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Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument is a national monument in the state of New Mexico near Los Alamos. It was once inhabited by the ancient Puebloans (incorrectly known as the Anasazi), the ancestors of some of the modern-day Native American pueblos of northern New Mexico. For some unknown reason probably related to drought and decline in agriculture, the Puebloans abandoned this site, but the area is still honored by the present-day Pueblo people. They left behind a land of enigmatic ruins and superb canyon/mesa scenery that beckons the hiker, student and photographer.

Understand

As with other units of the national park system, Bandelier was created for both conservation and recreation. The primary resources being conserved are cultural (archaeological and anthropological) and scenic (canyon and mesa country, merging into mountain scenery at the upper end of the park). Both follow from Bandelier's setting atop the Pajarito Plateau, a gigantic, ancient (1-2 million year old) ash flow from a volcanic eruption in the nearby Jemez Mountains, that over time has eroded into a network of canyons and mesas. This rugged terrain is responsible for both the scenic beauty of the monument and the capacity of this otherwise arid landscape to maintain an indigenous population that lived along the streams in the canyons, and in some cases, on the mesa tops above them. The early Puebloans have moved on to other locations in northern New Mexico, but the ruins of their habitations and ceremonial structures remain to be protected by the monument.

The monument's headquarters, visitor center, and most accessible features are in Frijoles Canyon, a typical example of the canyons incised in the plateau, but notable for its abundance of ruins. These result from the fact that in contrast to most canyons on the plateau, Frijoles has a stream in its bottom, the Rito de los Frijoles -- Bean Creek—that runs nearly year-round. (Most canyons have seasonal streams that dry up during parts of the year.) Frijoles Canyon is also fairly wide for much of its length, and the combination of the resulting open spaces and available water allowed the ancestral Puebloans to practice agriculture relatively successfully. Remnants of Puebloan agriculture can still be seen in the canyon, even though the dwellings were abandoned centuries ago.

Many of the ruins in Frijoles Canyon have been excavated, studied and preserved. The main loop trail from the visitor center (see under "See") passes by several types of restored dwellings: communal stone structures along the canyon floor (think of a prehistoric "apartment complex"), "cliff houses" built of stone and mud backed against the canyon wall, and a few "cave dwellings" in holes in the volcanic tuff of the canyon wall. Other archaeological features typical of the Puebloans are the religious structures known as kivas. These are circular, half-buried structures that in Puebloan times would have had flat roofs and entrance ways. Most kivas were perhaps 15 feet (5 meters) in diameter, but many Puebloan villages were built around a "great kiva" that was much larger. An example of a great kiva has been restored in Frijoles Canyon. Today's pueblos along the Rio Grande still use kivas in ceremonies. All of these types of ruins can be found in some of the park's other areas, although most have not been restored; in fact, you may encounter archaeologists on the job at some sites (please don't disturb).

A note on terminology: the term "Anasazi" has frequently been used to describe the Puebloan culture. It has fallen out of favor, as it translates to "ancient enemy" or "enemies of our ancestors". The ancestral Puebloans were labeled "Anasazi" by rival tribes in the area.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Bandelier is most easily reached by automobile, there being no nearby bus or train stations. The nearest airport with significant commercial service is in Albuquerque, about 90 miles (150 km) away by road. Santa Fe is closer but has only very limited commercial air service. Los Alamos has no commercial air service but does have an airport suitable for private planes. (Its high elevation, single east-west runway, and rugged terrain make this airport quite a challenge for landing and take-off.) Rental cars may be obtained in any of these three cities. Bicycling to the monument is feasible for the fit cyclist, but the roads have a great deal of up-and-down and will challenge the cyclist recently up from sea level (the monument entrance is at an elevation near 6500 feet, or 2000 meters); puncture-resistant tires are also important as tire-penetrating thorns are common on the road.

To reach Bandelier from Santa Fe, follow US Highway 285 north to the small town of Pojoaque. Exit 285 on State Highway 502 heading west, following signs for Los Alamos until a fork in the road is encountered that directs travelers to Los Alamos via 502 or Bandelier/White Rock via State Highway 4. Follow the route on 4 (bear right at the fork). This highway leads directly to Bandelier, passing en route the small town of White Rock, an outlying part of Los Alamos. The photographically-inclined traveler may wish to take the left fork instead for a short distance, as the road climbs the side of a colorful mesa en route to Los Alamos, passing the stunning Clinton P. Anderson Scenic Overlook with superb views of the canyon-and-mesa country with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the background. Photography from this viewpoint is particularly rewarding at sunrise and sunset. Retracing the route leads back to the fork, and a right-hand turn (sic!) then connects with 4 and Bandelier.

During the summer months, the most visited section of the park, Frijoles Canyon, is closed to automobiles from 9AM-3PM due to the very limited amount of parking spots available. Instead, you can park at the on State Highway 4 in White Rock and take a free shuttle bus to the visitor center in the park. If you're arriving before 9AM or after 3PM, you can still drive in.

Fees and permits
Entrances fees are valid for seven days, allowing unlimited re-entry for the week. Fees as of 2020 are:
 * $15 Bicycle/pedestrian
 * $20 Motorcycle
 * $25 Per vehicle
 * $45 Bandelier Annual Pass

Get around
The visitor center and most other areas of interest to the casual visitor are in Frijoles Canyon, past the entrance station on good but steep paved road. The road descends along the side of the canyon, with some exposure, and may be a bit intimidating to the motorist unused to mountain driving. Parking at the bottom can be tight during peak periods, and it has gotten to the point that the park has closed Frijoles Canyon to automobiles from 9AM-3PM during the summer months; visitors are now required to take a shuttle bus from a visitor center in nearby White Rock during these hours. Parking in a separate lot in Frijoles Canyon is available (and required) for backpackers planning on hiking into the backcountry from trailheads near the visitor center.

Some outlying areas (see under "Do" and "Get Out") are far enough from the visitor center to require driving to reach them. The routes to the Tsankawi outlier and the cross-country ski trails are on good paved road (State Highway 4), although the road to the skiing can be snow-packed and hazardous during winter months. Some of the backcountry trailheads are reached from St. Peters Dome Road, off State Highway 4 in the Jemez Mountains via a gravel forest road. Passenger cars can negotiate the forest road, but a high-clearance vehicle may be desirable for reaching the trailheads. There is no shuttle service from the main monument sites to these areas.

See

The in Frijoles Canyon offers a multimedia show on the monument, and there is a small gallery containing artifacts of archaeological, historical and cultural interest. However, most of the attractions of the main area are outdoors. A one-mile (1.6-km) loop trail starts behind the visitor center and leads to a variety of restored ruins of lodgings and ceremonial kivas on the canyon's floor and north wall, with interpretive signs en route and numbered references to an explanatory pamphlet available by purchase or returnable with deposit at the visitor center. Much of this trail is paved and accessible to wheelchairs, but the section along the canyon wall is rougher and includes stairs. Wooden ladders afford (optional) access to some of the cliff dwellings created by ancient Puebloans who enlarged natural voids ("caves," although the structures have nothing to do with classical limestone caves) in the soft tuff of the canyon wall.

A hiking option going to or from the cliff dwellings is the nature trail along the Rito de los Frijoles, the small creek in the canyon's bottom; this is posted with interpretive signs describing the plant and animal life along the trail. This nature trail is heavily shaded, surrounded by greenery, and very close to the creek, creating an oasis-like atmosphere for anyone tired of sun-bleached sand and rock.

A short extension beyond the loop trail leads to, formerly known as Ceremonial Cave (and still so called on some older maps and guides), a large shelter cave some 300 feet (100 meters) above the canyon floor. The trail to Alcove House is open; however, the wooden ladders bolted into the lava rock that connect the cave to the valley floor are closed as of Oct 2020  The trail beyond Alcove Cave becomes increasingly rough and leads into the backcountry (see next section).

The canyon bottom near the visitor center is a suitable location for picnics, with parking, picnic tables, and toilets. Parking spots in the picnic area to the northwest of the visitor center are sometimes the last to be filled during peak visitation times. The picnic area can be quite crowded during peak season (summer), as can the interpretive trail. Visiting during the off season can reduce the crowds significantly. Frijoles Canyon is particularly pleasant during the fall, when the crowds are reduced, temperatures are moderate, and neither the high winds of spring nor the monsoonal rains of late summer are likely to interfere with the visitor's enjoyment; however, the area is open, and usually easily accessible, during daylight hours year-round, except for Christmas and New Years. Visitors are expected to be off the interpretive trail and out of the visitors' area by dusk, except for special events.

Do

Bandelier is a superb hikers' park, with options ranging from the shortest excursions past the paved loop trail all the way to multi-day backpacks. A valuable resource for the hiker is the guidebook listed below under References, which gives a great deal of trail information. It is usually available for purchase at the visitor center. Don't underestimate this park. There have been a number of deaths in the backcountry, some of them befalling experienced hikers. The Stay Safe section describes some of the things a backcountry hiker should be on the lookout for. Overnight backpacking is controlled by a permit system (see under Sleep), but no permits are required for day hiking.

