City of Rain Bogor

Bogor, 60 km south of Jakarta and 120km from Bandung, is most famous for its botanical gardens. In the days before independence, however, this was the most important Dutch hill station, midway between the mountains and the heat-ridden plains. Governor-General van Imhoff is credited with its discovery in 1745. He built a large country estate which he named Buitenzorg ('Without a Care'), but it was not until 1811 that it was first used as a country residence by Sir Stamford Raffles, during the British interregnum, and not until many years later that Bogor became the semi-official capital.

Bogor has become an important centre for scientific research, including botany, agronomy and forestry. Though Bogor stands at a height of only 290 metres it's appreciably cooler than Jakarta, but visitors in the wet season should bear in mind the town's nickname: the 'City of Rain'. Bogor has probably the highest annual rainfall in Java and is credited with a record 322 thunderstorms a year.

BOGOR PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

In the north-west corner of the botanical gardens, the summer palace of the president was formerly the official residence of the Dutch governors- general from 1870 to 1942.  The huge mansion was destroyed by an earthquake and a new palace was built on the site a few years later in 1856. Following independence, the palace was a much-favoured retreat for Soekarno, although Soeharto has ignored it. Today the building contains Soekarno's huge art collection of 219 paintings and 156 sculptures but the palace is only open to the public by prior arrangement.

BOGOR BOTANICAL GARDEN

At the heart of Bogor are the huge, world-class botanical gardens, known as the Kebun Raya (Great Garden) covering an area of around 80 hectares. They are said to be the inspiration of Governor-General Raffles, but the spacious grounds of the Istana Bogor (Presidential Palace) were converted to botanical gardens by the Dutch botanist Professor Reinwardt, with assistants from Kew Gardens (London, UK), and officially opened by the Dutch in 1817. It was from these gardens that various colonial cash crops such as tea, cassava, tobaco, and cinchona were developed by early Dutch researchers during the so-called Forced Cultivation Period in the 19th century. The park is still a major centre for botanical research in Indonesia.

The gardens contain streams and lotus ponds and more than 15,000 species of trees and plants, including 400 types of magnificent palms. The gardens' orchid houses are reputed to contain more than 3000 orchid varieties and are open to the general public. Admission to orchid houses is Rp.1000. North of the main entrance to the gardens is a small monument in memory of Olivia Raffles, who died in 1814 and was buried in Batavia, and further north, near the palace, is a cemestry with Dutch headstones.The gardens are open between 8 AM to 5 PM. The entrance fee is Rp.5000 on weekdays and Rp.4000 on Sundays and holidays.

BAG STORES IN TAJUR, BOGOR

In Bogor, precisely in the area Tajur, there are many shopping areas selling various kinds of bags, shoes, and other personal equipment. Region in recent years started to grow, always visited by buyers from all walks of life. Every weekend or school holidays, the area is visited by many visitors from Jakarta and surrounding areas. There is also a stopover here on his return from the tour in Puncak.

Various kinds of bags with different styles and sizes pegged to the price is pretty cheap, like bags ranging from 20,000 school children, office bags from 25,000 bags from 15,000 women, - and luggage bags ranging from Rp. 20.000. There is plenty of choice of sizes and models according to the trend. Brand was diverse, ranging from a branded to unbranded abroad. Tajur bag is already quite well known, especially for the citizens of Jakarta. Even some handbag stores in Jakarta to buy from here. In addition to handbags, there are also shoes, clothes, jackets, wallets, belts, and so forth. 

To go to this area is easy, as seen from the location that is not how far away from the terminal Baranang-noon, Bogor toward Ciawi. When from the summit, you can get through the market Ciawi grab a straight path toward the city of Bogor.