A Visit to Kotu, Jakarta

Kota (Indonesian: Kota Tua Jakarta), is a small area in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is also known as Old Jakarta, and Old Batavia (Dutch: Oud Batavia). It spans 1.3 square kilometres of North Jakarta and West Jakarta (Kelurahan Pinangsia, Taman Sari and Kelurahan Roa Malaka, Tambora). Kota is Indonesian word for "city", it was the reminiscent of the vicinity during colonial times in 16th century that the city was only within Batavia walled compound (today Kota), while the surrounding areas was only kampung (villages), orchards, and ricefields. The largely Chinese downtown area of Glodok is a central part of Kota.

Dubbed "The Jewel of Asia" and "Queen of the East" in the 16th century by European sailors, Old Jakarta — or Batavia, as it was named by the Dutch — was once a center of commerce for the whole continent due to its strategic location and abundant resources. There some some museum stretched around, Fatahillah Museum, Wayang Museum and Art and Ceramic Museum.

Kotu is in highy popular tourist destination. It has many historical sights which attract people to come along. What’s more interesting about Kotu that pople from all ages can be found in this such wonderful historical place. The students go aroung to do some school homework, The University students visit to do a research. Tourists also come from all over the world to enjoy the historical life in this modern era. This place is always crowded during weekends or holidays.

Fatahillah museum is located in old city as a hallmark. The building was built in 1710 as the Stadhuis (city hall) of Batavia. Then, opened in 1974, displays a lot of objects from the prehistory period of the city region,

Jakarta History Museum has a collection of around 23,500 objects, some of them inherited from de Oude Bataviasche Museum (now the Wayang Museum).

“The collection includes objects from the Dutch East Indies Company,  maps, paintings, ceramics, furnitures, and archeological objects from the prehistoric era such as ancient inscriptions and sword. The Jakarta History Museum also contains the richest collection of Betawi style furnitures from the 17th to the 19th century.” Tour guide said

During this month Jakarta History Museum is being reconstructed. Therefore people ought to take off their shoes and wear sandals given by the employees due to the cleanliness concerning.

“ This museum is renovated every year, so don’t be shock if you find the color and the structure changed.” a tour guide impied

Wayang Museum is located beside Fatahillah Musem. The museum has a collection of various kinds of wayang, such as wayang kulit and wayang golek. It also displays various collections of wayang and dolls from countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Suriname, China, Vietnam, France, India and Cambodia. The museum also shows gamelan sets, wayang sculptures, as well as wayang paintings.^[3] Inside the museum is the plate marking the tombstone of Jan Pieterszoon Coen.^[2] A wayang theater and a workshop of wayang-making is periodically organised in the museum.

“This is my first visit to Kotu and Wayang Museum, I really enjoy it, I find many Dutch here and get used to with the weather here. It is warmer than in Netherland.” Said Bryan, a Dutch who visited Kotu

Another thing such as traditional food and western food are available in this place. First, traditional food icluding kerak telor (Kerak Telor: this Betawi traditional dish is made from sticky rice cooked with egg and served with serundeng (fried shredded coconut))  , sate padang, gado – gado are on the corner of the street with reasonable price. Other than traditional food, western food is also the tourist deastination. There is a restaurant known as Batavia Cafe serves western food and beverages. This restaurant is famous as Kotu icon.

The government also pays full attention to this place. The government appeals to all the of the people which are workers and tourists to look after the heritage by caring much to this museum.

Moreover, some parents consider as an importance to guide their children to love the culture as well particularly ask them to visit and see the historical places insted of visiting malls.

“I always bring my children to Kotu so that I can tell them about our culture and I gain my children’s interest in visiting any historical places. A good nation loves her/his culture.” An adult visitor said.