Happy 489th birthday, Jakarta! Special to celebrate the birthday of Jakarta today, Alinear compiles 17 interesting facts about Jakarta you need to know. Check it out below!
1. The Name of Jakarta Has Been Changed 10 Times
The name of this Metropolitan City began with Sunda Kelapa. And then it was changed respectively from Sta Batavia, Gemeente Batavia, Stad Gemente Batavia, Betshu Shi, to Jakarta Toko. After the freedom of Indonesia, the name of the city which also has the nickname of The Big Durian had been changed again into Jakarta, Kota Praja Jakarta, Pemerintah Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta Raya, and finally it becomes the nowadays name we are familiar: Jakarta.
2. The Place Where Garuda Symbol First Introduced
The symbol of Garuda bird introduced first time at Hotel Des Indes in 1960 by President Soekarno. Unfortunately, in 1971 this historical hotel located on Jl. Gadjah Mada was demolished for the construction of Duta Merlin shopping center.
3. The DKI Jakarta Logo is Made by the Sixth Jakarta’s Governor
He is Mr. Henk Ngantung, whom also an artist and the sixth governor of Jakarta who made the DKI Jakarta logo.
4. The Most Active City in Twitter & The Trending Topic Maker
Based on Forbes data, Jakarta is one of the most active Twitter users and frequently ‘donates’ a trending topic.
5. The First Jakarta’s Mascot is Not Monas!
Monumen Nasional aka Monas which now known as the landmark of Jakarta is apparently not the first mascot of Jakarta, but the statue of Elang Bondol Bird and Salak Condet (salak: snakefruit) in Cempaka Putih area, Central Jakarta, which been assigned in 1989. Along with the construction of buildings and housings, this mascot then faded away as well as the Jakarta’s lush green trees.
6. The Owner of One of the Biggest Wholesaler Markets in the World
Tanah Abang Market builted in 1935 is one of the biggest wholesaler markets in the world.
7. The Biggest Train Station in ASEAN
The Jakarta Kota train station or also called as Beos Station (an abbreviation of Bataviasche Ooster Spoorweg Maatschapij, the Batavian Eastern Railway Company), had ever been the biggest train station in ASEAN because of the 580 trains passed back and forth each day.
8. Gelora Bung Karno Stadium was the Biggest in the World!
At the end of the construction in 1962, GBK Stadium was the biggest stadium in the world with the initial capacity of 100.000 people.
9.Has the Biggest Train Depot in Southeast Asia
This achievement is accomplished by the commuter line depot in Depok, South Jakarta.
10. One of the Cities with The Most Skyscrapers
Jakarta is on the 17th position from 40 cities with the most skyscrapers in the world.
11. Has the Most Beautiful Kampong
Kampong Rawa in Central Jakarta has won the Most Beautiful Kampong in Asia by CNNgo in 2012.
12. The Winner of Piala Bangun Praja
In 2010, this city has won the Piala Bangun Praja as the cleanest and most beautiful city. Thanks to Menteng and Kebayoran Baru area!
13. Malls are Everywhere!
No wonder, because in the last 2015 there are 173 malls spread around the city. Because of this amount, Jakarta then known as the city with the most malls in the world!
14. The Heaven of Museum
Not only known by the most malls, you will also be satisfied to have a historical trip in Jakarta by the 47 museums.
15. By the Way, We Still Have Forest!
In the middle of the skyscrapers, Jakarta still has Muara Angke Forest, Srengseng Forest, and Tebet City Forest.
16. The Governor Born in Jakarta
From the 17 governors in Jakarta, only Soerjadi Sudirja and Fauzi Bowo who were born in Jakarta and only Fauzi Bowo has the pure Betawinese blood.
17. Las Vegas Urban Planning
The city you explore now is inspired by the Las Vegas urban plan, which was applied by the ninth governor of Jakarta, Ali Sadikin, to develop tourism in Jakarta.