Taman Sari, Jakarta

Colonial building on the east side of Kali Besar Canal.

Taman Sari is a district of West Jakarta, Indonesia. It is the smallest subdistrict of West Jakarta (4.37 km²). Taman Sari is bounded by Central Jakarta to the south and to the east, and by North Jakarta to the north.

Taman Sari district contains the southeastern area of Jakarta Old Town, the area on the east side of Kali Besar Canal. This area is the oldest area of Jakarta and a center of administration of Batavia (the old name for Jakarta) during the 17th century. This historic area is located within the Pinangsia administrative village, the northern part of Taman Sari subdistrict.

Taman Sari administrative village

The area of Taman Sari, now located to the west of Mangga Besar railway station, was first developed in 1913 by the Municipality of Batavia as one of the first attempt to systematically meet the demand for housing for the increasing local native population of Jakarta. The original core area of Taman Sari was near the intersection of Prinsenlaan (Jalan Mangga Besar) and Drossaersweg (Jalan Taman Sari Raya). The layout of the project was rectangular and divided into four blocks: one parallel to Jalan Mangga Besar, the other three parallel to Jalan Taman Sari Raya, the closest block along Jalan Taman Sari Raya undeveloped and intended for recreational use. Various housing types were allocated to the project: The northern part consisted of greatest variety of houses, from detached housing, to house with adjoining shop (warung); the southern part has a slightly narrower and shallower plot with smaller house types. The larger northern area had an en suite bathroom and toilet for each property, while the southern area had communal sanitary facility.

Despite its central location, the project proved to be a failure. Native population did not want to settle in Taman Sari because of the Western-centric house layout. In 1918, five years after it was implemented, the city council of Batavia decided to demolish the project. The project became a learning process for kampong-improvement projects in the Indies that requirement of the locals cannot be blindly designed with a Dutch model.

Kelurahan (administrative villages)

The subdistrict of Taman Sari is divided into eight kelurahan or administrative villages:

• Pinangsia - area code 11110
• Glodok - area code 11120. The area is Jakarta's oldest and largest China town.
• Keagungan - area code 11130
• Krukut - area code 11140
• Taman Sari - area code 11150
• Maphar - area code 11160
• Tangki - area code 11170
• Mangga Besar - area code 11180

List of important places

Fatahillah Museum, the former city hall of Batavia, in Jakarta Old Town.

• Bank Indonesia Museum
• Bank Mandiri Museum
• Café Batavia
• Ceramic Museum
• Fatahillah Museum
• Jakarta Kota Station
• National Archive Building
• Sion Church
• Wayang Museum

See also

• Glodok
• Mangga Besar

References

• van Roosmalen, Pauline K.M. (2008). Ontwerpen aan de stad - Stedenbouw in Nederlands-Indië en Indonesië (1905-1950) [Designing the city - Urban development in the Dutch East Indies and Indonesia (1905-1950)] (PDF). Delft: TU Delft. ISBN 9789052693620. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)