Jakarta is located on the northwestern coast of Java Island, at the mouth of the Ciliwung River on Jakarta Bay, which is an inlet of the Java Sea. The northern part of Jakarta is built on flat land, approximately 15 to 150 feet above sea level, which results in frequent flooding. The southern parts of the city are hilly.

Flowing through the heart of Jakarta, the Ciliwung River divides the city into its western and eastern halves. As the dynamic capital city of the Republic of Indonesia, a country composed of more than 17,000 islands with a population of over 200 millions. There are existed of more than 300 ethnic groups, speaking 200 distinct languages and dialects, the Indonesian population exhibit incredible diversity in its linguistic, cultural and religious traditions.

As the nation capital, Jakarta is truly a "meeting point" of representatives throughout the archipelago. The melting pot of Indonesia, Jakarta has multi occupants from many tribes, nations, and cultures. It is also the lively social, economic and political hub of the nation, carrying a legacy of more than 30 years of largely uninterrupted economic expansion. It is home to many of the country's finest research institutions, educational facilities and cultural organizations, and uniquely serves both as the seat of national as well as regional government.

History
Dutch spice merchants began arriving in the late 16th century. Under the leadership of Jan Pieterzoon Coen, the Dutch East India Company soon controlled Jakarta, which they renamed Batavia in 1619. Known as the Queen of the East, the new Dutch town became the capital of the Dutch East Indies. For 350 years the Dutch would rule Indonesia, until President Sukarno led Indonesia to independence in 1949. Jakarta is now the eleventh largest city in the world and may have as many as 30 million people by 2016.

Jakarta’s Places

·         Jakarta History Museum: Housed in the former stadhuis, or city hall, building dating from 1707, the Jakarta History Museum that is located at Kota area was opened in 1974. The museum contains an extraordinary collection of Betawi cultural artifacts, as well as other items with Dutch, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian influences. The surrounding historic area of Old Jakarta Kota offers a fascinating glimpse of Jakarta's colonial past.

·         Fish Market (Pasar Ikan): Early birds should visit the market before 5 a.m. for a look at the morning's catch. There's also an interesting maritime museum housed in restored Dutch warehouses from the time when Jakarta was a major trading post for the Dutch East India Company. It is situated around Sunda Kelapa Harbor area.

·         Ragunan Zoo: Over 3 million people a year visit Ragunan Zoo, making it the top tourist attraction in Jakarta. The zoo is home to 3,000 animals, 90% of which are native to Indonesia. For a more active visit, Canoe Park gives you the chance to paddle around a large artificial lake with man-made islands built to replicate natural rainforest habitat. Here you can spot animals such as the siamang-gibbon, deer, tree kangaroos, leaf monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs. The Schmutzer Primate Center provides a large habitat for endangered primates and also serves as a primate conservation center. Kids will enjoy meeting and touching animals at the Children's Zoo.

·         Shadow Puppet Museum (Museum Wayang): This museum is dedicated to the rich cultural tradition of shadow puppetry, or wayang. Visitors can see collections of puppets from Indonesia and other Asian countries, watch wayang puppets being made, and enjoy puppet shows.

·         National Museum: Founded in 1778, the National Museum houses many of Indonesia's cultural treasures, some of which date back to the stone age, as well as one of the most complete collections of Chinese ceramics from the Han, Tang and Ming dynasties.

·         National Monument/MONAS: This monument, built after Indonesia became independent from the Netherlands in 1949, is Jakarta's most prominent landmark, towering over Freedom Square below. Visitors can ride an elevator to the top for a spectacular view of the city.

For the Shopping mania, if you're visiting Jakarta, consider buying an extra suitcase, because you'll have limitless shopping opportunities.

·         Shopping Malls: Despite the crushing poverty exhibited in many parts of the city, Jakarta has a large number of giant malls. Note that, for imported goods, prices in some of the designer shops could actually be higher than what would be charged in the same shop in other countries.

·         Markets: In addition to malls, there are also numerous large markets, quite a few of which can be found in the Mangga Dua (Two Mangoes) area. These include the huge Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua and the gigantic WTC (Wholesale Trade Center). Shops in Mangga Dua sell everything at wholesale prices, with a specialty in electronics, computers and clothing. Be sure to haggle!

·         Traditional handicrafts: The Sarinah and Pasaraya Blok-M department stores, in south Jakarta, are great places to shop for gifts and souvenirs from throughout Indonesia.

·         Street markets: Vendors sell every kind of souvenir and collectable imaginable in Jakarta's street markets--antiques, brassware, ceramics, clothing, and wayang puppets, to name a few. The lively Jalan Surabaya flea market makes for a fun visit; other traditional markets include Pasar Cikini, Pasar Tanah Abang, Pasar Senen, Pasar Baru and Pasar Mayestic.

Eating and Drinking, Jakarta has a vast range of food available and the selections from all over the country and also can be founded excellent Chinese, Japanese and Korean food. Jakarta versions of dishes are often tagged with the label Betawi (Indonesian for "Batavian").There are some local favorites, such as Kerak Telor, Soto Betawi, Sop Iga Sapi, & Ketoprak

Nightlife, The nightlife in Jakarta is some of the best in Southeast Asia, with numerous bars and nightclubs. Although capital of a Muslim country, Jakarta has no shortage of establishments which serve alcohol. Clubbers will find many venues to choose from, although most of the live music tends to be Indonesian pop. Ask your hotel for suggestions on which clubs are both fun and safe. Note that during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, entertainment shuts down at midnight.

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