Bogor, often referred to as the “Rainy City” of Indonesia, is a charming destination nestled at the foot of Mount Salak in West Java. Known for its consistently cool and misty climate, Bogor offers a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby Jakarta. The frequent rain showers only add to its lush greenery and serene ambiance.
One of the city’s main highlights is the Bogor Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya Bogor) — a vast and beautifully maintained garden home to thousands of plant species, tranquil walking paths, and colonial-era architecture. Just nearby, the Presidential Palace (Istana Bogor) offers a glimpse into Indonesia’s historical past.
For nature lovers and adventurers, Bogor boasts several waterfalls such as Curug Nangka and Curug Leuwi Hejo, perfect for light trekking and photography. The surrounding Puncak area is also popular for its tea plantations and scenic mountain views.
The city is dotted with cozy cafés, local food spots, and markets, offering everything from Sundanese cuisine to trendy coffee experiences. Despite its modest size, Bogor manages to pack a variety of attractions — from nature and culture to culinary delights — making it a favorite weekend getaway for locals and tourists alike.
Bogor, a Rany City in Indonesia
A bit further away from Bandung about 4,5 hours drive is Bogor, also called the city of rain. Previously known as “Buitenzorg” (Sans soucis or Without worries), during the Dutch colonial era, Bogor actually lies closer to Jakarta (50 km) than it does to Bandung (120 km).
Appropriately named by the Dutch as a town “without worries”, they chose Bogor to be the site for constructing the first palace of the Dutch Governor General way back in 1745. Later restored in 1832, the palace still stands solid and elegant today with its stretched out gardens where deer roam freely on the green grass under majestically tall old trees.
The inhabitants of Bogor work in agriculture, forestry, industry, as civil are Christians, Catholics, Hindus and Buddhists. From a historical point of view, the Bogor Regency still has a close relationship with the history of the Pakuan Padjajaran Kingdom, which was built between the 13th – 15th centuries. This is supported by some historical objects in the form of inscriptions as old manuscript written by some historians, which were found in the area.
Bogor Botanical Garden
Bogor, is famous with its botanical garden. This botanical garden and in the garden is the palace “Buitenzorg” On a not so busy day on the road a visit to Bogor and Taman Safari can be done on the same day. The world-famous Bogor Botanical Garden borders the Palace Grounds, covering an area of 87 hectares with thousands of species of plant life from all over the world.
There are over 15,000 species of trees and plants, 400 varieties of palms alone. The orchid houses contain over 3000 orchid varieties. We don’t have to be a horticulturalist to enjoy the gardens, it is a masterpiece of design and a wonderful place to just stroll and enjoy the company of family and friends. See the original “Havea Brazilliensis” rubber tree, formerly imported from Brazil, and world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia, a foul smelling and stem less as well as leafless plant.
When visiting this Garden, arrange for a permit to visit the neighboring Presidential Palace, which belonged to the Dutch Governor General before Indonesia’s independence. Doing this may be a daylong visit by leaving Jakarta in the morning and spend the night in Puncak mountainous region on the way to Bandung the next day.
Here again, the whole car trip will be memorable, as scenic tropical beauty all around is really astonishing. We will also pass by another smaller Presidential Palace at Cipanas, the setting of which is in a colorful and flowery vast garden around this wooden but stylish palace.