Trails in the Monument may be closed during conditions of extreme fire danger or for other reasons. For up to date information on closures contact the Visitor Center at +1 505-672-3861 x 517. Fire closures are most likely during June and early July.

Hiking in Frijoles Canyon
Trails lead both upstream and downstream from the visitor center and loop trail. Downstream, the primary trail climbs a short distance above the canyon bottom (hot and exposed during summer) en route to, an attractive waterfall where Rito de los Frijoles cascades over resistant basalt cliffs interbedded with the prevailing tuff. The falls are usually at their most scenic in spring, when runoff from the mountains upstream guarantees adequate water flow; in the fall they may be nearly dry. Unfortunately, there used to be a trail leading past the Upper Falls down to the Lower Falls and the Rio Grande, but a landslide took out this section of the trail and it's unlikely to be rebuilt anytime soon. Total round-trip distance is about 3 miles (5 km).

The upstream trail leads past Alcove House (see above) and into one of the monument's few sections of truly narrow canyon. (Tread carefully here in potential flash-flood conditions.) The Bandelier Wilderness is soon entered and the crowds are left behind; fewer hikers pass this way than downstream. The trail continues to "Upper Crossing," where a trail coming down the canyon side from Ponderosa Campground meets the canyon trail, crosses the stream and continues up the south side of the canyon and into the wilderness. Travel along the canyon bottom beyond this point becomes rugged. Camping is prohibited in Frijoles Canyon; the backpacker will need to follow one of the trails up the south wall (see next section) to a campsite deeper in the backcountry.

In addition to hiking in the canyon, hiking into the canyon is possible, both from Ponderosa Campground en route to Upper Crossing and from Juniper Campground near the main entrance. The Frey Trail starts at Juniper and switchbacks down the canyon side with terrific views, eventually reaching the main loop trail. Remember, what goes down must come back up; both the Frey Trail and the trail to Upper Crossing are gut-busters in the uphill direction. Try to arrange a car shuttle.

Canyon and mesa hiking

Trails lead up the south side of Frijoles Canyon at Upper Crossing and closer to the visitor center, offering the hiker access to the greater part of the Bandelier Wilderness. The nearest notable destination to the trailhead at the visitor center is Frijolito Ruin, a largely unexcavated archaeological site on the mesa top just past the canyon rim. The hike to Frijolito covers only 1.5 miles (2.5 km) but is considerably more punishing than the mileage suggests, as it switchbacks steeply up the canyon wall, gaining about 600 feet (180 meters) in a very short distance. This is a good short day hike for getting oriented to the Bandelier backcountry. The wilderness boundary is just beyond Frijolito.

Whether entering the wilderness via this route or from Upper Crossing, a network of trails covers the mesa top, with attractive views of the Jemez Mountains beyond a major scarp (terrain uplifted along a fault). At least the views used to be attractive; this area has been badly damaged by several forest fires in the last few years, and much of the terrain is just plain bleak despite the re-emerging young forest. Burned trees or no burned trees, these trails are a good place to see wildlife. The next major canyon south of Frijoles is Alamo Canyon, with smaller Lummis Canyon en route. Strong hikers can reach fine overlooks of Alamo and make it back to the visitor center in a reasonably comfortable day.

One of the better-known archaeological sites in the park lies beyond Alamo Canyon: Stone Lions Shrine, a pair of stylized mountain lions (if you use your imagination) carved from rock buried in the ground. This shrine is still viewed as significant by some members of nearby pueblos, and you may find evidence of recent ceremonial activity there; please be respectful and don't disturb the artifacts. Another unexcavated dwelling site, Yapashi Pueblo, is en route to the Stone Lions. Hiking all the way from the visitor center to Stone Lions and back is possible in a day, but it's a real grunt; the hike is enjoyable as an overnighter.

Other trails follow the mesa between Frijoles and Alamo Canyons southeast toward the Rio Grande, with various other scenic opportunities. Many of the archaeological sites in this part of the park have been destroyed or damaged by flooding that resulted from the construction of Cochiti Dam downstream on the river, with Cochiti Lake forming behind it and sometimes reaching the mouths of the Bandelier canyons and beyond. It used to be straightforward to follow trails atop the mesa or in Alamo Canyon all the way to the Rio, walk upstream, and return to the visitor center via the trail in Frijoles Canyon. Depending on water levels, etc., this trip may or may not be possible now, but even if it is, water damage along the river banks will take some of the fun out of it.

Trails from St. Peters Dome
If the previous trails are still too crowded for you (even though, at least in off-season, you might hike to Stone Lions and back without seeing more than half a dozen people), try the trailheads reached via St. Peters Dome, a volcanic ridge on the northwest side of the monument. Trails here provide alternative routes to Stone Lions and also to the remote mesas and canyons beyond Alamo. You'll likely have this area to yourself—and the rattlesnakes. This is a remote area. Make sure you leave word where you're going, and gas up in Los Alamos or White Rock before setting out.

Capulin Canyon is the next major canyon beyond Alamo. There are good backpacking campsites here, but check on availability when you get your permit. One difference between Capulin and the other backcountry canyons is that there are "modern" ruins as well as the usual prehistoric ones.

Nightwalk
For a different kind of hiking experience, if you're in the park during the summer, see if you can get on a "Nightwalk." This is a ranger-led stroll by flashlight along the loop trail (which is otherwise closed at dusk), with an emphasis on "atmosphere" that is accentuated by poetry, Native American stories, etc. -- but to give the atmospheric details would spoil the fun, so just go and experience it for yourself. There is a fee, and advance registration is necessary; contact the visitor center for details. Nightwalks are only done during the summer months (there may be a very few around Christmas), and only once or twice a week, so some advance planning is required, but it's highly recommended for the visitor with poetry in his/her soul. Not suitable for most small children, as strict silence is expected and contributes to the experience.

Photography

Frijoles Canyon is at its most photogenic in early morning and around sundown, when the shadows are most interesting and there is a little extra color in the rocks. Photos taken near noon often look a bit stark. Good viewpoints for photographs looking down at the ruins exist along the "Long House" part of the main loop trail; better ones are along the Frey Trail. Skilled use of flash photography through the windows and vents of caves and dwellings make it possible to see both the interior and exterior views in the same photo. Ancient petroglyphs, both painted and incised, are visible along the walls of the canyon, but some of the incised petroglyphs can only be seen at certain times of the day due to the angle of the sun.

Buy
Books on the monument and region are sold at the visitor center. A small, separate gift shop next to the visitor center offers the usual tourist paraphernalia (t-shirts, mugs, etc.) and sundries, including hiking supplies. More interesting, however, is its selection of artwork from nearby Indian pueblos. It is usually possible to find a small but diverse selection of jewelry and pottery from highly-regarded centers (e.g. Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos for jewelry, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso and Acoma Pueblos for pottery), and one can even stumble across a good Navajo rug—somewhat ironically, as the Navajo were the ancestral enemies of the Puebloans who created the dwellings in Frijoles Canyon. Quality is variable; some pieces are "tourist trash," plain and simple, but the shopper with a discerning eye can often find high-quality (if not museum-class) work, sometimes at prices better than those for comparable pieces at galleries in Santa Fe. Be prepared for sticker shock; a 6-inch (15-cm) diameter black-on-black pot from San Ildefonso Pueblo can easily go for $500 or more if it's by a first-rate potter. Still, the prices are fair, and you won't do better in the galleries.

Eat
A basic menu of hot dogs and hamburgers is available at a snack bar associated with the gift shop. The snack bar usually closes before 5PM, so plan accordingly. Trail munchies, etc., can be purchased as well. The nearest restaurants are in White Rock, about 8 miles (13 km) away. There is a larger choice of places to eat in Los Alamos.

Camping

Backcountry
Free permits are required for overnight trips; obtain them in person at the Visitor Center during regular hours. Campfires are never permitted in the Bandelier wilderness, but fuel-type stoves are OK. No pets, weapons, or fireworks permitted. Be prepared to hang food at night and to purify water. For further information call the park service at +1 505 672-3861 ex 517.

Lodging
The nearest hotel/motel is a Hampton Inn in White Rock, about 8 miles (13 km) away. Los Alamos proper has more hotel options. Satisfactory bed-and-breakfasts can be found in both towns, but do a curiously poor job of advertising their existence and seem to change hands often enough to make information rapidly obsolete. One that appears to have been around for a while is Canyon Inn B&B in Los Alamos, phone +1 505 662-9595. Competition for the tourist dollar in Los Alamos is not exactly cutthroat; if they don't have a room available when you want to visit, they can probably tell you about some other B&B that might.

Stay safe
As at any national park, petty theft sometimes occurs, typically involving removal of things from cars. (Lock yours.) However, this is usually a non-problem at Bandelier and nothing to worry excessively about. Some visitors are scared of wildlife encounters (rattlesnakes, black bear), but these too are generally non-problems, although the backcountry hiker should be attentive, particularly at dawn and dusk, and the usual advice "don't feed the wildlife" is as valid here as anywhere. The main safety issues in the monument have to do with terrain and weather.

