Bukittinggi

Bukittinggi (Bukiktinggi, Jawi: بوكيق تيڠڬي, formerly Fort de Kock) is the third largest city in West Sumatra, Indonesia, with a population of 111,312 in 2010 and 121,028 in 2020, and an area of 25.24 km2. It is in the Minangkabau Highlands, 90 km by road from the West Sumatran capital city of Padang. The whole area directly borders to the Agam Regency (Bukittinggi was its regency seat until 1998), making it an enclave, and is located at , near the volcanoes Mount Singgalang (inactive) and Mount Marapi (still active). At 930 m above sea level, the city has a cool climate with temperatures between 16.1° to 24.9 °C. Bukittinggi used to be known as Fort de Kock and was once dubbed 'Parijs van Sumatera'. The city was the capital of Indonesia during the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PDRI). Before it became the capital of PDRI, the city was a centre of government at the time of the Dutch East Indies and during the Japanese colonial period. Bukittinggi is also known as a leading tourist city in West Sumatra. It is twinned with Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The Jam Gadang, a clock tower located in the heart of the city, is a symbol for the city and a well-visited tourist spot. The city is the birthplace of Mohammad Hatta, Indonesian co-proclamator and Assaat, then Indonesian (acting) president. Koto Gadang village in the southwest of city produces an abundance of statesmen, ministers, doctors, economist, artist and scholars who make great contribution to Indonesia, namely Sutan Sjahrir, Agus Salim, Bahder Djohan, Rohana Kudus, Emil Salim, Dr. Syahrir, etc. The city has its origins in five villages that served as the basis for a marketplace. It was known as Fort de Kock in colonial times in reference to the Dutch outpost established here in 1825 during the Padri War. The fort was founded by Captain Bauer at the top of Jirek hill and later named after the then Lieutenant Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, Hendrik Merkus de Kock.