Indonesia is a large archipelagic nation in Asia with a rich history of early human settlement, diverse kingdoms and empires, and European colonization. It gained independence in 1945 and has struggled with economic and political challenges, but remains a popular tourist destination with many unique islands and cultures to explore. Travel can be difficult due to the vast size of the country and security concerns, but there are many options for transportation including flights, ferries, and ships.
Indonesia is a huge archipelagic nation in Asia. It covers 735,400 square miles (1,920,000 square km), making it nearly three times the size of Texas. It shares islands with East Timor, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.
The earliest ancestors of modern man, Homo erectus, began settling some of the islands of Indonesia between two million and 500,000 years ago. About ten thousand years ago these early ancestors became extinct and the islands were uninhabited for some time. Then, around 2000 BC, the first Austronesians began settling the islands, laying the foundations for most of the modern population.
The first kingdoms in Indonesia, especially Java, began to form in the 1st or 2nd century. Many different kingdoms and empires would follow, some controlling only a handful of the many islands of what is now Indonesia, some controlling large swathes of land. An important early empire was the Srivijaya Empire, which formed on the island of Sumatra and dominated many of the islands and parts of the Malay Peninsula from the 7th century to the early 15th century.
Islam began to spread in Indonesia in the 13th century and eventually became the dominant religion, driving Hindi out to all islands except the island of Bali. The 15th century saw the rise of the Islamic Malacca Sultanate across the Malay Peninsula and nearby islands, and the Mataram Sultanate in Java played an important role in spreading Islamic culture by conquering many islands and expanding its Sultanate.
Europeans began to vie for control of the spice trade in Indonesia starting in the late 16th century. The Portuguese, who had begun trading as early as the early 16th century, began settling and conquering at the end of the century. They laid the foundations for the Dutch, who arrived in Indonesia with better weapons and tactics and set about systematically conquering most of the archipelago. With their base in Java, the Dutch formed the Dutch East India Company, which would quickly become a source of great wealth for the Netherlands.
A nationalist movement began in Indonesia in the early 20th century, seeking to end centuries of Dutch rule. By the end of World War I the Dutch had severely repressed these nationalist movements, attempting to suppress any possibility of revolt. However, the outbreak of World War II effectively severed Dutch control over Indonesia, as the Netherlands was occupied by the Nazis. The Indonesian nationalist movement tried to turn it into independence and factions of this movement contacted the Japanese, asking for their assistance. The Japanese agreed to support Indonesia’s independence in exchange for trade, and when the Japanese finally surrendered, the leader of the nationalist faction, Sukarno, declared independence anyway. The Dutch tried to reclaim Indonesia, but after four years of fighting they were finally forced to recognize its independent status.
The country began its independence with a system of parliamentary democracy, which lasted until 1957. At this point, Sukarno, now president, shifted attention towards a new type of democracy that blended communism, nationalism and religion in what was coined Guided Democracy. This period lasted until 1965 and was characterized by increasingly authoritarian leadership by Sukarno and growing dependence on communist nations such as China and the Soviet Union.
In 1965, as a result of a failed coup, a massive anti-communist backlash occurred, in which up to a million people were killed. President Suharto took power, leading the country until he stepped down in 1998. The country began to rebuild during this period from the horrific economic conditions it was in, and was slowly on the road to recovery when the East Asian crisis hit. Indonesia continues to struggle with its economic position and protests continue to push the country towards more democratic reforms, holding relatively open elections in 2006.
It can be difficult to find your way around Indonesia. This nation is home to more than 234 million people, spread across more than 17,000 distinct islands. Though predominantly Islamic, there are entire regions where Christianity, Hinduism, or various native religions dominate. Traveling to some of the more remote islands can be a nightmare and the security situation in some places can be downright appalling. Terrorism is a constant specter for most travellers, with some high-profile bombings against Western tourists still fresh in people’s memories.
Yet with all these problems, Indonesia remains one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet. The nation is a virtual world unto itself and offers a lifetime of experiences. One of the most popular destinations is the large island of Java, where the capital is located, and where you can explore various archaeological remains of cities that were once the centers of powerful empires. The crown jewel of Indonesia is the island of Bali, with its picturesque landscapes, pods of dolphins you can swim with, incredibly colorful and beautiful culture and handicrafts, and kind and welcoming people. The nearby island of Lombok is also highly regarded, offering much of the beauty of Bali, but without the hordes of tourists. Wherever you choose to look, these islands always have something to amaze.
The capital city of Jakarta has daily incoming flights from most international hubs around the world and Denpasar airport in Bali also receives daily international flights from many airports. There are regular airlines between the islands, although some of the smaller islands can be difficult to get a flight to. Ferries and ships also travel between the islands, ranging from three-day trips to short hour-long speedboat trips.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