Bandelier is at a comparatively high elevation, ranging from about 5600 ft (1700 m) at the Rio Grande up to over 8000 ft (2400 m) in the mountains. The upper reaches of the park are high enough that un-acclimated visitors can suffer from altitude sickness, and the visitor from sea level may feel some shortness of breath and dizziness anywhere in the park. The wise backpacker (or at least the one with some time) will spend a day or two getting acclimated to the altitude before venturing into the backcountry. Altitude fatigue further combines with steep, sometimes vertical or overhanging, canyon walls to create danger from exposure. People have died in the Bandelier backcountry from simply falling off a cliff. The "Stay on the Trails" signs are there for a reason; the trails are well planned and constructed, and by staying on them you will minimize exposure hazard. If you simply must get off-trail and go cross-country, know what you're doing (and don't do it in Frijoles Canyon, where it is illegal, at least in some areas). The rock of the canyon walls is composed mainly of soft, friable tuff and is not suitable for rock climbing or scrambling; going off-trail to get up or down a canyon wall is a particularly bad idea.

As for weather, Bandelier is in semi-arid country and is prone to rapid and sometimes extreme variations in temperature and precipitation. By far the most common "injury" among visitors is simple sunburn; make sure to use sunscreen and wear a hat. If venturing into the backcountry, carry more water than you think you'll need, as you will lose body water rapidly and water sources in the canyons are unreliable (and may be contaminated with Giardia parasites). The other main hazard from weather is thunderstorms, common during "monsoon" season, usually from about mid-July through Labor Day. Unlike the narrower "slot canyons" of Utah and Arizona, the Bandelier canyons are generally not susceptible to flash floods, although caution is still a good idea when there are storms over the mountains. (There are exceptions: for example, a narrow and scenic section of Frijoles Canyon upstream of Ceremonial Cave should be hiked only with great caution when flooding appears possible.) A greater thunderstorm hazard is lightning. The mesa tops are exposed, with mainly scrub forest not much taller than you are and few places to hide. Early starts to a hiking day are a good idea, as lightning usually does not become active until mid-afternoon. If you're caught in a lightning storm, do not take shelter under a tree, unless you happen to be close to one of the rare thick stands of Ponderosa pines on mesa tops or at the higher elevations; instead, head for a topographic low (avoid canyon rims) and stay there until the storm passes, which usually only takes a few minutes. It is better to see a storm coming and prolong one's stay in a canyon bottom (assuming it's not so narrow as to pose a flash-flood hazard) until it passes, than to have to sprint for the canyon if the storm catches you on the mesa top.

Winter weather in Bandelier is commonly delightful in the lower reaches of the park; daytime temperatures are usually in the 40s (Fahrenheit) and sunny days far outnumber cloudy or snowy ones. However, the winter camper should be prepared for night-time lows as cold as -10 °F (-23 °C), although lows of +10 °F (-11 °C) are more typical, at least at lower elevations. Night-time temperatures usually drop rapidly in the few days following a snowstorm; be prepared. Sunburn can easily occur in the winter owing to the altitude, so sun-screen up if you're going to be out for a while, even in December.

One other caution: bubonic plague is endemic in northern New Mexico, and its main animal reservoir is among the rodents that are plentiful in Bandelier. If you see a small animal that appears to be distressed or dead, leave it alone; buzzards are immune to plague, you are not.

Go next
Two parts of Bandelier itself lie off the beaten path. is a detached part of the monument that offers a chance to see ruins in an unrestored state and hike on more primitive trails or even cross-country. There are excellent petroglyphs in profusion here. It is on the southeast side of State Highway 4 shortly after it splits off from 502 (coming from Santa Fe) and before White Rock. Bring hiking boots and plan to spend 2–3 hours; the hike is not long, but as you must find many of the attractions (particularly the petroglyphs) for yourself, you'll be moving slowly.

In the winter, cross-country skiing is possible on loop trails at the upper end of the monument. Follow 502 northwest (left) from the main entrance, with sites of Los Alamos National Laboratory on your right (closed to public). The drive will show evidence of the disastrous forest fire in 2000 that started as a controlled burn within Bandelier, got out of control, and spread into the town of Los Alamos, destroying about 400 homes and apartments. A spectacularly winding and exposed road eventually reaches a parking lot high in the mountains, with the ski loops on the left-hand side. The trails range in length from 1.1 mile (1.8 km) to 8 miles (13 km) and are maintained for in-line skiing only, not being wide enough for diagonal technique. The terrain is suitable for the beginning XC skier as the trails wind through serene conifer forest to superb views of the canyon. Check locally on snow conditions before embarking on this trip; snowfall in the Jemez Mountains varies greatly from year to year, and conditions can range from excellent through completely unskiable even in deepest winter. Hiking on these trails during summer is possible, though unexceptional; the road to St. Peters Dome takes off from 502 just beyond the parking lot and leads to more scenic and challenging trails.

Beyond St. Peters Dome road, 502 continues into the Jemez Mountains and passes through Valles Caldera National Preserve, another unit of the national park system. This is one of the newest of the national-park units and opportunities for the visitor are still being developed. Valles Caldera protects gorgeous mountainous terrain surrounding an enormous volcanic structure that erupted catastrophically about 1.5 million years ago and again 1.1 million years ago to produce the tuff that makes up the mesas and canyons of Bandelier. Forays into Valle Grande, the largest valley in the caldera, and to surrounding peaks can be arranged, and there is interesting cross-country skiing in winter that is somewhat more likely to have satisfactory snow conditions than the Bandelier loop. Inquire locally; doing things in Valles Caldera takes some advance planning owing to access restrictions.

Los Alamos is a quiet town of about 13,000 (2020) (with another 6,000 in White Rock) with historical and science museums, a surprisingly good downhill ski area on nearby Pajarito Mountain, and its own archaeological sites—the historical museum is right next to a set of restored ruins in the middle of town. Overlook Park in White Rock ends in a wheelchair-accessible viewpoint that offers stunning views of White Rock Canyon and the Rio Grande far below. Lodging and dining are possible in either the main Los Alamos town site or White Rock; all are satisfactory, none exceptional. For fine dining and much else, go back to Santa Fe.

title: Bandelier National Monument


text:
Bandera

Bandera is a city in the River Region of Texas Hill Country.

Buy
Bandera's Main Street has dozens of antique and gift shops.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Bandera


text:
Bandhavgarh National Park

Bandhavgarh National Park is in Madhya Pradesh state of India. This park is among the best national parks of India where tigers can easily be viewed. The area of this park is around.

Bandhavgarh Hill, at the height of above sea level, is at the centre of the park. This hill is surrounded by sloping valleys.

History
The state of Rewa owes its origins to the foundation of a state dating to 1234 by Vyaghra Dev, a descendant of the Vaghelas of Gujarat. He married the daughter of the Raja of Ratanpur, bringing Bandhogarh (now known as Bandhavgarh) into the family as her dowry. The legendary fortress of Bandhogarh fell into Mughal hands in 1597, almost by accident. At the death of Maharaja Virbhadra Rao in 1593, his minor son succeeded and was sent to Delhi for his own safety, the emperor took advantage of his absence to send one of his loyal nobles as temporary governor. Once he had taken control of the fort, the Maharaja’s nobles and officials were expelled and the fort annexed by the Mughals. On his return to his remaining domains, H.H. Maharaja Vikramaditya was forced to establish a new capital at Rewa, from whence the state took its name.

Times have changed. You now ride elephants to shoot tigers with your Nikon instead of your rifle, and there remains something very evocative about riding through the Jungle on the look out for those black and orange stripes!

Landscape
The "jungle" is mostly sparse and dry undergrowth with large areas of woodland. The park is set around the "castle" - a huge outcrop of rock with a massive plateau top. The whole area is very dry and dusty. Covering 450 km2, Bandhavgarh is situated in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh among the outlying hills of the Vindhya range. At the center of park is Bandhavgarh hill rising 811 m above sea level. The lowest point in the park is at Tala (440 m above sea level). Bandhavgarh is densely populated with other species. Bandhavgarh is sided with great cliffs and eroded rocks and on its highest point stands "Bandhavgarh fort" thought to be some 2,000 years old. Around the fort are numerous caves containing shrines and ancients Sanskrit inscription.

Fauna
Although Bandhavgarh is a relatively small park in the last few years this former game reserve has become one of India's most prominent National Parks. The major reason for all the interest is Bandhavgarh's high density of tigers (The Bagh), which roam the mixed forests of in search of an easy kill. It was the preferred hunting place for the Kings of Rewa. The density of tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India—60 tigers at 450 km2 area in Bandhavgarh National Park. This is also white tiger country. The last known as captured by Maharaja Martand Singh in 1951. This White Tiger "Mohan", is now stuffed and display in the place of Maharajah of Rewa. The tigers (the bagh) have not only bolstered the local population by breeding successfully, they have also brought international media attention to the park and the plight of the Royal Bengal Tiger.

