There are some interesting legends surrounding the foundation and naming of _gHigh Hill_h 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.
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 ''Maninjau Tour'' will visit places in west area of Bukittinggi:
Each tour requires at least 6 hours and usually held from 9AM to 3PM (including a stop at some restaurants). In 2006, the price is ranging from Rp 100,000/pp to Rp 160,000/pp or Rp 450,000/car for up to 6 people. Hire a car is highly recommended if you're in a group of more than 4 people. Car's price includes driver, fuel, entry ticket, and parking fee. Tips aren't compulsory, lunch invitation is more than enough. For your note, most of the places require ticket and will charge a parking fee. One tour will require about Rp 40,000 only for parking and ticket entry. Another option is hiring a car and arranging with the driver to visit the places in Minangkabau and Lake Maninjau. If you are alone, it is also possible to find guides in the Sianok Canyon park who will take you to Lake Maninjau with a motorbike (ask for Parta e.g., no fixed price, he will take what you give him). In any case, depart earlier, as the tour will take all day.
The budget option to Maninjau is to take the bus (or minibus) from the bus station (get there from the Bemo station near the market) to Maninjau (35km, 2hrs by bus, 1h by minibus). Unfortunately, a tourist racket has been set up so you won't get the ticket for the Rp 6000 (Oct 2007) the locals pay. Expect to pay at least Rp.10000 (Oct. 2007). Have the right change ready; don't expect to get any from the conductor. To get back, either try to catch a minibus (Rp 10000) or a big bus (Rp 15000-20000). The big buses you have to catch in the same direction you came, since the narrow road is a one-way for lorries.
The budget option to Minangkabau is to take the Batu Sangkar public bus for Rp. 7000 (Oct 2007) and hire a motorbike (Rp. 15000 return) from there (or walk the remaining 5km) to Pagaruyung. Minibuses and buses back to Bukittingi leave from the bus terminal or may be flagged down anywhere.
The '''Harau Valley''' is a pretty gorge about an hour east of Bukittinggi comprising a valley floor of rice paddy hemmed in by shear limestone(?) cliffs. There are several waterfalls with pools (both natural and constructed) for bathing, and you can go rock climbing on the cliffs. Overnight accommodation is available at the pleasant <sleep name="Echo Homestay" phone="+62 752 77 50306 (unreliable)" price="Rp. 300,000"></sleep>, which is unlikely to have many guests except on weekends. Harau is reached via Payakumbuh. Another telephone no. mobile of Pak Adek is +628126730609 Breathtaking photos of Echo Homestay http://echohomestay.blogspot.com/
If you are intereseted in visiting the equator, you can take a bus to Bonjol where there is a monument marking the equator built over the main road, good for photo opportunities if you are keen to stand in both hemispheres simultaneously. Theres also a museum on the site which houses a few artefacts of little interest - mainly coins and banknotes. Catch the bus from the Aur Kuning bus station, minibuses depart fairly frequently. Expect to pay Rp. 10 000 as a tourist. To get back there is a bus which comes from the opposite direction (or northern hemisphere) at 5 o'clock, or alternatively you can wait at the small roadside cafe right next to the monument where locals will help you flag down a bemo which is destined for Bukittinggi (its quite difficult for non-locals to distinguish between a service bemo and a someones car, but the locals seem to know what is what.)
SOMETHING NEW!
There is the Galang Karsa Karya (the GKK). The tour organizer. They offering something different, an exploration journey to defeat the Bukittinggi's land. Taste the truly satisfaction by learning in nature, among bushes, when riding on the unsmooth wet land or when you are covered by mud or even when you get stuck in swampland. Get close to their land in a simple detail while standing on the green open field. Grateful for a day in the open air.They packages are trekking, bicycle trekking, heavy motorcycle trekking, bamboo kayakking, rafting, rock climbing, camping and paragliding. contact them at '''Galang Karsa Karya (the GKK).''' Jl. Bagindo Azischan No. 7c, Bukittinggi - 26116, West Sumatera email : masbengky@yahoo.co.id +628 16 1145796
Pasar Bawah is for fruit and vegetables trade whereas Pasar Atas is for souvenirs and clothes trade. Most of the prices in each kiosk are similar and you can bargain up to 50%. One wholesale shop located in the middle of Pasar Atas, sell souvenirs with the lowest price. One pair of women slippers is about Rp 7,000 and one key holder is about Rp 2,000 - Rp 5,000. Most of the souvenirs sold here have low quality. Souvenirs for a better quality can be found in '''Pandai Sikek'''. One men shirt is about Rp 35,000 and a pair of leather woman slippers is about Rp 35,000.
People in Bukittinggi like dry, spicy and sweet snack foods very much. They make snacks with different taste, shape from one ingredients that make the foods here are special. For example, from cassava they can make spicy long shape cassava chips, tasty cubes cassava chips, and sweet round shape cassava chips. And still much more like shreded dry eelfish, spicy potato chips, sweet potate chips, etc. They're can be found in Pasar Atas with low price but they're not fresh. On the way back to Padang, there're many food shops that sell these snack foods with a better quality.
Bring anti diarrhea medicine is highly recommended in case you get diarrhea during your food adventure.
'''2. Daun Kawa (Coffee leaves)''' Daun kawa is originated from roasted dry leaves of coffee tree. The dried leaves is boiled with hot water and put into bamboo. Daun Kawa drink is poured to "cawan tampuruang"(coconut shell). This drink is available in Bukittinggi, Payakumbuh and Batusangkar. Please ask every body there, especially people with age more than 40 years old. They will show you where is the good place to have a good taste of Daun Kawa drink!. Price Rp 5,000 - 15,000 in 2009
'''3. Jus Pinang (Pinang Juice)''' Juice of Pinang (''Areca catechu'' seed) is bitter taste drink, available in Padang, Bukittingi and any other area. Jus Pinang is believed to have effect to improve sexual stamina. For beginner, don't drink more than one pinang seed. Pinang have biological activity as stimulant like tobacco, coffee and tea. Its chemical contents are arecolin, arecain, tannin and flavonoids. Just try it and feel the difference! Price Rp 5,000-15,000 in 2009
'''4. Teh Talua (egg tea)''' This is Minangkabau specific drink. Egg is mixed with hot tea and lemon. Please taste it. You will never forget this experience! Price Rp 5,000 - 15,000 in 2009
You can enjoy one of specific traditional Minangkabau beverages (drinks) during stay in Motherland area, Minangkabau in Sumatera. Actually they also have traditionally alcoholic beverages such as tuak. Tuak is made from fermented nira. Nira is sap or a liquid collected by cutting the fruit branch of enau tree (Arenga pinnata). Unfortunatelly it is quiet difficult to find it now, because religious reason.
Small budget hotels are easy to find. Many locals offer accommodation which are like family-owned hotels that provide a "feel at home" atmosphere. The prices span from Rp 40,000 - Rp 200,000 per room without air-conditioning. Breakfast is included. There are no lifts in these small hotels, so be prepared if your room is on the upper floors. Room cleaning is not provided everyday in some cases, so don't hesitate to ask the hotel manager if you want a daily cleaning service.
There is a row of internet cafes along Jl. Ahmad Yani an Jl Pemuda. Four internet cafes are in the vicinity of (underneath) the pedestrian bridge which links Fort de Kock and the zoo. Check out the prices as the internet cafes on the main street are so much more expensive than the ones around the corner. Suggest you ask a local for the cheapest one.