Agam.
During the Japanese occupation, Bukittinggi served as the center of control of military rule for the region of Sumatra, even to Singapore and Thailand. The city became the seat of 25th Kempetai military commander, under the leadership of Major General Hirano Toyoji. Later the city changed its name from Stadsgemeente Fort de Kock to Bukittinggi Si Yaku Sho whose area was expanded by incorporating the surrounding villages such as Sianok Anam Suku, Gadut, Kapau, Ampang Gadang, Batu Taba, and Bukit Batabuah. Now the nagari enter the territory of Agam Regency.
After the independence of Indonesia, Bukittinggi was designated as the capital of Sumatra Province, with its governor. Teuku Muhammad Hasan. [11] Later Bukittinggi was also designated as a city government area based on the Provincial Governor's Decree No. 391 dated June 9, 1947.
In the period of maintaining the independence of Indonesia, Bukitinggi City played a city of struggle, when on December 19, 1948 the city was appointed as the capital of the State of Indonesia after Yogyakarta fell into the hands of the Netherlands or known as the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI). In the future, this event is defined as the State Defense Day, based on the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia dated December 18, 2006.
Furthermore, Bukittinggi City became a big city based on Law No. 9 of 1956 concerning the establishment of autonomous regions of big cities in the region of Central Sumatra Province that time, covering the area of West Sumatra Province, Jambi, Riau, and Riau Islands now.
Within the framework of city expansion, in 1999 the government issued Government Regulation No. 84/1999, which incorporated the nagari around Bukittinggi into the city area. The nagari are Cingkariang, Gaduik, Sianok Anam Suku, Guguak Tabek Sarojo, Ampang Gadang, Laweh Field, Sinayan Feed, Kubang Putiah, Pasia, Kapau, Taba Stone, and Koto Gadang. However, some people in Kabupaten Agam refuse to join Bukittinggi so that the regulation can not be implemented until now.
Geography
Bukittinggi City lies in a series of Bukit Barisan that stretches along the island of Sumatra, and is surrounded by two volcanoes namely Mount Singgalang and Mount Marapi. The city is located at an altitude of 909-941 meters above sea level, and has a cool climate with temperatures ranging from 16.1 to 24.9 ° C. Meanwhile, from the total area of Bukittinggi City currently (25.24 km²), 82.8% has been cultivated, while the rest is protected forest.
The city has hilly and hilly topography, some of the hills are scattered in urban areas, among them Hill Ambacang, Bukit Tulang Tulang, Mandiangin Hill, Campago Hill, Kubangankabau Hill, Bukit Pinang Nan Sabatang, Bukit Canggang, Bukit Paninjau, and so on. In addition, there is a valley known as the Sianok Gorge with varying depths between 75-110 m, which basically flows a river called Batang Masang.
Population
The development of Bukittinggi population can not be separated from the changing role of this city into a trading center in the Minangkabau highlands. This was marked by the construction of a market by the Dutch East Indies government in 1890 under the name of loods. Local people spell it with loih, with a curved roof later known as Loih Galuang.
Bukittingi is currently the most populous city in West Sumatra Province, with a density of 4,400 inhabitants / km². The total labor force is 52,631 people and about 3,845 of them are unemployed. The city is dominated by ethnic Minangkabau, but there are also ethnic Chinese, Javanese, Tamil, and Batak.
Chinese society came along with the emergence of markets in Bukittinggi. They were permitted by the Dutch Indies government to build a store / kiosk at the foot of the Fort de Kock Fortress, located in the western part of the city, stretching from south to north, and today known as Kampung Cino. While Indian traders placed in the foothills of the north, circular from east to west and now also called Kampung Keling.
Tourism
The tourism industry is one of the main sectors of Bukittinggi City. The number of interesting tourist attraction, making this city dubbed as a "tourist city". In 2012, the number of foreign tourists visiting the city reached 26,629 people. Currently in Bukittinggi there are about 60 hotels and 15 travel agencies. The hotels in Bukittinggi include The Hills, Hotel Pusako and Grand Rocky Hotel.
Sianok canyon is one of the main tourist attraction. Panorama Park located within the city of Bukittinggi allows tourists to see the beautiful scenery of the Sianok Gorge. Inside the Panorama Park there is also a cave of former Japanese army hideout during World War II called the Japang Hole. To visit Koto Gadang nagari under the canyon, tourists can go through Janjang Koto Gadang. The long lane about 1 km long, has a design like the Great Wall of China.
In Taman Bundo Kanduang there is a replica of Rumah Gadang which serves as a museum of Minangkabau culture. Bukittinggi Zoo and Fort de Kock Fortress, connected by a pedestrian bridge called the Limpapeh Bridge. The Limpapeh crossing bridge is above Jalan A. Yani which is the main road in Bukittinggi City.
Ateh Market (Pasar Atas) is adjacent to Jam Gadang which is the center of the city crowd. At Ateh Market there are many sellers of handicrafts and embroidery, as well as snacks from West Sumatera souvenirs, such as sanjai chips (cassava chips ala Sanjai area in Bukittinggi) made from cassava, jangek karupuak made from cow leather or buffalo, and karang kaliang, a kind of Bukittinggi typical snack that is shaped like a number 8.
Economy
The development of the Loih Galuang market, now called Ateh Market, made the Dutch East Indies government in 1900 to develop a lood to the east, precisely at the hillside area adjacent to the ditch that flows in the foothills. Because the location of the market is on the slope, local people call it by the Market Teleng (Italics) or Slope Market. Subsequent developments around the area appeared again several markets, including the Bottom Market and Banto Market. Traditional markets around Jam Gadang area, then developed into a sale of handicrafts and souvenirs typical Minangkabau. In the market arrangement, the Dutch East Indies government also connects each of these markets with the staircase (rung), and among the famous staircases is Janjang 40.
To reduce the buildup in one area, the government of Bukittinggi then developed the urban area to the east by building Aur Kuning Market, which is currently one of the largest wholesale trading centers on the island of Sumatra. Due to the small size of the area, the trade sector is one of the options for the Bukittinggi government in increasing its incomes.
In addition, the Bukittinggi government also spawned several programs in alleviating poverty, including embroidery skills training and kebaya-making training, as well as the growth of new entrepreneurs. Original embroidery Bukittinggi usually use direct kranang technique that is quite complicated and time consuming. This is different from similar products made by Tasikmalaya, West Java using solder krancang technique.
Transportation
The city of Bukittinggi is in a strategic position of the Sumatra Highway, which connects Padang, Medan, and Palembang, and is located between Padang and Pekanbaru. Aur Kuning terminal is the main terminal for land transportation in this city. As for the transportation within the city, available city transportation, taxis, and bendi (horse-drawn carriage). Based on the records of the Public Works Department, all roads in the city are 196 km long, including state roads and provincial roads.
Previously this city is traversed by a railway line connecting Payakumbuh and Padang which was built around the beginning of the 20th century. But in the 1970s, this means of transportation is not activated anymore. The city also has a non-class air transport facility called Gadut Airport.