While the star attraction is the tigers, there is a host of other wildlife: 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds. Leopards and sloth bears are the other two extremely rare animals, seen only by chance. Other wildlife includes spotted deer, samba, langur and red faced monkeys, jungle cats, Bengal fox, mongoose, striped hyena, bandicoot rat, Asiatic jackal, wild boars, nilgai, chausingha, chinkara, Indian bison and of course, the domestic elephants.

The vegetation along streams and morasses is rich in bird life, and include the oddly named "changeable hawk eagle" and storks. more common ones are little grebe, egret, lesser teal, white-eyed buzzard, black kite, crested serpent eagles, black vulture, Egyptian vulture, common peafowl, red jungle fowl, dove, parakeet, kingfisher, Indian roller, and the Indian national bird, the Indian peacock.

Reptilian fauna include cobra, krait, viper, rat-snake, python, turtle and number of Lizard varieties including varanus.

Flora
The vegetation is chiefly of sal forest in the valleys and on the lower slopes bamboo is found throughout the park.

Climate
Bandhavgarh experiences climatic conditions that vary to opposite extremes. In winters, the bitter cold forces the visitors to put on multiple layers as protection against the biting cold. Early morning rides can be in temperatures that dip about four, once you take the wind chill factor into consideration. In the summers, it changes drastically to the opposite. It now feels uncomfortable to even sometimes put on the cotton t-shirt.

The temperature in the winters varies from 4 to 20°C between November and February. In the summers, the temperatures move to the other extreme and can go up to 48°C. Towards late summer, it is also advisable to carry some protection, for yourself and for your camaras, from rain. Bandhavgarh has an average annual rainfall of 1200 mm. The rains here give very little prior warning and it is preferable to be prepared for your own protection, as well as for your equipment. These rains, however, bring good respite from the blistering heat. A single shower can make temp eratures fall from 45°C to 30°C. The main monsoon season mostly begins only once the park is closed from 1 July to 30 September.

Get in
The closest train station is Umaria. Sleeper trains run from Delhi and Agra. Umaria is a jeep ride from Tala, the village at the Main Gate to Bandhavgarh.

Tala (Bandhavgarh) is well connected to Katni which is one of the major railway junctions nearby. Generally it takes 2-2½ hr and you can easily get vehicles to and from the station by jeeps or similar vehicles waiting at the exit of the Umaria railway station.

The park is closed 1 July - 30 September.

Fees and permits
There is a park permit fee on top of the cost of hiring a jeep, and any elephant rides are extra. Any safari organised with your lodge normally includes all the jeep and park fees although elephant rides are still extra. You don't have to pay in the jungle but normally pay at your lodge later, although taking a little cash to tip the elephant rider is a good idea. one can book safari by MP online safari portal

Rules Regulations and Forest Permit Charges

₹2000 per person for 1 hour during Maghadhi Zone jeep safari at morning.
 * Park entry fees Jeep Safari : (Magdhi, Tala, and Khitauli Zones): ₹1550 for Indians and foreigners.
 * Guide fees: ₹360 per drive.
 * Jeep Charges: ₹2500 per drive
 * Wednesday evening is holiday of Bandhavgarh National Park, Festival time also jungle close for tourist, Holi, Diwali,
 * Elephant Safari for foreigners:

 * Elephant Safari for Indians: ₹700 per person for 1 hour during Maghadhi Zone jeep safari at morning.
 * Elephant Safari for whole day: ₹80,000 per elephant for 1 whole day for 4 people.

New Year, Holi, Diwali are peak season timing, its recommended to book park permits, jeep and hotel well in advance during that period.

Get around
Tala is a tiny village at the entrance to Bandhavgarh with one or two shops and an internet cafe. The lodges are a few minutes walk to the village. Travel into the park is by Jeep, again normally provided in the price by the lodges.

See
The wild animals are not the only attraction in the park. On at least one safari your driver will take you up the mountain where there is a line of ancient caves, and a huge 10th-century statue of a reclining Vishnu. It is also possible to head to the far side of the park to the elephant enclosure where the elephants are kept. Often this is where the young elephants are and it is a great photo opportunity

Do

 * Jeep safari The Jeeps all head to the Main Gate before it opens to collect a guide who joins the Jeep for the safari and you then head off into the Jungle. Visitors to Bandhavgarh are allowed into the park twice each day for 3-hour Jeep safaris, once at dawn, and again in late afternoon. These are times when animal activity is most visible. The commonly used safari vehicles are open 4WD Gypsys. The Jeeps stick to well-worn tracks but the park covers a large area and you'll often end up on your own.  Most of the wildlife is seen from the Jeeps, but the star attraction - the tigers - are tracked each morning by elephant.  If they are found the Jeeps dash towards them.  If they are visible from the track the Jeeps bustle around trying to get the best view or, alternatively, your driver enters you in a queue for an elephant ride to see the tigers in the bush. The safari lasts about 3 hours before the park closes at lunch time.  There is a second slightly shorter Safari in the afternoon which lasts until dusk. You cannot travel in the park without a Jeep and a guide.
 * Elephant treks Elephants are used every morning by the Forest Department for tiger-tracking. If a tiger is found, the elephant will take you directly to the tiger from a nearby area reached by Jeep/car. A Forest Department guide must always accompany you, or you may choose to pay for a naturalist, instead. This guide/naturalist will be able to direct you and point out wildlife.

Eat

 * Jain Bhojanalaya at Bandhavgarh - Serves pure vegetarian food. Golbro Tiger View Resort Campus in front of National Park, very near to Tala Gate No.1 and Petrol Pump. Cost is very economical.

Drink
Always use packed drinking water. There is no nightlife here at all (thank goodness) but a cool beer after a day in the jungle is a wonderful thing! Remember to take plenty of water on every safari.

Buy
Once you've paid for the Jungle Package at a Lodge you will struggle to spend anything at all in Tala. Elephant rides are extra but not expensive at all (2005: ₹300 per person per ride) and the only thing you buy in the lodges are those cool evening beer

Stay safe
Bandhavgarh is hot, dry, and dusty. If you are visiting between October and February, do not forget to carry warm clothing, as temperatures have been known to drop as low as 0°C.

Go next
The national park is close to following places of interest:
 * Jabalpur (164 km): Nearest city, Jabalpur houses an assortment of forts, temples and museums. The prime attraction is the Dhundhar Waterfall and Marble Rocks
 * Kanha National Park (240 km): Combing Bandhavgarh with Kanaha can be an interesting wild life experience. Kamha, which is one of the biggest in India and has the distinction of the successfully implemented Project Tiger, as part of the tiger conservation program in India. Every year the park attracts large numbers of tourists for watching tigers from close proximity. The park was also the inspiration for the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling.
 * Khajuraho (237 km): A group of magnificent temples, listed on UNESCO World Heritage List
 * Pachmarhi (408 km): Hill station in Satpura Range with the touch of the Raj
 * Pench National Park (282 km): A forest known for tiger spotting

title: Bandhavgarh National Park


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Bandiagara

Bandiagara is a city in the Dogon Country of Mali.

Understand
Bandiagara forms the primary entry point to Dogon Country treks. As such, one can stock up on supplies, sleep, and find guides/drivers in this town. Unfortunately due to the proximity, a lot of these items are a great deal more expensive, but it works well for those looking to find some last minute item.

Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) is a cultural landscape represented by sandstone plateau, escarpment and plains. The Bandiagara Escarpment was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989.

By bus
There are bus connections to Bandiagara, but primarily to the closer towns of Mopti and Sévaré. To go to further destinations such as Bamako requires more careful planning and the best time to catch one of these buses is on market day.

By car
Most people arrive in their own car whether hired or their own. It is a straightforward town to drive through given the small size of it. A car will allow much easier connections to villages in Dogon Country as there are no buses to these. For those looking to find a car, you are better off searching neighboring towns as prices are considerably higher in Bandiagara.

Get around
For those wishing to see what there is of Bandiagara, it is very easily walked.

See
Bandiagara is not huge on sites. The main administration building in the center roundabout is an interesting structure though.

Go next

 * Dogon Country - It's what everyone comes to this area for as this is the gateway town to the area.
 * Mopti - One of the nearest large towns with a historical Old Town.
 * Sévaré - A bit closer than Mopti with a large number of hotel options, although lacking on a lot of sites to see.

title: Bandiagara


text:
Bandipur

Bandipur is a city in Nepal.

Get in
Take a bus ride or private ride from any of the bigger cities (Kathmandu, Pokhara or Narayanghar) to Dumbre Bazzar. Then you will need to take another bus trip or ride to head up the hill to the hill top town of Bandipure. Other options are to hike from Bimalnagar or Dumre (via Siddha Gufa).

Get around
Bandipur is small enough to walk around the entire village.

See
Some places to see around Bandipur are -

 * Tudikhel - A flat hill top area in north side of town that provides a magnificent view of the Himalayan range on a clear day.
 * Gurunche Dada - A nice small hill to climb if you like short hikes
 * Temple of Khadga Devi - During the festival of Dashain many families and the whole town gather to do Puja and worship the Sacred Sword. This is a long tradition that has been followed by the entire town and the surrounding villagers since the legendary history stories.

title: Bandipur


text:
Bandipur National Park

Bandipur National Park is in Karnataka state in India.

