Bukittinggi

Bukittinggi is a city in West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is the third largest city in the region and had a population of around 124,000 people as of 2023. The city sits in the beautiful Minangkabau Highlands, about 90 kilometers from Padang, the capital of West Sumatra.

Bukittinggi used to be called Fort de Kock during Dutch rule and was even known as the “Paris of Sumatra” because of its charm. During a difficult time in Indonesia’s history, it served as the country’s capital for a short period.

Today, Bukittinggi is a popular tourist city. One of its most famous landmarks is the Jam Gadang, a large clock tower in the center of the city. The cool climate, with temperatures ranging from 16 to 25 °C, makes it a pleasant place to visit.

The city is also important because it is the birthplace of Mohammad Hatta, one of Indonesia’s founding leaders. Many other important figures in Indonesian history come from Bukittinggi as well.

History

Bukittinggi started as five villages that formed a marketplace. During colonial times, it was called Fort de Kock after a Dutch outpost built there in 1825 during the Padri War.

The fort was named after Hendrik Merkus de Kock, a leader of the Dutch East Indies. The first road linking the area to the west coast was built between 1833 and 1841, helping trade and travel. In 1856, the first teacher-training college in Sumatra opened in the city.

During World War II, the city became a base for Japanese forces occupying Sumatra. Later, during Indonesia’s struggle for independence, the city was involved in conflicts between different groups.

The city was renamed Bukittinggi in 1949. It was once the capital of a larger area called Central Sumatra before becoming part of West Sumatra. In 2007, a plan to harm tourists was stopped before it could happen. Since 2008, some celebrations like Valentine's Day and New Year have not been officially celebrated there because they are seen as clashing with local traditions.

Administrative districts

Bukittinggi is split into three districts, called kecamatan. These districts are then split into 24 smaller areas, called urban subdistricts or kelurahan. The table below shows the size of each district and how many people lived there in 2010, 2020, and an estimate from mid-2023. It also shows how many subdistricts are in each district.

Transportation

Bukittinggi is linked to Padang by road. Until the early 1980s, there was a train service from Padang Panjang that served the city. Today, the city uses public transport called "Mersi" (Merapi Singgalang) and "IKABE" to help people travel around. Bukittinggi also keeps a traditional horse-cart known as Bendi, which is mostly used by tourists.

Tourism

Bukittinggi is a favorite place for visitors because of its nice weather and central spot. People also enjoy shopping there for affordable clothes and fashion items, especially visitors from Malaysia. The best ways to explore Bukittinggi are by motorbike, car, or on foot.

Some fun spots in the city include:

• Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon)
• Lubang Jepang (Japanese Caves) — underground bunkers and tunnels built by the Japanese during World War II
• Jam Gadang — a big clock tower built by the Dutch in 1926
• Pasar Atas and Pasar Aur Kuning — traditional markets in the downtown area
• Taman Bundo Kanduang park, which has a model of a Rumah Gadang (a big house with special Minangkabau roof design) used as a museum and a small zoo. The old Dutch fort, Fort de Kock, is linked to the zoo by the Limpapeh Bridge walking bridge.
• Museum Rumah Kelahiran Bung Hatta (Museum of Bung Hatta Birthplace) — the house where important Indonesian leader Mohammad Hatta was born, now a museum
• Janjang Koto Gadang, also called the Great Wall of Koto Gadang. It has stairs like a small version of the Chinese Great Wall, connecting Taman Panorama and Koto Gadang village

Nearby, you can also visit Lake Maninjau, Lake Tarusan, Kamang Cave, and Tarang Cave.

Sister cities

Bukittinggi has a special friendship with the city of Seremban in Malaysia. These cities work together to share ideas and help each other grow.

Notable residents

One well-known person from Bukittinggi is Khailan Syamsu. He lived from 1905 to 1962 and was known for working to protect people’s rights and for being interested in the language Esperanto.