Bogor is a city in the West Java province located about 60km from Jakarta. It is the 6th largest city of Jabodetabek (the Jakarta metropolitan region consisting of Jakarta, Bogor, Depol, Tangerang, and Bekasi) and the 14th nationwide, with a population having passed 1 million. With several hundred thousand people living on an area of about 20 km2, the central part of Bogor is one of the world’s most densely populated areas. Bogor is now an important economic, scientific, cultural and tourist center, as well as a mountain resort. The city has a presidential palace and a botanical garden (Kebun Raya Bogor) – one of the oldest and largest in the world. It bears the nickname “the Rain City” (Kota Hujan), because of frequent rain showers. It nearly always rains even during the dry season.

In the Middle Ages, the city was the capital of Sunda Kingdom (Kerajaan Sunda) and was called Pakuan Pajajaran. During the Dutch colonial era, it was named Buitenzorg (meaning “Without a care” in Dutch) and served as the summer residence of the Governor-General of Dutch East Indies.

The Batutulis, located about 2.5km south of the botanical garden, is an inscribed stone dedicated to Sri Baduga Maharaja (1482–1521), a Pajajaran king credited with great mystical power. The stone is housed in a small shrine visited by pilgrims – remove your shoes and pay a small donation before entering. It’s opposite the former home of Seokarno, Indonesian first president and one of the founding fathers. His request to be buried here was ignored by his successor, President Soeharto, who wanted the former president’s grave as far away from the capital as possible.

Presidential Palace (Istana Bogor), in the northwest corners of the Botanical Gardens. Originally the summer residence of the Governor-General of Java, now one of the Indonesian president’s summer escapes and noted for the 250 tame deer grazing in its grounds. The palace grounds can be visited from within the Gardens, but tours in the palace require 5 days advance notification — however, the Bogor TIC (see Contact) may be able to squeeze you in at short notice if there’s a tour going on.

The extensive Botanical Gardens were founded in 1811 as a private garden of the Governor-General’s summer residence by Sir Stamford Raffles, who also went on to found Singapore. However, it was Casper Reinwardt who adopted the gardens for more scientific use, with Johannes Elias Teysmann continuing in his footsteps. If you’re lucky, you may be able to spot a blooming giant arum (Amorphophallus titanum), the world’s tallest inflorescence (flower cluster) which can reach an astounding 2.5m and smells like rotting meat (known as Bunga Bangkai)..