Understand
Famous for its tiger and elephant reserve and protected sandalwood trees, this 890 km2 park is one of India's most delightful wildlife sanctuaries.

History
The tiger reserve was formed later. Prior to the decision, it was a small 80sq km region hunting ground for the Maharaja.

Bandipur National Park was created in 1931 when it occupied 800 km2 of the total land of the Bandipur Reserve Forest. Following this, in 1973, the Bandipur Tiger Reserve was formed that has taken a great care of significant, but consistent increase in the number of tigers. In the historic days, the maharajas (kings) of the nearby Mysore city regarded the Bandipur forests as a private game reserve. Since its inception, as it is situated under the canopy of the Western Ghats, the Bandipur National Park is undoubtedly among the superb habitats for the Asian elephant and gaurs.

Flora and fauna
Various plants and sandalwood trees are common here. Elephants, tigers, chittal (spotted deer). Bandipur is under Project Tiger.

Climate
The region is warm and comfortable for most parts of the year with temperatures ranging from 24 to 28°C, except for the brief winter that lasts from October to January when the temperature hovers around the 19°C mark. Monsoon is erratic, but it generally rains from June to September.

Get in
The nearest town is Gundulpet, 31 km.

The nearest city is Mysore, 89 km.

Drive of 230 km (5.5 hours) from Bangalore

By car
It is easy to drive the hill temple. It is around 230 km from Bangalore and a 5-hour journey. Since the weather conditions are extreme, it is advised to keep the car in good shape, especially headlights, wipers and tyre pressure.

By bus
To Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, buses are available from Gundlupet town by 10:30AM which takes you direct to the top of the hill. Going by private vehicles is not allowed beyond the park gate. KSRTC buses are available from the parking spot also to take you up the hill.

Fees and permits
The park does not allow private vehicles inside the national park. Only the park reserved vehicles are permitted to go inside with a guard who is also the driver. The surrounding high end resorts have a tie up with forest department and allow for gypsy rides.

Every safari is only for strict 45 minutes. The bus can accommodate 20 people in it and is full on any weekend.

Gopalswamy Betta
Gopalswamy Betta is one of the highest peaks in the Bandipur National Park and location of an ancient (13th-century) fort of the Palegars of Terakanambi. The view from top of this hill is truly breath-taking. It is one of the highest peaks (1454 meters above sea level) in the Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, India. It is also called Himada Gopalswamy Betta, as it is covered in mist (hima means mist in Kannada), for most of the months. (Betta means hill in Kannada). Another attraction at this peak is the fabled perpetual wind, that greets anyone who cares to climb it.

Herds of wild elephants are seen regularly near this peak. A lake, a few hundred feet below the peak serves as the local watering hole for the other wildlife.

The nearest town is Gundulpet, 20 km.

The nearest city is Mysore, 89 km.

There are no buses to Gopalswamy betta, so it would be prudent to take either a taxi, or ride a motorbike.

Take the NH-212 towards Gundulpet from Mysore. Just outside of Gundulpet there is a fork in the road. One towards Sultan Bateri, Waynad (NH-212 continued) and the other towards Bandipur (NH-66). Take the fork towards Bandipur. As you proceed towards Bandipur, take a right turn at Hangala village. (There should be a big Karnataka Tourism board abutting the road). From this point, the hill top should be 15 km. 4 km further, there is a forest department check post at the base of the hill. It is a 10 km winding, steep road, with a few hairpin bends that take you to the hill top.

There is an entrance fee that needs to be paid at the forest department check post. The fees varies depending on type of vehicle you intended to climb the hill. Two wheeler ₹25 and car ₹50.

Camping is possible, with the permission of the Range officer, at the Bandipur National Park. A travellers' bungalow is also available, but it has no running water. Again, the permission of the Range Officer is required.

Do
The national park organizes 45-minute bus safari into the forest for a minimal fare of ₹95 only for Indians. Foreigners have to shed a few extra bucks. There is also open-jeep safari for ₹2200. The safari, however, doesn't guarantee that tourists will get to see tiger, as it is a matter of chance.

Safari is available only during 6AM to 11AM and after 4PM time slots. Kids love the elephant rides organized by the forest department for ₹120. The ride is for just 20 mins and it is not a safari.

Trekking in the jungle is illegal.

Buy
There are some shops selling snacks and souvenirs at the entrance to the park.

Eat
Free lunch and sweets are given to all the visitors in an open dining hall on the left side of the temple at Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.

Lodging
Dormitories and cottages are provided by government. Cottage booking requires prior permission by authorities in Mysore. Contact the Bandipur national park reception

Camping
Camping or use of the travellers bungalow will require permission from the Range officer at the Bandipur National Park

Jungle lodges also provides tenting facilities for accommodation. Campfire is organized by Jungle lodges.

You can also pitch your own tents with prior permission outside the forest area.

Stay safe
Monkeys do cause some menace here if one is not careful. One has to make sure they don't leave their cottage doors and windows open when you go out. If you are driving by and see some wildlife, do not lower your windshield when you stop your car, you'll have attracted some fearless monkeys which will enter your vehicle and not leave until it finds something to eat. Try not to feed the animals.

Go next

 * Ooty is a famous hill station in southern India. It is an ideal place for honeymoon couples.
 * Mysore
 * Chamarajanagar
 * Nagarhole National Park
 * Kodagu
 * Dakshina Kannada

title: Bandipur National Park


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Bandırma

Bandırma is a city in Southern Marmara Region of Turkey. It's a large freight and ferry port, with a population of 149,469 in 2016, and most visitors are just passing through. The main attraction is the bird life on the lake to the south.

Understand
Bandırma has a short sea crossing from Istanbul and a low coastline, easy to traverse by road, so it's long been a transit hub. It was founded around the 9th century BC and has been held by the Persians, the Byzantine Romans and the Ottomans, but almost nothing remains of all that. The town was wrecked in the fighting between Greece and Turkey that followed the First World War, so its buildings are modern, though some are in retro-Ottoman style. The closing shots of that conflict rang out here, then an Armistice was signed at Mudanya, followed by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.

Bandırma was also the name of the freighter in which Mustafa Kemal sailed to Samsun, under orders to disband the Ottoman army after Turkey's 1918 defeat. Instead he organised the fightback that escalated into the War of Independence, and led to his sobriquet of "Atatürk".

Get in
There's no airport nearby. International travellers can fly into Istanbul then take the bus or ferry.

İDO ferries sail daily from Istanbul Kadıköy (Asia-side) and Yenikapı (Europe-side, near Sultanahmet) and take 2 hr 30 min, for a single fare of 150 TL. BUDO ferries don't sail this route, but ply from Istanbul to Mudanya near Bursa.

Marmara RoRo sail twice a day from Tekirdağ Ceyport on the far mainland coast.

A daily train runs from Izmir Basmane, taking almost six hours via Manisa and Balıkesir. It leaves Izmir around 09:00 and is called 6 Eylül Ekspresi, "6th of September Express", returning south from Bandırma at 16:00 when it's called 17 Eylül Ekspresi.

A high speed line from Ankara and Istanbul has been under construction for years, and its supposed completion date of 2023 looks implausible.

is by the harbour, within 200 m of the ferry piers.

Buses run hourly from Istanbul Anadolu station, taking 4 hours for a fare of 180 TL. Bus lines competing on this route are Metro Turizm, Pamukkale and Flixbus. From Ankara or Konya it's quickest to take the YHT high speed train to Eskişehir, which connects with a bus to Bursa. Frequent buses between Bursa and Bandırma take two hours for a fare of 60 TL - many of these continue west to Çanakkale, for Troy and Gallipoli.

is 5 km south of town on D200 the highway from Bursa. By road from Istanbul follow O7 east to Gebze then O5 across the bridge and west via Bursa onto D200.

Get around
A swarm of buses, dolmuşes and taxis run between the main bus station, downtown and the ferry port.

See

 * is accessible to the public, a popular spot for fishing.
 * (Kuş Cenneti Milli Parkı) is 15 km south of the city, accessed via D565. It's on Lake Kuş ("bird lake"), which floods as the winter snows melt, and is a stop-over and final destination for migratory birds. The time to visit is therefore March-July as they come north and Sept-Oct as they return south. The park is free; there's no food or accommodation here, or public transport.
 * or Daskyleion was a city inhabited since the Bronze Age. It was forgotten until 1952 and excavation continues. In 2021 a relief was found depicting Greek soldiers trampled by Persian war-horses. Nothing to see for the casual visitor while the work continues.
 * (Son Kurşun Anıtı) commemorates the final shots of the Turkish War of Independence at Ayyıldız Hill in 1922.
 * See Erdek for the Kapıdağ Peninsula north of the city. You come to the ruins of Cyzicus just north of the isthmus.
 * or Daskyleion was a city inhabited since the Bronze Age. It was forgotten until 1952 and excavation continues. In 2021 a relief was found depicting Greek soldiers trampled by Persian war-horses. Nothing to see for the casual visitor while the work continues.
 * (Son Kurşun Anıtı) commemorates the final shots of the Turkish War of Independence at Ayyıldız Hill in 1922.
 * See Erdek for the Kapıdağ Peninsula north of the city. You come to the ruins of Cyzicus just north of the isthmus.

