The Big Durian has its charms, but the heat in the capital city of Indonesia can sometimes be unbearable and shopping malls can get boring after a while. Fortunately, hills and mountains are not that far, perfect for those who want a weekend getaway.
Compiled by Ari Fajar
Here are some weekend getaway ideas accessible by public transport from Jakarta:
A Garden in the Rain
The Botanical Gardens, with the Summer Palace, one of the six Presidential Palaces in Indonesia, in the background. The palace is only open to the public on special occasions, but you can always take pictures of it from different sides of the Botanical Gardens. CC BY 2.0 siska maria eviline
In the colonial days, Bogor was called Buitenzorg (Dutch for “worry-free”), a summer destination for the wealthy Europeans who wanted to escape Batavia (now Jakarta). Nowadays, everyone can go to the Rain City where a world-class botanical garden can be found right in its heart. Covering 87 hectares with 14,000 specimens of trees and plants, Kebun Raya Bogor (Bogor Botanical Gardens) is truly a verdant wonderland of rare plants and beautiful landscapes. Depending on the season of your visit, you might be able to stand on a leaf of Victoria cruziana in the lily pond or see the corpse flower in bloom.
The gardens play an important role in the introduction of many species to Indonesia. CC BY 2.0 Stefan Magdalinski
How to get there:
- By KRL commuter train: Depok – Manggarai – Jakarta Kota Line or Depok – Tanah Abang – Pasar Senen – Jatinegara Line (1-2 hrs, approx. IDR5000) → Bogor Station
OR - By bus: Kampung Rambutan, Lebak Bulus, or Kali Deres bus terminals (2 hrs, approx. IDR15000) → Baranangsiang Terminal
Entrance fees: IDR15,000 (Indonesian); IDR25,000 (foreigner)
Tips: Bogor is called “Rain City” for the heavy rain it experiences 322 days per year on average, more than twice as much as Jakarta does. While this is ideal for the tropical plants in the botanical gardens, this also means that you should be prepared with your umbrella.
Ride on the Wild Side
Large cats such as these leopards usually sleep during the day, which is why the Night Safari is a good choice if you want a great view of the animals’ night-time behaviour. CC BY-SA 2.0 Schristia
Located up in the mountains, Taman Safari Indonesia I offers a drive through the wild animal park where you have the chance to meet some of the world’s most exotic animals against a lush jungle backdrop. Encounter free-roaming Bengal tigers, orangutans, cheetahs, giraffes and more. There are also wildlife shows, an amusement park, a petting zoo, a swimming pool where you can swim with the dolphins, and even a natural waterfall. The lesser-seen animals including the big cats are generally active at night, so you might want to opt for the Night Safari.
Wild Wild West Cowboy Show with both humans and animals as parts of the cast is considered to be the favourite among the six shows at offer in Taman Safari I. CC BY 2.0 Azwari Nugraha
How to get there:
- By bus: Kampung Rambutan Terminal (2 hrs, approx. IDR10,000) → Taman Safari Indonesia I, Cisarua
Entrance fees: IDR150,000 (Indonesian adult); IDR140,000 (Indonesian child below 5 yrs old); IDR300,000 (foreign adult); IDR250,000 (foreign child below 5 yrs old)
Tips: Visit the park on weekdays as it is a popular attraction for weekenders from Jakarta. If you have to go on the weekend, note that there is a one-way policy for Jakarta-Puncak highway from 9am to 11.30am and 6pm to 9pm, so try to leave by 5.30pm.
Take a Hike
Clouds curl along the top of Mount Gede as seen from Halimun Tea Plantation. “Halimun” means mist and the area can get really foggy at times which could pose a bit of challenge for hikers. CC BY 2.0 Tanti Ruwani
Mount Gede-Pangrango National Park is popular amongst weekenders for its unique wildlife and natural beauty. Depending on your luck, you might catch sight of rare and endangered species such as Javan hawk-eagle, Javan scops owl, yellow-throated marten, muntjac, silvery gibbon, Javan surili, and even Javan leopard. A popular camping spot is Kandang Badak, the saddle between the twin peaks of Mount Gede and Pangrango. Around the national park, there are various places of interest such as Telaga Biru (a blue-green pond), Curug Cibeureum (a 1,675-metre-high waterfall), Curug Pancaweleuh (where you can soak in the warm water), and Alun-alun Suryakancana (50-hectare plain dotted with Javanese Edelweiss).
The rim crater of Mount Gede. The mountain stands at 9,704 feet above sea level and is an active volcano. CC BY 2.0 Indonesia Journey
How to get there:
- By bus: Kampung Rambutan Terminal (2.5 hrs bus, approx. IDR15,000) → Cibodas
- By minivan: Cibodas (10 mins, approx. IDR3,000) → Gunung Gede-Pangrango National Park
Entrance fees: IDR2,500/day (Indonesian), IDR20,000/day (foreigner). Insurance (mandatory), IDR2,000. Guides (mandatory for foreigners), approx. IDR500,000
Tips: If you’re planning on camping, be prepared with enough food, warm clothing, tent, sleeping bags, etc. If you forget any of them, you can easily rent or buy them at many of the local shops just before the trail. If you have the time, drop by the nearby Cibodas Botanical Gardens.
Flower Power
Taman Bunga Nusantara is understandably proud of its Taman Mawar (Rose Garden). As roses are sensitive plants that prefer temperate climate, growing them in a tropical country like Indonesia requires a lot of manpower and constant attention. CC BY-SA 2.0 ostudioholic
The scenery at Taman Bunga Nusantara is lovely not only because of the wide variety of flowers, but also because of the breathtaking view provided by the mountains that surround it. The flower garden covers an area of 23 hectares and showcases different garden styles, including Japanese Garden, French Garden, Mediterranean Garden and Balinese Garden, making it popular for picnics and pre-wedding pictures. Allow at least half a day to spend here.
Taman Bunga Nusantara’s greenhouse was constructed with 3000 glass panels under supervision from Dutch experts. It is the home to many colourful flowers and tropical plants. CC BY 2.0 Rizki Ekananda
How to get there:
- By KRL commuter train: Depok – Manggarai – Jakarta Kota Line or Depok – Tanah Abang – Pasar Senen – Jatinegara Line (1 to 2 hrs, approx. IDR5000) → Bogor Station
- By minivan: Bogor (2 hrs, approx. IDR25,000) → Cipanas Market
- By minivan: Cipanas Market (30 mins, approx. IDR25,000) → Taman Bunga Nusantara, Cianjur
Entrance fees: IDR30,000
Tips: You can get on the Dotto Train (IDR40,000; only available on weekends and national holidays) or Garden Tram (IDR40,000) to get around the gardens.
GETTING THERE AirAsia flies to Jakarta from various destinations. For flight info and lowest fares visit www.airasia.com.
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