Bengkulu

Tabot Festival-Dinpar Bengkulu

Bengkulu is the 26th province of Indonesia. Located in Southwest Sumatra island. Bengkulu was once the district of South Sumatra, then in 1968 upgraded to province with Bengkulu as the capital city.

Bengkulu called Bencoolen when  the British ruled and the Dutch called Benkoolen, have an area 19 788 kilometers square with a population of 1,830,869 inhabitants (2011). 
Bengkulu province is the smallest and least populated island of Sumatra.

Bengkulu is geographically located on the tectonic plates Asia, the most active earthquake faults in the world. The massive earthquake that occurred last ten years are in 2007 at 7.9 on the Richter Scale, occurred after the year 2000 at 7.3 on the Richter Scale that caused serious damages and at least 100 people died.

Historically in Bengkulu region there were several kingdoms that once ruled there, one of which is the Selebar Kingdom. On July 12, 1685 the British to enter into agreements with kingdom Selebar. The results of the treaty is that it allows the British to build a fort and trading buildings for the benefit of the East India Company.

Then in 1685 the fort of York was established at the mouth of the River Serut (now in North Bengkulu) and since it is also the East India Company established a spice trading center with warehouses in Bengkulu city now.

Why Bengkulu? At that time the port of Banten as a British trading center in Java was taken by the Dutch. As a consequence of the defeat, East India Company is prohibited to trade there. And Java is fully controlled by the Dutch.

East India Company had come out of Java, so they have to find a place that is politically and military benefit them in the spice trade. Expedition to search for a new trading center is led by Ralph Ord and William Cowlley.

The second British fort built in the city of Bengkulu, after fortress York no longer considered habitable. Construction of the fort began in 1714 and was completed in 1719. Later the fort was named Marlborough follow the name of the British war hero the Duke of Marlborough.

It turns out then this place may not be sufficient for the East India Company to trade spice, pepper. The trading post never prifitable for the British. Then finally the British into an agreement with the Dutch.

Bengkulu became part of the Dutch East Indies since 1824 after the signing of the London agreement. Where in the agreement British surrendered Bengkulu to the Dutch exchanged Malacca and affirmation as well as Temasek (now Singapore) and the island of Belitung.

 If you go to Bengkulu, the former British presence there is more pronounced than the Dutch. Such as Marlborough fortresse - that designed looks like a turtle - still standing, although there are

Fort Marlborough-Kemensos.go.id

parts of the building that is not visible because it was destroyed by earthquakes. Or cemeteries and monuments, also five branch roads built by the British.

During the leadership of Governor-General Thomas Stanford Raffles, in 1818 discovered the amazing giant flowers Rafflesia Arnoldi. Therefore Bengkulu known as the Land of  Rafflesia. In addition there are corpse flower (amor phophallus titanum) also in Bengkulu, this beautiful flower grows in large size too, the height can reach 3 meters.

Besides British heritage, there is a unique tradition in Bengkulu called Tabot. This festival is a celebration of the series in a few days. Usually held every 10^th of Muharram (Islamic calendar) every year. Tabot is a combines of tradition Islam and culture Shia and has been held since the 15^th century.

Bengkulu is a city located on the coast of the Indian Ocean is vast as limitless. Pantai Panjang (Long Beach, 7 kilometers) is one of Bengkulu nature. There is a tourist destination in the cool highland area such as lake Dendam Tak Sudah. It have a beautiful panorama with water plants orchids Vanda hookeriana.