Do

 * Football: Bandırmaspor play in TFF First League, the country's second tier. Their home ground is 17 Eylül Stadium, capacity 12,725, by the main highway 2 km southeast of city centre.

Buy
Bim is by the harbour, open daily 09:00-21:00. Migros Jet is at Atatürk Cd 19/A, open daily 08:30-22:00.

Eat
Near the port are Hayyam, Cennet, Karlahan, Riva and İnegöl. They're usually open daily to 21:00.

Drink

 * Bars around the port are Dostlar, Hayalperst Lounge, Dublin Irish Pub, Chillout Bar, Hasir. Square Beer, Otto Social House, Pukka Lounge and Green Pub.
 * Wine is made in the hills to the south towards Balıkesir, for instance at Sen Vineyards.

Sleep

 * The port has a strip of over a dozen places, including Villa Marina, Panderma Port, Eken (two branches), Ture, Sahil, Vera, Bandirma Palas and Grand Serenay. These were decent places in 2018 but the slump in travel since means a lack of more recent customer reviews.

Connect
Bandırma and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of Feb 2022, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Erdek is the main town on Kapıdağ Peninsula and has ferries to the Marmara islands.
 * Gönen is a spa town inland.
 * Bursa was the Ottoman's first stronghold and has many historic sights. The mountain resort of Uludağ rises behind it.
 * Çanakkale is the way to reach the Gallipoli battle sites, ancient Troy and the islands of Bozcaada and Gökçeada.
 * Unmissable Istanbul is only a ferry ride away.

title: Bandırma


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Bandon

Bandon is a city on the Southern Oregon Coast.

Do

 * Horseback Riding on the beach
 * If you enjoy wet weather, Bandon is the best place to spot storms through turbulent ocean on Oregon's Adventure Coast. Storm-watching occurs during the winter season from November to March.
 * If you enjoy wet weather, Bandon is the best place to spot storms through turbulent ocean on Oregon's Adventure Coast. Storm-watching occurs during the winter season from November to March.
 * If you enjoy wet weather, Bandon is the best place to spot storms through turbulent ocean on Oregon's Adventure Coast. Storm-watching occurs during the winter season from November to March.
 * If you enjoy wet weather, Bandon is the best place to spot storms through turbulent ocean on Oregon's Adventure Coast. Storm-watching occurs during the winter season from November to March.
 * If you enjoy wet weather, Bandon is the best place to spot storms through turbulent ocean on Oregon's Adventure Coast. Storm-watching occurs during the winter season from November to March.
 * If you enjoy wet weather, Bandon is the best place to spot storms through turbulent ocean on Oregon's Adventure Coast. Storm-watching occurs during the winter season from November to March.
 * If you enjoy wet weather, Bandon is the best place to spot storms through turbulent ocean on Oregon's Adventure Coast. Storm-watching occurs during the winter season from November to March.

title: Bandon


text:
Bandung

Bandung is the capital city of West Java province, and the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. Nicknamed Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch for its resemblance to Paris and European atmosphere back at the colonial times, it is locally called as Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flowery City because Bandung had a lot of flowers in the colonial era and republic era up to the early 1960s.

A city sitting in a former lake with an altitude of 768 m above sea level, the surroundings of lush and beautiful Parahyangan mountains makes the climate cooler than most major cities in Indonesia. If you are into the city situation, look for its universities to study, apparel products to try on, and wonderful places for gastronomic adventure. Bandung has become a very popular weekend getaway for Jakartans due to its close proximity, especially during holiday periods, where the city is crowded with cars coming from the capital city.

Districts
Administratively, the city of Bandung (Kota Bandung) is divided in 30 districts (kecamatan). However, for this travel guide the city has been divided in the following five districts, that are more useful for travellers.

The Greater Bandung Metropolitan Area (Bandung Raya) has a population of more than 8 million, and extends well beyond the city of Bandung. The city of Cimahi in the west is Bandung's largest suburb. For travellers, the surroundings of Lembang in the north and Ciwidey in the south are among the highlights of Greater Bandung.

History
On the banks of Cikapundung River and the shores of Bandung's Great Lake, there were numerous archeological early human remains found, including of "Java Man", estimated to be about a million years old.

The first written reference to the city of Bandung is from 1488, when it was established as part of the Sunda Kingdom.

In the 17th to 18th centuries, the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) created small plantations in Bandung, with a road to Batavia (today's Jakarta) completed in 1786. In 1809, Louis Bonaparte, the ruler of the Netherlands and its colonies, ordered the Dutch Indies Governor H.W. Daendels to improve Java's defenses against the threat of the English, who occupied the nearby Malay peninsula. Daendels responded by building the Great Post Road (De Groote Postweg) that stretched about 1000 km between the west and the east coasts of Java. The road was diverted through Bandung along what is now Jalan Asia-Afrika because of the North Coast's impassable swamps and marshes at the time.

Daendels liked Bandung's strategic location so much that he ordered the capital to be moved there. Military barracks were built and Bupati Wiranatakusumah II, the chief administrator of that area, built his dalem (palace), Masjid Agung (The Grand Mosque) and pendopo (meeting place) in the classical Javan alun-alun (city square) near a pair of holy city wells (Sumur Bandung) and facing the mystical mountain of Tangkuban Perahu (near Lembang).

Powered by its cinchona (for malaria drug quinine), tea, and coffee plantations, Bandung prospered and developed into an exclusive European style resort with hotels, cafes, and shops. Many of Bandung landmarks, including the Preanger and Savoy Homann hotels, as well as the shopping street of Jalan Braga, are still available today. The Concordia Society building, now Gedung Merdeka, was built with a large ball room as a club for rich Europeans to spend their weekends.

In 1880, the first major railroad between Jakarta to Bandung opened, boosting small industries and bringing in Chinese workers. The first of Bandung universities, the Technische Hogeschool (TH) was established on July 3, 1920. One of its alumni members is President Soekarno himself. That university is now known as the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)

In 1942, after Japanese soldiers landed in coastal areas of Java, the Dutch retreated from Jakarta to Bandung, but were driven out from there as well and surrendered soon after. After the end of the war, first the British and later the Dutch came back trying to reestablish the pre-war colonial situation, but in 1946, during the struggle for Indonesian independence, the city of Bandung was burned down by retreating forces of the TRI, because they would not comply with the order given by the British forces to move out of Bandung to the south (Bandung Sea of Fire/Bandung Lautan Api). For the TRI this act was a sign of refusal to surrender. Over 200,000 people fled the city during the incident.

In 1955, the Asia Africa Conference (Konferensi Asia Afrika) was held in Bandung, paving the way for the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961. The Indonesian parliament was located in Bandung from 1955 to 1966, but was moved back to Jakarta in 1966.

Orientation
Today's Bandung is a sprawling city of 2.7 million people and suffers from many of the same problems as other Indonesian cities. Traffic is congested, old buildings have been torn down, and once idyllic residences have turned into business premises, fortunately the facades are still same.

There are main roads that roughly split the city into three parts, the north, the central, and the south. The Pasupati overpass splits the north and the central. Dago or H Juanda and Merdeka are the main roads from north to south. The Jenderal Sudirman, Asia Afrika, Kosambi and Jenderal Ahmad Yani cuts the central and the south. If you enter using the toll road, you will start from the outskirts first and then make your way into the city center.

Road in Bahasa Indonesian is translated into Jalan and abbreviated into Jl. You will see a lot of Jl. in front of the road name in this guide. Very small roads that cannot be passed by car is called Gang and abbreviated into Gg.

Talk
The local language in Bandung is Sundanese, though nearly everyone speaks Indonesian.

Get in
Bandung is in the central highlands of Parahyangan. It can be reached from Jakarta via the toll road or by train. Many buses and minivans connect Jakarta and Bandung. An alternative to the toll road is the winding road via the Puncak mountain pass. The route through Puncak is quite scenic but on weekends and public holidays the traffic is congested.

By plane

In 2023, all jet flights from Bandung were transferred to Kertajati International Airport, inconveniently located almost 90 km by road from Bandung in the town of Majalengka. The airport has services to major Indonesian cities and a few international flights to Malaysia. The drive to Bandung can easily take 2.5 hours or longer if traffic is bad. DAMRI Bus at Kebun Kawung Bandung departs at 02:00 to Kertajati Airport and from Kertajati Airport to Bandung departs at 07:00 with headway every 2 hours. The tariff is Rp 75,000.

Bandung's, located only about 4 km from the city centre, is now limited to turboprop services, with Susi Air flying from Jakarta-Halim and Medan.

Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta International Airport airport is 3 hours away (plus any, often significant, traffic jams) from Bandung, although using the high-speed train may be faster. A number of companies offer direct shuttle bus services to Bandung, including a convenient Primajasa coach service; see the 'By bus' section for details.

By bus
Bus services connect Bandung and smaller surrounding cities. Several long-route buses are also available from major big cities. The most convenient way is the air-conditioned bus with the express or non-stop tag. The main bus terminals in Bandung are in South Bandung, serving buses from the west (Greater Jakarta, Bogor Raya (see below) and Banten including the port of Merak) and  in East Bandung, serving buses from the east (Cirebon, Garut, East Parahyangan, and destinations in Central and East Java and Bali). Many buses on routes between Jakarta and destinations to the east pass via Bandung, but usually they do not stop at Bandung's terminals. However, many of them allow passengers to get off or on at the Cileunyi toll gate just east of the city. From Bogor Baranangsiang Terminal, frequent MGI bus to Terminal Leuwipanjang Bandung, south of Bandung central, Rp90,000-115,000 (upper price around end of Ramadan, pay in the bus), duration 4-5h, via north road aka Bekasi, high risk of trafic jams, AC.

To reach Bandung central from terminal Leuwipanjang, you can use bus 4D to Terminal St Hall aka train station (AC, Rp4,900, cashless: bank transport card like the ones in Jakarta or QRIS) A new line Bus Leuwipanjang - Ledeng may run since Mar 2024 but seems low frequency (less than one per hour).

By shuttle bus
With 7-10 seater minivans leaving every few minutes, the shuttle bus market between Jakarta and Bandung is fiercely competitive. Roughly speaking, services can be categorised as either door to door in a chartered car or van that takes your group exactly where you want to go, for around US$50–75, or point to point from its pools to another, for under US$10. Many companies offer both.

Due to competition, all shuttles now only have 2 prices, for 8-11 seats Rp80,000 (Star Shuttle) to Rp85,000 (Baraya) and for 6-7 seats Rp90,000 to Rp110,000 in a minibus.

By rented car with driver
A door-to-door travel with cars, mostly sedans instead of a minibus, runs between Bogor and Bandung and limited to 3 passengers per car. The tariff is Rp150,000 per passenger (excluding toll road fees). The route mostly goes through Puncak or Cipularang Toll Road.

By car
Bandung is two hours away from Jakarta by car if the traffic conditions are favourable, but because of traffic congestion if often takes longer. However, thanks to the Jakarta-Bandung toll road (via Cikampek) travelling by road is usually faster than by train. However during the rainy season, parts of the road may be closed because of landslides, and bewildering because of possible high winds or blinding fog and downpours. While most cars would exit the system at Pasteur, the first exit to Bandung with excellent connections to Lembang, it is very congested during the weekends so it is highly encouraged to enter the city at the less congested toll road exits on the southern side of the city instead: try Baros/Cimahi,Pasir Koja, Kopo, '''Moh. Toha, and Buah Batu'''.

One alternative route is by the slower, but enjoyable, route via the Puncak area. If you travel by car using this route, be sure to stop at the Puncak Pass, the tip of the highland just on the outskirts of Jakarta, for a view of tea plantation and fresh air. There are plenty of good restaurants and hotels out there.

By train
Indonesia's first high-speed railway (kereta cepat), Whoosh, links Jakarta-Halim to Bandung's shiny new Tegalluar station, some 19 km southeast of the city center, in as little as 30 minutes.

State operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia also offers frequent services between Jakarta and Bandung with Argo Parahyangan, as well as other towns on the southern rail route, but on these regular trains even the fastest services takes two-and-a-half to three hours from Jakarta. The time passes so quickly during the journey because of the comfortable trains, scenic mountains, and paddy fields you could find along the way. There are 2 classes for each train journey: Executive class, Rp200,000 per ticket for air conditioning, reclining seats, and a footrest; Economy Premium class, Rp150,000. Booking at least 24 hours in advance is a must and can be made through travel booking services such as Traveloka, PegiPegi, etc. and through the minimarkets such as Alfamart and Indomaret. Under 24 hours until 10 minutes before departure, tickets only can be bought in the departure station. But if you have a KAI Access application, the ticket can be bought up to 1 minute before departure.

The state operator offers its newest class - The Priority Class - on Argo Parahyangan that runs only twice a day in each direction. It has 28 luxury seats in a single car with onboard-entertainment on every seat, wireless connection and toilets for the disabled person. Costs Rp 290,000 and must be booked in advance at least one week before the desired journey due to the high demand for the service. Argo Parahyangan Excellence train is the fastest train, taking only 2 hours 50 minutes from Gambir Station to Bandung Station. It departs from Gambir Station at 17:12 and in the other direction from Bandung Station at 04:30 and travels non-stop between the two cities.

If you do travel by train, get off at the Bandung railway station in Central Bandung. It is right in the city centre and offers excellent transport connections to the city's places of interest. The station has two faces — the old entrance (south of the tracks) and the newer entrance (north). Taxis are outside the north entrance, there are AA and Blue Bird taxi, AA taxi whose fare is about 15 per cent higher than Blue Bird. Although their cars are generally in better condition than those of Blue Bird. Angkot can be found at a small terminal about 100 from the south entrance and also in the front of the north entrance.

Get around

Travelling around in Bandung can be quite complex and frustrating, especially to newcomers, because there is no mass rapid transit system. Locals travel using small public minibuses, known as angkot from angkutan = transport and kota = city.

By angkot
This option has only origin and destination names on top, sometimes with a description of which street they pass if there is more than one angkot route for a certain origin-destination route.

Although there is an official price for angkot from Organda (the local regulator of these private city transport), it is usually based on how far you travel. It's better to ask the driver or kernet (driver assistance) about the price to go to a location. To ask for an angkot to stop and pick you up, just raise your hand. When you're inside and want to stop, just ask the kernet to stop or say 'kiri' (kee-ree) or simply 'stop'. It used to be easy to find a bell that you could press to stop, but not anymore. Most angkot fares usually about Rp3,000-5,000. For very short distances below 1½ km, Rp2,000 is enough, while for taking an angkot into the suburbs the price may be slightly higher.

The official angkot routes are listed on Bandung's City Government website. Using phone maps is sufficient, but the maps from Project Kiri has clearer explanation to get you to somewhere in Bandung i.e. which angkot you should take.

Some angkot have the same destination, but different routes, such as Angkot No. 01, which runs from Cicaheum to Kebon Kelapa via Trans Studio Mall, whereas Angkot No. 02 goes through Jalan Aceh.

By taxi
If you don't know which angkot routes to take, you're much better off taking a taxi. Metered taxis may take you out of your way to get more money or run the meter first before you enter the taxi, in case of phone orders. The fare for trips within the city is usually Rp25,000-75,000. At most big streets, taxis can be hailed at malls and big hotels, but as in most cases, ordering by phone is the safest bet, although there is usually a minimum payment for phone orders.

Allow plenty of time for the journey, as traffic congestion is common, especially in weekends. Short trips of under 10 km may take over an hour in the rush hour and in weekends.

Almost all taxis in Bandung require a minimum payment of Rp25,000 except for Blue Bird, which requires none. Besides the flagfall for the first kilometers, the tariff for next kilometers is Rp4,500 and waiting time is Rp45,000/hour (is also charge when the taxi trap in traffic jam or stop behind the red light).

List of taxi companies in Bandung:

By online ride hailing apps
Online taxis such as GrabCar and GoCar (from Gojek) are abundant and they can pick you up in less than 10 minutes after booking. Available 24 hours, mainly in Dago area and Trans Studio Mall area. They also offer services for a ride to outer Bandung areas (up to 70 kilometres). Waiting time typically costs around Rp40,000/hour or less depending on the negotiation with the driver. The service is needed in outside Bandung area due to the difficulty to get online taxis, except in Central Lembang area.

InDriver has also available in Bandung. You can expect 20 percent lower tariff than GrabCar and GoCar tariff, because InDriver does not apply a 20% fee as Grab and Gojek do. (If you ride a motorbike with InDriver, the charges will be stated as 'Motor' on your receipt.)

By bus
There are a number of bus companies but they don't cover the whole city due to many narrow streets in Bandung. City buses, called Damri, usually cover long routes across the city from end-to-end; for example, from the north to the south (Dago or Setiabudi to Leuwi Panjang Central Terminal) and from the west to the east (from Cibeureum to Cicaheum and then to Cibiru). The intersection of north-south routes and east-west routes is Alun-alun Central Park and intersection of Astana Anyar and Asia Afrika. Most buses can be stopped anywhere, not just at the bus stops. The ticket price for all routes in the city is Rp2,000 for without air-con and Rp3,500 with air-con.

Another alternative is Trans Metro Bandung (Bandung's equivalent of Transjakarta in Jakarta), which uses smaller buses and has its own dedicated bus stops/shelters. There are 5 corridors:

 * Cibiru - Cibereum
 * Cicaheum - Cibereum
 * Cicaheum - Sarijadi
 * Antapani - Leuwi Panjang
 * Antapani - Stasiun Hall

The ticket costs Rp4,000 for general public and Rp2,000 for students. A Rp1,000 discount is only applied by using electronic cash such as BRIZZI (from BRI) and TapCash (from BNI).

