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Home » » West Sumatra Province - 04 (Bukittinggi City)

West Sumatra Province - 04 (Bukittinggi City)




 In Town Tourist Spots – 2

Fort de Kock, Fort de Kock fortress complex is one of the many Dutch colonial heritage monuments which still standing firmly in the town of Bukittinggi. Fort de Kock was actually also the old name of the town of Bukittinggi. This fort was built by the Dutch during Padri war around 1825, built on top of Jirek Hill, at the first this fortress named Sterrenschans, then by Markus Hendrix de Kock the Dutch military commander at the time, name of the fortress changed to Fort de Kock.
Bukittinggi city itself began to develop after founding of this fort, so at that time his name synonymous with the name of the fortress before then changed to Bukittinggi, as we now know. Territorially, the fort was also a symbol that the Dutch at that time had succeeded in occupying the West Sumatra.

Limapeh Bridge
Since its renovation in 2002, Fort de Kock region developed into a park complex; Bukittinggi City Park and Tropical Bird Park (Tropical Bird Park). Close to this complex also found Limpapeh bridges, a pedestrian bridge adopting Minangkabau architecture style and crossing over the highway town of Bukittinggi. From the bridge, we can enjoy views of the Sianok Canyon and mountains surrounding of the town, Mount Marapi, Mount Singgalang and Mount Tandilek.
Around of the fortress there are still some relics, we can see the Dutch’s old cannon. Museum Traditional House Baanjuang also still situated in the same location with the fortress Fort de Kock.  Visiting Fort de Kock could be a package of visits to several tourist sites in one location.
Lubang Jepang (Japanese Caves), Bukittinggi’s Japanese Cave, is one of hundreds of similar caves built by the Japanese Army during the period of the Greater East Asia War in Indonesia. Actually, this cave is a typical Japanese defense bunkers commonly built at that time. The thing that made Bukittinggi Japanese Cave special is because this Japanese bunker is located in city center and is still fairly well maintained while in the other areas location of the bunker usually outside of city center.


Entry Gate of Lubang Jepang
First discovered by local residents in 1946, the condition at that time was very frightening with a number of human bones scattered on the floor along the aisle of the tunnel. Renovated by the local city authority, added with some public facilities then in 1986, the historic tunnel officially opened to public as one of the historical tourist sites. The second renovation held in 2004, this work is in order to give more satisfaction and safety to the visitors.
Japanese caves are located at Bukit Sianok, the caves has 3 main entrances and 6 emergency exits, from the three of main doors currently only one main door which located in Panorama Park is open for visitors. Overall, this bunker has hallway of 1.400m length, with a width of 2m and 3m high. The underground passage has 12 military barracks room, 12 bedrooms, 6-ammunition room, 2 romusha's dining room, and a meeting room.

Inside the tunnel - Lubang Jepang
Inside the cave tunnel now can still be found variety relics equipment belonging of Japanese soldiers that were used for various purposes, including the equipment used as instruments of prisoners torturing.

Well, visiting a bunker cave of Japanese military defense on the Greater East Asia War era is refreshing us how cruel life of a war, whatever the name, and reason is.