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http://www.geocities.com/bandungcity/build.htm
UNIT 6.
History of Bandung
Map of Old Great Lake of Bandung
Isola – jl SetiaBudi – Bandung
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The city history dates from 1488 when the first reference to Bandung exists. But from ancient
archeological finds, we know the city was home to Australopithecus, Java Man. These
people lived on the banks of the Cikapundung in north Bandung, and on the shores of the
Great Lake of Bandung. Flint artifacts can still be found in the Upper Dago area and the
Geological Museum has displays and fragments of skeletal remains and artifacts.
The Sundanese were a pastoral people farming the fertile regions of Bandung. They
developed a lively oral tradition which includes the still practiced Wayang Golek puppet
theatre, and many musical forms. "There is a city called Bandung, comprising 25 to 30
houses," wrote Juliaen de Silva in 1614.
The achievements of European adventurers to try their luck in the fertile and prosperous
Bandung area, led eventually to 1786 when a road was built connecting Jakarta, Bogor,
Cianjur and Bandung. This flow was increased when in 1809 Louis Napoleon, the ruler of
the Netherlands, ordered Governor General H.W. Daendels, to increase defences in Java
against English. The vision was a chain of military defense units and a supply road between
Batavia and Cirebon. But this coastal area was marsh and swamp, and it was easier to
construct the road further south, across the Priangan highlands.
The Grote Postweg (Great Post Road) was built 11 miles north of the then capital of
Bandung. With his usual terseness, Daendels ordered the capital to be relocated to the road.
Bupati Wiranatakusumah II chose a site south of the road on the western bank of the
Cikapundung, near a pair of holy wells, Sumur Bandung, supposedly protected by the
ancient goddess Nyi Kentring Manik. On this site he built his dalem (palace) and the alunalun (city square). Following traditional orientations, Mesjid Agung (The Grand Mosque)
was placed on the western side, and the public market on the east. His residence and
Pendopo (meeting place) was on the south facing the mystical mountain of Tangkuban
Perahu. Thus was The Flower City born.
Around the middle of the l9th Century, South American cinchona (quinine), Assam tea,
and coffee was introduced to the highlands. By the end of the century Priangan was
registered as the most prosperous plantation area of the province. In 1880 the rail line
connecting Jakarta and Bandung was completed, and promised a 2 1/2 hour trip from the
blistering capital in Jakarta to Bandung.
With this life changed in Bandung, hotels, cafes, shops sprouted up to serve the planters who
either came down from their highland plantations or up from the capital to frolic in Bandung.
The Concordia Society was formed and with its large ballroom was the social magnet for
weekend activities in the city. The Preanger Hotel and the Savoy Homann were the hotels
of choice. The Braga became the promenade, lined with exclusive Europeans shops.
With the railroad, light industry flourished. Once raw plantation crops were sent directly to
Jakarta for shipment to Europe, now primary processing could be done efficiently in
Bandung. The Chinese who had never lived in Bandung in any number came to help run the
facilities and vendor machines and services to the new industries. Chinatown dates from this
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period.
In the first years of the present century, Pax Neerlandica was proclaimed, resulting in the
passing of military government to a civilian one. With this came the policy of
decentralization to lighten the administrative burden of the central government. And so
Bandung became a municipality in 1906.
This turn of events left a great impact on the city. City Hall was built at the north end of
Braga to accommodate the new government, separate from the original native system. This
was soon followed by a larger scale development when the military headquarters was moved
from Batavia to Bandung around 1920. The chosen site was east of City Hall, and consisted
of a residence for the Commander in Chief, offices, barracks and military housing.
By the early 20's the need for skilled professionals drove the establishment of the technical
high school that was sponsored by the citizens of Bandung. At the same time the plan to
move the capital of the Netherlands Indies from Batavia to Bandung was already mature, the
city was to be extended to the north. The capital district was placed in the northeast, an area
that had formerly been rice fields, and a grand avenue was planned to run for about 2.5
kilometers facing the fabled Tangkuban Perahu volcano with Gedung Sate at the south
end, and a colossal monument at the other. on both sides of this grand boulevard buildings
would house the various offices of the massive colonial government.
Along the east bank of the Cikapundung River amidst natural scenery was the campus of
the Technische Hoogeschool, dormitories and staff housing. The old campus buildings and
its original landscaping reflect the genius of its architect Henri Maclain Pont. The
southwestern section was reserved for the municipal hospital and the Pasteur Institute, in the
neighborhood of the old quinine factory. These developments were carefully planned down
to the architectural and maintenance details. These years shortly before World War II were
the golden ones in Bandung and those alluded to today as Bandung Tempoe Doeloe.
