Bukitttinggi City

History

There are some interesting legends surrounding the foundation and naming of “High Hill” Bukittinggi. The city has its origins in five villages which served as the basis for a marketplace. The city was known as Fort de Kock during colonial times in reference to the Dutch outpost established here in 1825 during the Padri War. The fort was founded by Captain Bauer at the top of Jirek hill and later named after the then Lieutenant Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Hendrik Merkus de Kock. The first road connecting the region with the west coast was built between 1833 and 1841 via the Anai Gorge, easing troop movements, cutting the costs of transportation and providing an economic stimulus for the agricultural economy. In 1856 a teacher-training college (Kweekschool) was founded in the city, the first in Sumatra, as part of a policy to provide educational opportunities to the indigenous population. A rail line connecting the city with Payakumbuh and Padang was constructed between 1891 and 1894. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia in World War II, the city was the headquarters for the Japanese 25th Army, the force which occupied Sumatra. The headquarters was moved to the city in April 1943 from Singapore, and remained until the Japanese surrender in August 1945.
During the Indonesian National Revolution, the city was the headquarters for the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI) from December 19, 1948 to July 13, 1949. During the second 'Police Action' Dutch forces invaded and occupied the city on December 22, 1948, having earlier bombed it in preparation. The city was surrendered to Republican officials in December 1949 after the Dutch government recognized Indonesian sovereignty. The city was officially renamed Bukittinggi in 1949, replacing its colonial name. From 1950 until 1957, Bukittinggi was the capital city of a province called Central Sumatra, which encompassed West Sumatra, Riau and Jambi. In February 1958, during a revolt in Sumatra against the Indonesian government, rebels proclaimed the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI) in Bukittinggi. The Indonesian government had recaptured the town by May the same year.

See

 In town

Bukittinggi is a small town, so these places are within walking distance with each other (15-30 minute walk).

• Sianok Canyon (Ngarai Sianok) and the Japanese Caves (Lubang Japang), a network of underground bunkers and tunnels built by the Japanese during World War II. There is a two-story observation tower that overlooks the Sianok Canyon. Ticket price: Rp. 4.000 (Aug 2012). The tunnel entrance fee is another Rp. 6.000 (Aug 2012). During dusk you can observe megabats flying from the gorges to the forest in order to feed from the fruits on the trees. This is also a good place to get in contact with guides for tours such as to Lake Maninjau (see below) or jungle/hiking trips through the Canyon.

• Fort de Kock. A fort built by the Dutch (nothing is left, only a water reservoir is on top of the hill) and Bundo Kanduang Park. The park includes a quite nice zoo with several birds and a couple of (rather sad) Orang Utans, elephants (with three legs chained to the ground), bears, a Tapir and others, as well as a replica Rumah Gadang (traditional house), used as a museum of Minangkabau culture (many curiosities, such as stuffed animals with two heads and six legs, model houses and traditional dresses, foreign currencies... entrance Fee an extra Rp. 1000 as of Aug 2012). The Dutch hilltop outpost Fort de Kock is connected to the zoo by the Limpapeh pedestrian overpass. Ticket price: Rp. 8.000 (Aug 2012), camera Rp. 100.000 (June 2008 - as of 2012 there was no sign of a camera fee).

• House of Bung Hatta (the first Vice President of Indonesia).

• Clock Tower (Jam Gadang = Great Clock)

There are horse carriages waiting around the Jam Gadang area. Please be cautioned that the rides are very costly, therefore please ask for their rates first.

Around town

There are two tours that hotels and tour agencies try to push, a tour to Minangkabau and another tour to Maninjau.
The Minangkabau tour will visit these places in east area of Bukittinggi:

• The King's palace in Pagaruyung
• Balimbing village with old century traditional house that is more than 350 years old
• Handcraft in Pandai Sikek, such as kain songket (traditional woven clothes), ukiran kayu or bamboo (handmade crafting)
• Traditional coffee toasters
• Bika, traditional sweet made from coconut, rice flour and palm sugar, located in Koto Baru, betweeen Padang Panjang-Bukittinggi.

The Maninjau Tour will visit places in west area of Bukittinggi:

• Lake Maninjau
• Puncak Lawang, a place where you can see a panoramic of Lake Maninjau
• The "44 turns", forty-four numbered(!) hairpin bends up the mountain from where you can see a panoramic of lake Maninjau. 

