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The Capital City
The nation's capital, Jakarta, has a fascinating and significant
history. It started as a small harbour town called Sunda Kelapa,
but its founding dates back to the year 157 when it was named Jayakarta
by Fatahillah of the neighbouring Sultanate of Banten.
The name Jayakarta means City of Great Victory but this was later
changed to Batavia under the Dutch. Now as Jakarta, the centre of
government, business and industry, it spreads over an area of more
than 650 sq.km 1410 sq miles) and has a population of over eight
million people.
It is also designated as a special territory, (Daerah Khusus Ibukota
- DKI), which means that is is administered by a governor and enjoys
the same status of a province.
Jakarta is the main gateway to Indonesia. It is a
contrast of modern western architecture and traditional Indonesian
culture. Its rapid growth into a metropolitan city reflects the
economic, political, social and industrial development of the nation.
In recent years, Jakarta has expanded its facilities for visitors
with multi-star luxury hotels, fine restaurants, exciting nightlife
and modern shopping centres as well as tourist attractions such
as Taman Mini Indonesia Indah {Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature
Park), restored colonial period buildings, marine resorts in the
Bay of Jakarta, and an extensive beach recreation complex.
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