The war years did little to change the city of Bandung, but in 1946, facing the return of the
Colonial Dutch to Indonesia, citizens chose to burn down their beloved Bandung in what has
become known as Bandung Lautan Api, Bandung Ocean of Fire. Citizens fled to the
southern hills and overlooking the "ocean of flames" penned "Halo Halo Bandung," the
anthem promising their return. Political unrest colored the early years of Independence and
consequently people flocked to Bandung where safety was. The population skyrocketed from
230,000 in 1940 to 1 million by 1961. Economic prosperity following the oil boom in the
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70's pushed this further so that by 1990 there were 2 million inhabitants.
Present day Bandung is thriving. As home to more than 35 schools of higher education, there
is a vibrant collegiate atmosphere. The excellent fine arts offerings have produced an artist
colony of great repute and excitement. The textile industry is the largest in the country and
contributes to a vigorous business climate.
In 1987 the city extended its administrative boundaries toward a Greater Bandung Plan
(Bandung Raya) Plans for the city include higher concentrations of development outside the
current city centre, in an attempt to dilute some of the population density in the old core.
These days Bandung Raya is still years ahead, yet the land has suffered deeply. Commercial
activities run amok, God only knows who can take control. The city core is practically
uprooted, old faces are torn down, lot sizes regrouped, and what was idyllic residence is now
bustling chain supermarkets and rich banks.
Source: LSAI
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Some Old Buildings in Bandung
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Church in Jl. Merdeka
Now, is a Bank Building in jalan Braga
Institute of Pasteur
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The City Parks
"Paradisi in sole paradisus terrestris" Jon Parkinson, 1629
Since the Dwhich were made in the 1920's are Taman Maluku (Molukkenpark), Taman
Citarum (Tjitaroemplein), Tamanutch times, Bandung already has many parks which
were made for the beauty of the city. The city parks in Bandung Pramuka (Oranjeplein),
Taman
Ganeca
(Ijzermanpark),
Taman
lalulintas
(Insulindepark),
Taman
Balaikota/Merdeka (Pieter Sijthoffpark), Taman Cibeunying (Tjibeunjingplantsoen),
Taman Kebon Binatang / Taman Sari (Jubileumpark), etc.
Taman Cibeunying (Tjibeunjingplantsoen)
It is located at Cibeunying street, around Gedung Sate complex. This beautiful parks is
stretch along a length. There is the footpath for pedestrian and the small river inside.
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Taman Balaikota (Pieterspark)
This park is located at Merdeka street, in the center of Bandung city. The photos were
taken from the same spot in 1931 (top) and 1999 (below). You can see the cathedral
church in the background, the oldest church in the city.
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Taman Maluku (Molukkenpark)
It is located at the intersection Aceh Street and Maluku Street. There is a pond with the
white lotus and the fountain in the middle of this park. This park has one guard, H.O.
Verbraak (1835-1918) statue (right photo) .
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Ganeca Park (Ijzermanpark)
It is located at Ganeca Street, in the front of Bandung Instiute of Technology (ITB). This
park has a pond with fountain also. In the upper section of the park, there is the halfcircled platform. In the past, from this platform we can see the beautiful mountain range
scenery; Manglayang Mountain (1611 m.), Tampomas Mountain (1683 m.),
Mandalawangi Mountain (1650 m.), Graha Mountain (1159 m.), Jaya Mountain (2416
m.), Ppandayan Mountain (2660 m.), Kendang Mountain (2607 m.), Masigit Mountain
(2076 m.), Dayeuhluhur Mountain (1010 m.), and Lalakon Mountain (970 m.), from the
east toward the south until the west of Bandung. But currently we can not have the view
like that. In 1928 (top), we can see two ITB buildings and Tangkuban Perahu mountain in
the background (The north of Bandung), but now (below) those are covered by the
denseness of the trees.
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HISTORY OF BANDUNG
A. SKIMMING
Please read carefully the reading above quickly and summarize it with your own word
( in English )
B. READING & UNDERSTANDING
1. According the article when is the history of Bandung began ?
2. What you can find from the Geological Museum nowadays ?
3. How big Bandung city was in 1614 as Juliaen de Silva written ?
4. What happened in 1786 ?
5. What is the idea behind the road construction ?
6. What is the Most Old City component if you see from the Bandung history
above ?
