The dynamic and bustling capital of Indonesia is the old port city of Jakarta. With its strategic location on the western coast of Java Island, Jakarta serves as the gateway to the 17,000 odd islands that make up the massive archipelago of Indonesia. Formerly a Dutch colony from the 17^th century, Jakarta has evolved into a modern and lively social, economic and political hub. With some 7.5 million residents, Jakarta offers visitors more than enough things to see and do in the city.

At first glance, this teeming metropolis seems congested, overpopulated and dirty, but once you begin poking around specific neighbourhoods, you’ll find some wonderful historic and cultural sights worth further exploration. From the original Dutch enclave of Batavia, which looks much as it did in the 1600s, to the modern shopping malls of Plaza Indonesia, the capital offers a nice balance between the old and new. Most visitors will want to head straight to the charming Kota district, where Batavia and the old port of Sunda Kelapa harbour are located, to soak in the authentic ambiance.

Ancol Dreamland is another major highlight in the northern part of Jakarta. This is an entertainment complex where visitors can do everything from play in amusement parks to catch a boat out to the Thousand Island chain of islets that dot Jakarta Bay. Cultural hamlets such as Chinatown offer a nice complement to the high-tech wonders at Ancol, ensuring that visitors will have plenty of activities and sights to choose from.

Hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues are mainly concentrated in the central part of town, but can be readily found in every corner of the capital. If you can deal with the ubiquitous heat and humidity, you will find that Indonesia’s capital offers some pleasant surpriसेस.

Jakarta has a long history as a trading port dating back to the 5^th century, but the town only reached its peak of importance in the 16^th century, when the Portuguese - the first Europeans to land on Java – arrived in 1522. In their trading agreement, the Portuguese provided protection from the Islamic sultanate of Demak. However, the Portuguese forces were defeated by the sultan in 1527 and the port town was renamed Jayakarta.

In 1811, the British arrived on the scene, taking control of the land formerly run by the Dutch. But after just five years of colonial rule, the British handed control of Jakarta back to the Dutch, who reigned over daily affairs up until WWII, when the Japanese took over. The year 1908 is remembered as the ‘Year of Awakening’, when a group of medical students began the first of Jakarta’s many political movements. These radical groups fought against the Japanese occupation until 1945, when the Japanese finally surrendered. Following the end of the war, the founding fathers of modern Jakarta established the Declaration of Independence.

The first few decades of Indonesia’s autonomy were prosperous and stable. Rice production soared and a number of development projects were completed. This ‘golden’ era continued up until the Asian economic crisis of 1997, which brought the house down on Jakarta (and most other Asian economies). A subsequent wave of protests and riots created a political power vacuum which still remains tenuous. Despite the ups and downs, Jakarta remains Indonesia’s heart and soul.