The “Queen of the East”, grown somewhat frail and pale, with the passage of time that waits for no one, stands tall, while her regal, timeless beauty is admired and loved by us alien generations. Her lovers of long gone days, now lie beneath church yard sod, as she silently gazes at the changing world, dreaming of her better days when folks flocked within her sheltering arms, to trade and bustle with the busyness of their simple lives. Kota Jakarta, the hub of commercial trading of yesteryear, referred to fondly as the “Queen of the East” and the “Old Batavia” (Dutch: Oud Batavia) and also as “The Jewel of Asia”, has been touched and consecrated by the finger of time.
The Asian continent found no place more suitable to call its trading hub in the distant days on the 16th century. Lying in a small area of 1.3 square kilometers in the North Jakarta and West Jakarta, this city had a strategic location complemented by an abundance of resources, which made this city truly a treasure trove to the merchants. Hence this city was teeming with life, being an active settlement and an urban centre. The many buildings and structures of the days gone by still testify to the magnificence of those glorious days. Out of these sites and buildings, the Luar Batang Mosque, the Port of Sunda Kelapa, Kota Intan Drawbridge, Menara Syahbandar (Port Tower), Kali Besar (Grootegracht) and Gereja Sion are quite prominent.
In the year 1972, the Jakarta Kota area was made into a heritage site by a decree issued by the Governor of Jakarta at that time, in an attempt to preserve the charming inheritance of the Dutch colonial era. In spite of this noble effort, the ageing city continued to be neglected, and is today stripped rather bare of her glory terrestrial.
To anyone wishing to explore and puzzle out the “must have been”s of the great magnificent city, while retreating to the comfort of a Jakarta serviced residence to indulge in the modern luxuries and opulence sublime, Somerset Berlian Jakarta can be recommended, as it is centrally situated, and offers the finest experiences that Jakarta accommodation is capable of providing.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.