How to Get in

Jakarta is one of the popular tourist destinations in Indonesia and attracts travelers from all across the globe. How to get there to Jakarta is not difficult to answer as there are several modes of transport making it all easy.

The quickest and comfortable way to get to Jakarta is by air and flights connect all the important cities of the Malaysia and also important cities of the world. The Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is located 20 km northwest of the city.

The travelers can also get to Jakarta by boat and several ferry companies provide services across the archipelago. The other option to get to Jakarta is by road and several bus services operate between the cities of Indonesia.

The other option to get to Jakarta is by train and the important station in Gambir station in Central Jakarta. These trains provide regular services to all the important cities in Indonesia.

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and a popular tourist destination. The travelers come here to witness the numerous attractions that offer a unique experience. Jakarta has been a cultural melting pot and one would be able to find different influences that are reflected in art, architecture, music, dance, cuisine, dress, etc.

Jakarta popular Destination

Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta is a place where you can feel the pulse of the city. It is a fascinating street located in Central Jakarta, Indonesia. The word ‘jalan’ means street in Indonesian and the name literally means Prosecutors' Street. There is an interesting piece of history that informs that Jalan Jaksa Street used to be a place where legal students flocked due to the fact that it featured affordable lodgings which suited their student budgets. The first hotel Wisma Delima opened in 1968 and is still there even today. Grim and shabby – these are perhaps the right terms to describe this stretch of road which is a sort of backpackers’ district. Unlike its other counterparts like Khao San road in Bangkok or Sosrowijayan in Yogyakarta where a kind of liveliness makes up for the shadiness, Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta has no qualms about its gray shades.

One of the main budget accommodation and budget entertainment streets in Jakarta, this not-too-long street is lined with countless hostels, hotels, travel agents, cafés, bars and restaurants. Tourists, specially, the first timers make it one of the most convenient locations for meeting as offers a selection of services helpful to the average tourist. With all standard backpackers’ needs available here, Jalan Jaksa Street attracts the bulk of backpackers and expat teachers of English in Jakarta. Come August and the Jalan Jaksa Street celebrates the Jaksa Street Festival with the traditional Betawi Folk arts, street parades and live music.

Accommodation in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
Jalan Jaksa Street and its surrounding areas offer a wide range of accommodation options. The street itself offers mainly low-end accommodation with hostels often situated off the main street on alley (gang) running out to the side. Wahid Hasyim Road which dissects the lower end of the street, has plenty of midrange options including the Ibis Hotel. For something a bit more decent, take a few minutes' cab ride to Thamrin Road where you can choose from several four and five star hotels.

Food in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
The sidewalks of Jalan Jaksa Street abound with countless make-shift eating places known as warungs. A gas burner, an old worked over cooking pan and a small grill fueled with coconut shells adorn the fast food stalls with grilled and fried food being cooked and ready in a few minutes. Fried rice or nasi goreng, fried noodles or mie goreng, satay or small beef kebabs with peanut sauce, grilled fish or ikan baker are the most popular ones. The street also features several cafes and restaurants where you can have the conventional western dishes.

Nightlife in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
Jalan Jaksa Street has several bars and cafés and what is most delightful about them is that here you can have your favorite beer at a price that costs a little more than it costs to buy from a local supermarket. Whereas, in most of the places in Jakarta, the price of alcoholic beverages can often be higher than in European capitals. Every roadside vendor here also seems to sell beer; ice-packed, beer-filled cool boxes are a common sight here. Some bars also play live music and offer other facilities like a pool table. A mixed crowd of prostitutes, shoddy middle-aged expats and Jakarta youngsters throng these places. However, the new age up-market style bars are coming up with fully air conditioned ambience featuring pool tables and projection screen televisions.

Shopping in Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
Jalan Jaksa Street may be an odd choice for shopping in Jakarta but it can turn out to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sarinah Mall is the handiest place for a last minute shopping. There are several floors selling clothes, souvenirs, batik and the third and fifth floor have two internet cafes. A medium sized supermarket can be found in the middle at the fork leading to jl Kebon Sirih Barat. Fast internet cafes are located on both sides of the supermarket. Travel agencies are on Jalan Jaksa offer worldwide package services.

How to Reach Jalan Jaksa Street in Jakarta
Jalan Jaksa Street is located at the heart of Jakarta close to the station, the National monument and the block M bus terminal. You can either walk from the station take a cab. Or, take one of the air-conditioned buses, get off at Sarinah Mall and walk from there.

History of Jakarta

The largest city in Indonesia, Jakarta is located on the northwestern coast of Java. Originally known as Sunda Kelapa, Jakarta spreads across 661.52 square kilometers. Jakarta in Indonesia has history of nearly 500 years. And if you go through the history of Jakarta, you will learn that this port city that originated along the downstream of Ciliwung River developed into a famous trading center by 14th century. This port was involved with trade from Palembang, Tanjungpura, Malacca, Maccasar, Madura, India and South China and served as the base for exporting pepper, rice and gold.