7. Who is the Sundanese ancient Goddess ?
8. What kind of plantations makes Bandung famous in the past ?
9. What are the names of the famous old hotels in Bandung at that time ?
10. Were there any China communities in the past ?
11. What happened in 1906 ?
12. Where the City Hall was built ?
13. Where the military headquarters was first situated ? Then where it moved to ?
14. Is there any mountain close to City of Bandung ?
15. Where is the Technishe Hoogeschool situated ?
16. Who is the architect of that School ?
17. What is the name of the School present-day ?
18. Since when the population increase rapidly ?
19. What kind of industry which is dominated Bandung ?
20. What Bandung famous for at present among the teenagers ?
C. MORE INFORMATION
1. Please continue the reading into the City Parks article, then telling with your own
words how many parks which Bandung had in the past.
2. Give your opinion about the old pictures of Parks in Bandung and the old
buildings in Bandung.
D. ASSIGNMENT
1. Find the history of old buildings in Bandung.
2. Find the types of architecture in Bandung in the past.
3. Do not forget to mention the source that you get the information from.
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E. TRUE OR FALSE THE STATEMENT BELOW :
( For answering this questions below also need your general knowledge about
Bandung area and its activities ).
1. The legend told us that Bandung was a former Great Lake.
2. Isola is one of historical building in Bandung area.
3. Isola is a very beautiful Villa and now is use as the Main Office of University of
Pendidikan Indonesia or UPI ( the old name was IKIP ).
4. Bandung is the home of Australopithecus.
5. Wayang Golek is the puppet theatre name of West Java people.
6. H.W. Daendels was the Dutch Governor General who ruled at that time..
7. Wiranatakusumah II is the Bupati of Priangan.
8. The Concordia Society was formed and with its large ballroom was also as the
social magnet for the weekend activities in the city.
9. The Braga street became the promenade, lined with exclusive Europeans shops.
10. By the early 20’s the need for skilled professionals drove the establishment of the
technical high school that was sponsored by the citizens of Bandung.
11. Tangkuban Perahu mountain is in a one-line with the colossal monument and the
Gedung Sate building in the South-end.
12. 1946 was famous by the Bandung Lautan Api or the “ocean of flames” and the
song of “Halo-halo Bandung”
13. The textile industry is the largest in the country and contributes to a vigorous
business climate.
14. In 1987 the city extended its administrative boundaries toward a Greater Bandung
or “ Bandung Raya” Plans.
15. At this moment the land of Bandung has suffered deeply.
16. Bandung had many Parks includes : Molukkenpark, Tjitaroemplein, Oranjeplein,
Ijzermanpark, Insulindepark, etcetera.
17. City of Bandung was surrounded by mountains, like : Manglayang, Tampomas,
Mandalawangi, Papandayan, Dayeuhlihur and etcetera.
18. Nowadays, Bandung are more famous as the city of factory outlet.
19. Before full of factory outlet, Bandung was famous by the Street Jeans of
Cihampelas.
20. Bandung also famous by the Aeroplane Industry of Nusantara ( IPTN ) in the
Suharto Era.
F. USE YOUR DICTIONARIES FOR FINDING THE MEANING OF THE
DIFFICULT WORDS
Use your dictionaries for finding the meaning of the difficult words, at least 20 words.
G. GRAMMAR
Ada perbedaan arti jika kita menggunakan kata kerja ‘to like’ yang berarti ‘suka atau
senang’ dengan ‘like’ yang diikuti dengan ‘should’ atau ‘would’ yang berarti ‘ingin’.
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Contohnya :
I like him and he likes me.
( Saya senang padanya dan dia juga senang kepada saya )
I like coffee but I don’t like milk.
( Saya suka kopi tetapi saya tidak suka susu ).
Do you like this colour ?
( Senangkah anda dengan warna ini ? )
Would you like some tea ?
( Anda ingin the ? )
Would you like to go along ?
( Maukah anda ikut ? atau Inginkah anda ikut ? )
Yes, I’d like to but I can’t because I’m very busy.
( Ya, saya ingin, tetapi saya tidak dapat oleh karena sibuk sekali ).
Catatan :
‘Would you like’ lebih sopan dari pada ‘want’.
Bentuk lain yang dapat digunakan adalah :
Do you care for some coffee ?
Yes, I do
No, thanks
Would you care for a cup of tea ?
Yes, I’d love to
No, thanks.
Can I offer you some coffee ?
Yes, please
No, thank you
H. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORD
1. I ( like, would like ) black coffee, please.
2. He ( likes, would like ) coffee but he doesn’t like tea.
3. ( Do you like, would you like ) to go along ?
4. Would you like to go to the movies ?
Yes, ( I’d like to, I like )
5. ( Do you like, would you like ) to come with me ?
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