Look’s around

Visiting museum or old building may be usual. But visiting a presidential palace would be a unique visiting experience. Currently it already became a habitual rhythm for Bogor citizen to walk around Istana Bogor at weekend and at the off days; while feeding the deer that live in the palace yard. In 1968 Istana Bogor was officially opened for public. The public is permitted to visit this palace in large groups after previously requested the permission. This palace is visited by the domestic and foreign tourists; up to about 10000 people every year.

Istana Bogor is located at Bogor City, West Java, Indonesia. The palace is standing on 28,8 ha area. The wide, green palace yard is grassy and shaded by the big trees. There’re hundreds of deer and the beautiful statues. As one of the six Presidential Palaces of Indonesia, Istana Bogor has its own uniqueness due to its cultural and historical aspects likewise its fauna.

Formerly the name of Istana Bogor was Buitenzorg. It was built in 1745-1750 at the initiative of Governor General G W Baron Van Imhoff. At the first time it was built as a mansion following the architecture of Blenheim Palace, the residence of Duke Marlborough in England. Since 1870-1942, Istana Bogor was the residence of the Dutch-Indies Governor Generals. The last occupant is Governor General Tjarda van Starkenborg Stachourwer who in 1942 had to give the palace to General Imamura after the Japanese occupation in Indonesia. After the Indonesian independence, the Indonesian Government began to use Istana Bogor in 1950. Various changes and addition had been made to the building during the governmental period of the Dutch and British Governor Generals likewise Indonesian Government. Gradually the palace had been restored several times due to the damages caused by war and disaster. Several changes and additions had also been performed due to some functional adjustments. Several important historical events occurred in this palace, e.g. the meeting of APEC at Nov 15, 1994.

According to literature data, Bogor Palace comprises 37 buildings. The main-building consists of 8 rooms, namely Garuda room (functions as Reception Room and hall for formal meetings); Teratai room (for receptions); Film room (once functioned as a room for film showing at President Soekarno period); dining room; president’s private office; library; family room & bedroom (as waiting room for president before attending agendas in Garuda Room); and ministries’ meeting room. The left wing main-building comprises Panca Negara room (once used as place for 5 states conference to prepare African-Asian Conference 1955), bedroom & middle room (for president, the state guests and the prominent guests). The right wing main-building comprises bedrooms for the presidents and the other state guests. The left wing annex functions as the secretariat office of Istana Bogor; while the right wing annex functions as the residence for the functionaries and state guest staffs. There’s also Annex I-VI. Among the buildings are Dyah Bayurini Building (the place of rest for president and his family) and Multipurpose Building (for art, meeting, etc).

The palace has the collections of the classical furniture, decorations and works of art start from 1950 (the previous goods were broken or missing in the World War II). Many of them are the presents from foreign states. The collections included 450 paintings, 360 statues, and the other luxurious furniture.