This port, part of a Hindu kingdom-Sunda, was called Kelapa and witnessed the imperial rule of the Portuguese since 1513. The Portuguese built a warehouse and a fort in Kelapa in a measure to symbolize protest against the Muslim reign of the Sultanate of Demak brewing in the central part of Java. However, the city soon succumbed to attack by a youth, Fatahillah, who led Muslim soldiers from Cirebon and Demak on June 22, 1557. This is when Fatahillah changed Sunda Kelapa into Jayakarta meaning Complete Victory. Jakarta still celebrates its birthday on this date.

Jayakarta, was again renamed as Batavia in the 17th century by the Dutch imperial forces, who arrived in 1596 and built many fortifications in Jakarta. Jakarta’s History says at this time, that Prince Jayawikarta, a follower of the Sultan of Banten, a harbor town on the west of Jakarta, controlled the mouth of Ciliwung River from the western side. He also invited British forces to built houses on the western bank of the river to compete the stronghold of the Dutch in that area. However, when the interaction between the Dutch and Prince gradually grew sour, then the Prince attacked Dutch areas with the help of English troops and defeated them in 1618. Meanwhile, the relation between the Sultan of Banten and the Prince also deteriorated because the Prince laid the siege without taking permission from the Sultan. Finally, the Prince had to shift his base to Tanara , a part of Banten. This gave the Dutch the scope to reassert themselves and revive the relationship with Banten Empire. With the help of soldiers from Japan, Germany, Scotland, Denmark and Belgium, the Dutch then reoccupied Jayakarta and renamed it to Batavia to pay homage to the ethnic group of Batavier, who were the ancestors of the Dutch. The city, which henceforth was administered from a base about 500 meters from the Port, grew southward. However, the unplanned growth of the city harmed the ecological balance and thus was shifted to higher terrain by the Dutch forces. Though, the original remnants of the town of Jakarta, were entirely destroyed during the Dutch invasion, the name Batavia continued to be in use till 1942.

It was during the Japanese invasion in 1942, that Batavia was once again renamed Jakarta reminding of Jayakarta. Then the Indonesian war of Independence followed and continued till 1949 with the simultaneous attack by the Dutch. Finally, Indonesia was given the independent status by the Dutch and Jakarta was restored as the capital of Indonesia.

Geography of Jakarta

Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is located on the northwestern coast of Java. Extending across 661.52 square kilometers, Jakarta in Indonesia originally known as Sunda Kelapa, grew along the downstream of Ciliwung River as a port city. If you want to tour this city, you must know about Jakarta’s geography as well. And for that it is necessary, that you learn about the geographical location of Indonesia.

Positioned in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is an archipelago which comprises of 17,000 islands between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. While Java is one of them, the other prominent islands are Sumatra, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, the Nusa Tenggara islands, the Moluccas Islands, and Irian Jaya. Surrounded by Malaysia in the north, Papua New Guinea in the east, Indonesia has peculiar geographical features which have two kinds of flora and fauna across Wallace's line – one Asian and another Australian. This country extends across nearly 1 million square kilometers but the islands on the whole, occupy more than 5,000 kilometers. You will be surprised to learn that nearly one-fourth of Indonesia consists of 400 volcanoes, which are still active.

Geography of Jakarta, the largest city of Indonesia, would tell you that the area is divided into five parts- South Jakarta, Central Jakarta, East Jakarta, West Jakarta, North Jakarta and one administrative city, Thousand Island regency. While East Jakarta extends across 187.73 square kilometers, Thousand Island regency occupies the smallest area of 11.81 square kilometers. Jakarta, situated on the Java Island, co-spreads along the metropolitan district of Jakarta Raya. The terrain in the western part of Java is marshy and thus Jakarta enjoys the humid weather of the plain area overlooking the Java Sea. The area of Jakarta can be spotted on 6012' South Latitude and 106048'- East Longitude, which is just six degrees south of the Equator.
As you visit Jakarta, you will notice that it experiences an average rainfall of 1,916.8 to 924.50 millimeter every year. You shouldn’t expect a chilly or a scorch climate because the temperature fluctuates from 22 degree centigrade to 33 degree centigrade. Thus, you will have to experience a hot and sultry climate in this tropical area.

Hotels in Jakarta

Four seasons. Jl Hr Rasuna said,12920
Kemang Icon By Alila. Jl Kemang Raya 1,12730
Intercontinental Midplaza. Jl Jendral Sudirman kav 10-12, 10220
Shangri-la. kota BNI. Jl. Jend Sudirman kav1, 10220
Mulia Senayan. Jl. Asia Afrika Senayan Jakarta 10270 Indonesia Senayan
Gran Mahakam. Jl Mahakam I No.6. Block M Jakarta Selaton 12130 Indonesia