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History & Evolution
The city of Jakarta initially developed as a port of origin that can be traced to a Hindu settlement, as early as 4th century and by 14th century, it became a major port for the Hindu kingdom of Sunda.

The first European fleet arrived in 1513, which were four Portuguese ships from Malacca looking for spices (especially pepper). However actual Portuguese settlements started in 1522 when a Portuguese named Enrique Leme received rights to build a warehouse and expand the fort in Kalapa (the name of the location).

In 1557 the Muslim troops coming from Cirebon and Demak under the leadership of Fatahillah attacked the Sunda Kingdom and conquered the city thereby, changing the name "Sunda Kelapa" into "Jayakarta" ("Great Deed" or "Complete Victory").

In 1596, the Dutch also arrived in the city followed by the Brits in 1602. Soon the Dutch constructed many military buildings disturbing the Prince Jayawikarta who apparently also had a connection with the English allowed them to build houses directly across from the Dutch buildings in 1615.

In 1618 a force of Jayakartans and Brits attacked the fortress of the Dutch Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC) but was defeated and the Dutch renamed their fortress Batavia.

Over the next hundred years, Indonesians and Chinese began concentrating in now-prosperous town though soon ethnic gangs began creating unrest in Batavia's outposts. Eventually, in 1740 the government ordered a search of Chinese premises prompting a terrible massacre of 5000 Chinese by Batavia's Dutch citizens.

The city saw a growing network of suburbs, one of the important reason of which was 45 years of epidemic disease in Batavia which forced much of the population to move farther from the city. This went on for the next 200 years, until the end of WWII.

In order to put an end to the colonial rule in the country, a nationalist leader Soekarno with Japanese backing at the conclusion of the WWII declared the Republic of Indonesia. However, this doesn’t made much different as the rift between European rule and the Republican kept mounting causing the UN to step in. During 1948-49 the massive international condemnation forced the Dutch withdrawal, therefore, finally handing the official power to Republicans.

Today, Jakarta is at the epicenter of a program of renewal that balance areas of economy, political system and society at large.

Site-Seeing
Though not significantly a tourist spot, but Jakarta boasts of its wealth of islands. Besides being an Old Dutch port adds to its historical value.

Today having undergone dramatic growth over the last few decades, Jakarta’s skyline is dominated by skyscrapers while numerous shopping and recreation sites makes the city vibrant.

Borobodur:
A large complex of temples, Borobodur is a magnificent shrine built centuries ago in the form of a sacred diagram, which represents the universe and its complexities.

All the temples are totally made of stone over seven levels and are topped by the Great Stupa, which stands tall at 40m. The carvings along the walls of the temples are also marvelous depicting the life of Buddha till the time he attained enlightenment.

The real charm of the temples can be appreciated at the time of Waisak festival (in May) when a major procession of pilgrims and devotees come to Borobodur from the Buddhist temple of Medut.

Location: Near Mendut, Central Java

Jakarta History Museum:
Probably the most solid reminder of Dutch rule anywhere in Indonesia, the Jakarta history museum is gracefully housed in the old Batavia Town Hall.

The large, bell-towered hall was used to be the home of Jakarta’s administration, law courts and even Batavia's main prison compound while among the more interesting exhibits of the museum is a series of gloomy portraits of all the Dutch governors-general and early drawings and etchings of Batavia.

Location: Pintu Besar Utara

Sunda Kelapa:
Also known as Pasar Ikan (meaning fish market), Sunda Kelapa is located at the mouth of the River Ciliwung. Not just a fish market, the place is probably the most bustling region of the city where the streets are lined with shops selling all sorts of fish, shells, dehydrated turtles, lobsters and mostly everything the seafarer might need.

The tall masted Bugis schooners (sailing ships) from South Sulawesi offer a picturesque scene on this old port. These schooners belong to one of the last-fleets of sailboats in the world and still ply the seas between the islands, as they did centuries ago, carrying merchandise.

Location: Sunda Kelapa Port