Bukittinggi is one city in the province of West Sumatra, Indonesia.
The city was formerly called the Fort de Kock and the former had also dubbed as Paris van Sumatra besides city of Medan, and the town of Bukittinggi was also the capital of Indonesia.
The city is the hometown of one of the Bung Hatta proclaimed Indonesia, also known as city heritage with the Jam Gadang, a landmark in the heart of the height, shaped like a big clock Big Ben, as well as a symbol for the city which is also located on the edge of a valley named Sianok Canyon.
Besides the town of Bukittinggi is also famous as a tourist city that cool air, and siblings (sister city) in Seremban from Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia.
Bukittinggi city began standing in line with the arrival of the Dutch who later founded the blockhouse in 1825 during the War Padri in one of the hills contained within this city, known as Fort de Kock, as well as a resting place officers in the Dutch colonies . Later in the reign of the Dutch East Indies, the area is always enhanced role in the constitution which later developed into a Stadsgemeente (city), and also serves as the capital Afdeeling Padangsche Bovenlanden and Onderafdeeling Oud Agam.
During the Japanese occupation, the city of Bukittinggi used as a control center for the region of Sumatra military government, even to Singapore and Thailand, where the city became the seat of the military commander to 25 Kenpeitai, under the command of Major General Hirano Toyoji. Then the city was renamed from Fort de Kock became Stadsgemeente Bukittinggi Yaku The SHO of the area was broadened to include the surrounding villages-villages like Sianok Anam Suku, Gadut, Kapau, Ampang Gadang, Batu Taba and Bukit Batabuah. Now Nagari-Nagari is entered into the Agam regency.
After the independence of Indonesia, Bukittinggi was chosen to be the capital of the Province of Sumatra, with its governor Mr. Teuku Muhammad Hasan. Then Bukittinggi is also defined as the area municipalities based on the Decree of the Governor of the Province of Sumatra No. 391 dated June 9, 1947.
At the time of maintaining the independence of Indonesia, the City Bukitinggi role as the city struggles, where on December 19, 1948, the city is designated as the capital of Indonesia after the Yogyakarta fell into Dutch hands, known as the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI). Later on, the event was designated a State-Defense Day, based on the Decree of President of the Republic of Indonesia Number 28 Year 2006 dated December 18, 2006.
The next big city of Bukittinggi be based on Law Number 9 Year 1956 concerning the establishment of an autonomous region within the major cities of the province of Central Sumatra period, which covers the province of West Sumatra, Jambi, Riau and Riau Islands now.
Even after the issuance of Government Regulation Number 84 of 1999 as a new legal basis of regional government in the implementation of Bukittinggi, but until now still can not be implemented.
Bukittinggi is located on the Bukit Barisan range that ran along the island of Sumatra, surrounded by three volcanoes is Mount Singgalang, Mount Marapi and Mount Sago, and at an altitude of 909-941 meters above sea level. The city is also air cool with temperatures ranging between 16.1 - 24.9 ° C. While the total area of the current town of Bukittinggi (25.24 km ²), 82.8% have been devoted to cultivation of land, while the rest is protected forest.
The city has a hilly topography and berlembah, some hills are scattered in urban areas, among them the Bukit Ambacang, Bukit Tambun Tulang, Bukit Mandiangin, Bukit Campago, Bukit Kubangankabau, Bukit Pinang Nan Sabatang, Bukit Canggang, Bukit Paninjauan and so on. While there is a valley which is also known as Sianok canyon with a depth that varies between 75-110 m, which didasarnya flows a river called the Batang Masang which empties on the west coast of Sumatra island.
Jam Gadang :
Jam Gadang was built in 1926 by an architect named Yazid Sutan Gigi Ameh. Jam Gadang is a gift from the Queen of the Netherlands to the Rook Maker, Controleur or secretary of the town of Bukittinggi in the reign of the Dutch East Indies. Laying the first stone Jam Gadang was conducted by Rook Maker's first son who was then 6 years old.
Such a phenomenal, since it was built and since its establishment, the Jam Gadang has become the center of everyone's attention. It also resulted in the Jam Gadang used as a marker or landmark town of Bukittinggi and also as one of the icons of West Sumatra province.
Construction of the Jam Gadang is said to cost of development with a total of 3,000 Gulden, which costs quite fantastic for the size of the time. But it paid off with the famous Jam Gadang as a landmark as well as the iconic town of Bukittinggi. In addition, the Jam Gadang is also set as the zero point the town of Bukittinggi.
Since its establishment, the Jam Gadang has undergone three changes to the roof. Established early in the reign of the Dutch East Indies, the roof of the Jam Gadang round shape with a statue of a rooster on it. Later in the reign of the Japanese occupation shaped pagoda. And since the proclamation of Indonesian independence, the Jam Gadang-shaped roof on a house roof in traditional Minangkabau (Rumah Gadang).
The last renovation was done in 2010 by the Badan Pelestarian Pusaka Indonesia (BPPI) with the support of Bukittinggi city government and the Dutch embassy in Jakarta, and was inaugurated exactly on the anniversary of the town Bukittinggi to 262 on December 22, 2010.
