Sunda Kelapa history

JAKARTA: Historically, Sunda Kelapa was first mentioned in the 12th century as a port for the Javanese Hindus of the Pajajaran Kingdom, located near Bogor, West Java.

Portuguese ships started to dock at Sunda Kelapa in 1512. Portuguese soldiers returned to Pajajaran in 1552 to construct a port but they were forestalled by Islamic troops under the leadership of Fatahillah from the Sultanate of Banten.

The first Dutch expedition visited the port in 1596. Governor General Jan Pieterszoon Coen of the VOC attacked Jakarta and renamed the city Batavia. Dutch rule then began in Java, according to The Jakarta Explorer.

The Sunda Kelapa maritime tourist project was promulgated in a gubernatorial decree in 1990. The area of the project encompasses Penjaringan subdistrict in North Jakarta and four islands -- Onrust, Cipir, Kelor, and Untung Jawa -- in the Thousand Island regency.

The border of the heritage project area in Penjaringan is Kampung Luar Batang in the north, the railway in the south, Jl. Lodan and Ancol river in the east and Jl. Gedung Panjang in the west.

Among the remaining heritage sites which could draw tourists are Sunda Kelapa harbor, Menara Syahbandar (Lookout Tower), the Maritime Museum, Luar Batang Mosque, VOC shipyard and Fish Market. --JP