Eat

People in Bukittinggi like dry, spicy, and sweet snack foods. They make snacks with different tastes and shapes from ingredients that make the foods here special. For example, from cassava they can make spicy long cassava chips, tasty cubed cassava chips, and sweet round cassava chips. The many others include shredded dry eel, spicy potato chips, sweet potato chips, etc. They can be found in Pasar Atas at low prices, but they are not fresh. On the way back to Padang there are many food shops that sell these snacks of better quality.
There's small fish named Ikan Bilih (Bilis) or "ikan Danau" in Lake Singkarak that is not found elsewhere. Locals deep fry it or cook it in a sour soup with vegetable. One portion of fried Bilih is about Rp. 5.000 and you eat the whole fish, head and bones and all. Most of the restaurants in Bukittinggi serve Padang cuisine which is creamy, spicy, and hot. An average price is about Rp. 15.000 per person for one meal. The food unsold is kept overnight and reheated the next day, so it is not recommended for those who like fresh food.
After dark, there are many hawkers near Jam Gadang selling fresh foods such as nasi goreng (fried rice), mie rebus (boiled noddles), Roti Bakar (bun with scrambeled eggs), and martabak mesir (beef pancake). One portion is about Rp. 7.500 - Rp. 10.000 pp.
Do try the local dessert delicacy known as "Martabak Bandung". The same dish is widely known in Malaysia as "Apam Balek" but the Malaysian version is limited to only one flavour i.e. nuts with a mixture of corn. Here in Bukittinggi or other parts of Indonesia, there are no less then 50 flavours of Martabak Bandung to choose from such as chocolate, cheese, strawberry, jackfruit, honey, banana, durian, etc. It should not be confused with "Martabak Mesir" which is a delicacy from the Middle East.
Anti-diarrhea medicine is highly recommended in case you get diarrhea during your food adventure.

• D and J's (formerly Apache Cafe), near Fort de Cock, ☎ +6285278812345. Great, reasonably priced food and friendly staff that speak very good english. They can also arrange tours and give information on transport.  
• Simpang Raya, Sudirman St No 8, ☎ (+62)752 22163, . Traditional Minangkabau Food.  
• Turret Cafe and Restaurant, Ayani St. 140., ☎ (+62)752 625956 Open: 7-23. Traditional Minangkabau and European Food. Main dishes: 10000-60000.  
• Bedudal Cafe, Jln. A. Yani No 95/105 (just before the pedestrian bridge, on the left). Stock up on western food like pancakes, sandwiches, steaks and pizza in this friendly cafe. They also offer Indonesian dishes as well as fruit juices, beer, soft drinks - all reasonably priced and excellent quality. Also the home base of the friendly tour guides of Lite'n'easy  who will provide you with all sorts of tourist info and organize tours, treks or just transportation. English spoken. Wifi available. Dishes from Rp. 12.000.

Drink

 Sikotang or Sarobat

Sikotang or Sarobat is one of the most famous drinks in Minangkabau. The beverage is made from red ginger (Zingiber sp) and spices such as cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum sp), nutmeg/"pala" (Myristica fragrans), etc. Sikotang is usually mixed with egg, bread, green beans (kacang padi/kacang ijo), and cane or palm sugar. Such a hot drink is useful for keeping your body warm during a cold highland night like in Padang Panjang, Batusangkar and Bukittinggi. Price Rp. 5.000 - 15.000.

 Daun Kawa (Coffee leaves)

Daun kawa is made from roasted dry leaves of the coffee tree. The dried leaves are boiled in hot water and put into sections of bamboo and drunk from a "cawan tampuruang" (coconut shell). It can be found in Bukittinggi, Payakumbuh and Batusangkar. Please ask anyone, especially people over age 40. They will show you where a good place is to taste Daun Kawa! Price Rp. 5.000 - 15.000 in 2009.

 Jus Pinang (Pinang Juice)

Juice of Pinang (betel nut, the Areca catechu seed) is a bitter tasting drink available in Padang, Bukittingi, and other areas that is believed to have an effect on sexual stamina. Pinang has a biological effect as a stimulant like tobacco, coffee, and tea. Its chemical contents are arecolin, arecain, tannin, and flavonoids. Just try it and feel the difference! For beginners, don't drink more than one pinang seed. Price Rp. 5.000 - 15.000 in 2009.

Teh Talua (egg tea)

This is a special Minangkabau drink made from egg mixed with hot tea and lemon. Please taste it. You will never forget the experience! Price Rp. 5.000 - 15.000 in 2009

 Fruit Juices

There are a variety of fruit juices ranging from Alpokat (avocado juice), Sirsak (soursop), Jeruk (orange), wortel (carrot) etc. The list is endless. Prices range from Rp. 4.000 - 10.000.

 Kopi Luwak ("Civet Cat" Coffee)

Enjoy one of world's most prestigious coffees, Kopi Luwak, in Batang Palupuah Kampong, Bukittinggi. The coffee is made from coffee beans that have passed through a civet cat before roasting.

 Alcoholic Drinks

The Minangkabau also have traditional alcoholic beverages such as tuak. Tuak is made from fermented nira, a liquid collected by cutting the fruit branch of aren or enau tree (Arenga pinnata). However, it is quite difficult to find in Bukittinggi now because alcoholic beverages are haram - forbidden - for Muslims).