Lubang Jepang :
BUKITTINGGI indeed a city with a myriad of natural beauty, culture, and history. Japan hole one of them. Underground passage which in the past used as a defense of this underground Japanese soldiers now serve as the mainstay attractions of West Sumatra.
Once restored, the hallway at the bottom of the Sianok Canyon, about 40 feet below ground or ground surface is calculated from Panorama Park, where attractions are located, as feasible.
Lubang Jepang established from the years 1942-1945 by the inhabitants surrounding forcibly employed by Japanese soldiers. In the underground passage along 1.47 miles of this, there are 21 small hall which had been the halls of the fortress for the defense, such as ammunition storage hall, booth Japanese military soldiers, meeting room, dining room romusa, kitchens, prisons, courtrooms , torture chamber, where reconnaissance, ambush, and escape doors.
When found, the diameter of the entrance hall, measuring 20 cm. Only the circumference of the body-derdadu Japanese soldiers who are rather slim. At least that is often seen in the pictures in the history books. Once found and restored, now measuring the diameter of 3-4 meters hall and is equipped with fluorescent light at various angles and sides. However, the walls were unchanged. Sectional stone walls that once aimed to muffle the sound (echo) so as not to sound out. Strokes forced blow with a sharp object rather still recorded in a number of walls. That said, by the Japanese, the Insonesia prisoners were forced to penetrate the rock Sianok Canyon only with picks and other sharp objects.
When entering into a tourist attraction with nearly 2 acres of this area, visitors will be coming down the stairs as far as 64 meters to actually reach the depth of 40 meters. When it arrived, visitors will first see the hallway that was used as an ammunition storage space on the right side. Later, visitors will get out of this hallway after wandering satisfied to return to the temporary entrance also serves as the exit. After the military chamber, on the right side of the visitor will find a hallway with the same function. Later, this hall will be a mini-theater to show films relating to the history of Japanese occupation in Indonesia and in the realm of Minang in particular.
After that, visitors will see about two other aisle with the same function. One of the aisle plan will be converted into storage space mockups Lubang Jepang. Increasingly enter into the tunnel grew cold and damp. Breathe the air was not as pleasant as usual. However, the journey across the aisle is not finished.
Arrive at the first end of the hall, we found a T-junction and we proceeded to the hallway on the left. The corridor is also branched. There courtroom soldiers once used to judge the local community or indigenous fighters who rebelled. There is also a branch of the corridor which will be used as a Museum Saintifik.
According to the guide, the local government originally planned to make a cafe in this hall, but after visiting the President SBY directly to this place, he asked local governments to replace it with something more scientific. Stepping forward as far as 5 meters, on the right side there is a hallway on the right side once used as military barracks. Five feet to the front again on the main hallway is written "Door Escape" with a glimmer of light from the hole fenced in behind as far as 10 meters.
Before arriving at the hole, there is a hallway on the right to link it with another aisle. The hallway ends in a prison corridor that was used to capture the enemies of Japan. On the right side there is a room in which there is a kitchen, reconnaissance holes at the top, and a small hole right at the bottom, which was used as a storage place the bodies of dead prisoners tortured in prison. End of the hole empties into the River Sianok.
This place is classified as gripping as it is located at the tip of Lubang Jepang locations. If you take another step, visitors will pass through the main hall which was used as ambush alley. Along this corridor there are four hallway that leads out and will be used as the exit. When it came to the end, visitors should turn right, through the hallway former military barracks. On the right side there are passageways that in the beginning has been skipped. The journey came to an end across the aisle former ammunition room and climbed into the entrance hall.
Along the corridor there are a number of CCTV is planned to be activated. In addition, there are about six hole called the vent. One will function as an entry point, while the other five will function as the exit. The plan in 2009 is all the plans can be realized.
The hole down the Japanese experience leaves its own impression. Feelings of awe, sad, and proud jumbled when treading every aisle in these attractions. If a visit to the Garden Panorama Sianok canyon, go down to Lubang Jepang. Simply add a fee of Rp 20,000 for a guide or guides who will lead the trip and provide an explanation of the whole hall for visitors.
Benteng Fort de Kock :
Fort de Kock is a bastion of Dutch heritage that was standing in the town of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Fort de Kock is also the old name of Bukittinggi.
The fort was built during the War of Padri in 1825 by Captain Bauer at the Mount Jirek and originally named Sterrenschans. Later, its name was changed to Fort de Kock, according to Hendrik Merkus de Kock, Dutch military figures.
In later years, around this fort grew a town which is also named Fort de Kock, now Bukittinggi.
Until now, Fort de Kock is still there as the green-white-painted buildings as high as 20 m. Fortress Fort de Kock is equipped with a small cannon in the four corners. The area around the castle has been restored by the local government into a garden with many shady trees and children's toys.
The fort is located in the same location with Bukittinggi Zoo and Museum of Traditional House Baanjuang. The area is located on a hill fort left of the entrance while the area zoos and museums gadang shaped house is located on the hill to the right. Both are connected by a Limpapeh Bridge beneath which is a highway in the town of Bukit Tinggi. This area is located only 1 km from the center of Bukittinggi in the Jam Gadang, precisely on the canal road Tuanku nan Renceh.