Damri buses also serve outer Bandung to areas such as Alun-alun Central Park Bandung to Ciburuy (near Padalarang), Dago to Leuwi Panjang Central Terminal, and Elang to Jatinangor. All buses have air-con.

By car
Using a car is probably the easiest and the most convenient way to travel around Bandung and surrounds, but daily severe traffic jams should be considered. If you don't have a valid driving licence, then you can also rent a car with a chauffeur, which is very common for western travellers. Perhaps it is even better to rent a car from Jakarta. Rental cars are available from numerous outlets, including major international brands. Renting a car is about Rp500,000 per day (12 hr), or Rp600,000 (12 hr) excluding gasoline, parking and toll for travel outside Bandung, such as to the Tangkuban Perahu volcanic area.

While it is generally required to travel by car, especially to the outskirt mountains, the horrendous weekend and rush hour traffic jams can put your trip up to an hour behind schedule, so be sure to plan ahead by starting early and look for alternate routes! The major roads that are often crowded are the roads leading up to Lembang (Jalan Sukajadi), Dago, Cihampelas, and the corridor from Pasteur toll exit to Pasupati overpass that connects these streets. On the weekends, especially long holidays, hoards of cars from Jakarta head over to this part of the city for a getaway, resulting in even uglier drive times. Many streets, especially the small ones, typically go one-way but sometimes poorly indicated!

A local rule requires that every car must have a trash bin and the law is strictly implemented. Failure to obey this rule could result in paying Rp250,000 on the spot or via an ATM or bank payment. Police are also stricter in enforcing seatbelt laws in Bandung than in the other cities, so everyone in a front seat should make sure to wear one.

By motorcycle
Motorcycle rental is relatively new in Bandung, so the rental price is higher than in Bali and these services are still limited due to relatively high motorcycle thefts in Bandung, so the rentals usually provide some extra locks for added safety. The rental tariff is Rp50,000-55,000 for 12 hours in weekdays/weekend or Rp75,000-85,000 for 24 hours in weekdays, Rp80,000-90,000 for 24 hours in weekend or Rp450,000-500,000 for a week.

For renting, domestic tourists have to have at least 3 of driving license, electronic identity card, family card, tax identity (NPWP), or passport. Foreign tourists must have international driving license and passport.

By ojek
There are two types of motorcycle taxis (or ojek) in Bandung, conventional ojek, where ojek drivers flock/stay at certain place, wait for passengers and sometimes the tariff isn't fixed. Unlike online ojek/ride-hailing apps such as Grab or GoJek, where the fare is stated in advance and usually much cheaper than conventional ojek.

On foot
Bandung has nice pavements, newly-renovated as of 2018, with tactile paving or truncated domes for the visually impaired, from Dago/Jalan Ir. H. Juanda area to the south and along Jalan Riau/R.E. Martadinata. Spaces in Bandung are quite abundant, with the biggest one at The Grand Mosque of Bandung (Masjid Raya Bandung) in Central Bandung, with synthetic grass.

Colonial architecture
With Bandung being one of the main cities of the Dutch East Indies, many colonial buildings were built in the city in the second half of the 19th century, and especially the first half of the 20th century. Most of the colonial buildings can be found in the city centre, as well as in the Dago area where extensive expansions of the city took place in the early 20th century.

A key architectural style used in the Dutch East Indies in the 19th century was the Indies Empire style. A key example of this style in Bandung is Gedung Pakuan in Central Bandung, built in the 1860s as the new residence of the resident of the residency of Parahyangan, as its capital was moved from Cianjur to Bandung. The most famous colonial buildings of Bandung are however not those with classical styles, but those with modernist architecture. The city has one of the world's largest number of buildings in Art Deco style. The key architects of this period (mainly 1920-1940) include C.P.W. (Wolff) Schoemaker, A.F. (Albert) Aalbers, and Henri Maclaine Pont. All of them were known for combining modernist European architecture (including Art Deco) with style elements from Indonesian cultures. Born in Central Java in 1882 and educated in the Netherlands, Wolff Schoemaker has been renowned as the father of Bandung Art Deco architectural style. He is famous for adapting modern European architecture to the tropical surroundings. This blending of ancient decorative elements and modern architectural features has made him the best Indonesian architect of his time. He later became a professor at the Bandung Institute of Technology in North Bandung. Among his students was Soekarno, the first president of the Republic of Indonesia. Schoemaker was a very productive architect, with dozens of buildings in Bandung being designed by him. Some of his most famous buildings include the Gedung Merdeka, Grand Hotel Preanger, the Bandung Cathedral, New Majestic cinema building (all in Central Bandung), Villa Isola, the Pasteur Institute (both in Northwest Bandung) and the Kologdam Building (East Bandung).

Albert Aalbers 's main claim to fame was the DENIS Bank building, based on which he also received the contract to design the new building of Bandung's grand old hotel, the Savoy Homann. Shortly thereafter, he designed the renovation of one of Schoemaker's works, the Gedung Merdeka. These three buildings are all in Central Bandung. The most famous buildings designed by Henri Maclaine Pont are the main buildings of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in North Bandung.The most well-known colonial buildings that were not designed by these three architects are government buildings of the Dutch East Indies, which were designed by the Government Buildings Service (Landsgebouwendienst). The main example of this is the Gedung Sate in North Bandung, built in the 1920s for Department of Public Works of the Dutch East Indies and now used by West Java's provincial government.

Museums
There are various museums in the city. Right in the city centre, there is the Museum of the Asian-African Conference in the Gedung Merdeka. The building was the location of the 1955 Bandung Conference (the first meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement), and the museum tells the history of this conference, that was attended, among others, by presidents Soekarno (Indonesia), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), and Tito (Yugoslavia), prime minister Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam).

Other well-known museums in Bandung include the Geological Museum (with 250,000 rocks, a mineral collection, and 60,000 fossils) and the Postal Museum (covering the postal history of Indonesia and the Dutch East Indies), both in North Bandung. Lesser-known museums include Museum Barli (paintings and vintage toys) in Northwest Bandung, Museum Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi (weapons, and the history of Bandung in the War of Independence) in Central Bandung, and the Sri Baduga Museum (archeological and geological exhibitions on West Java province) in South Bandung.

Other sights
Apart from the colonial buildings and museums, the key sights of Bandung's city centre are the Alun-alun central lawn square, and the adjoining Grand Mosque. The provincial mosque was initially built in the 19th century, but it has been renovated and expanded many times, so most original elements are no longer visible. The latest major renovation took place in 2003, when also the two iconic minarets (81 metres high each) were added. During weekends, one of the minarets is open to visitors, and from the top you will have a great view across the city. Nearby is also the Kilometre Zero monument, which indicates the location of Bandung's establishment (at the location where the Great Post Road crosses the Cikapundung river).

In the Dago area in the North of the city, there are various natural sights, of which the main one is the Djuanda Forest Park, a conservation area and botanical garden in the mountains. Within the park there are also two man-made caves that were important locations during the Second World War and Indonesian War of Independence (among others for shelter and ammunition storage).

Do
There are many activities that you can do in the city or outside the city. As Bandung highland is surrounded by a string of mountains, activities in the outskirts of the city are centred about the mountain resorts, adventure activities and outdoor sports. In the city, you can have savor the culinary diversity (see the Eat section), shop at the cheap outlets and distros (see the Buy section) or just hang around.

Every Sunday is Car-Free Day along Jalan Dago from Cikapayang to the north to Simpang-Siliwangi 06:00-10:00. Come as early as possible, because it can become hectic, as it is only a small street.

Every Sunday you can find a Sunday Market in Gasibu, which is located to the north of Gedung Sate. You can find a variety of food and handicrafts for an affordable price.

Outdoor activities

 * The Tangkuban Perahu volcano is about 20 km north of Bandung, near Lembang.
 * The Kawah Putih (White Crater) lake is about 40 km south of Bandung, near Ciwidey.
 * Ranca upas is a camping ground in a protected area where campers can interact with and observe deer from up close
 * Ranca upas is a camping ground in a protected area where campers can interact with and observe deer from up close

Buy
Shopping for clothing and accessories is one of the main reasons that, every weekend, many people from Greater Jakarta visit Bandung. Many items are less expensive than in Jakarta. There are shopping malls scattered across the city. Many of them have a combination of Indonesian and international shops, cafés, and restaurants, and most of them also have a family karaoke venue (KTV) and a cinema. The largest and most modern shopping malls in Bandung are the Trans Studio Mall (South Bandung) and Paris Van Java (Northwest Bandung). A few malls are known for their cheap clothing, including the BTC Fashion Mall in Northwest Bandung, and the Pasar Baru Trade Centre in the city centre (which is a favourite for Malaysian tourists).

Denim (jeans) stores can be found along Jalan Cihampelas in Northwest Bandung. These became very popular in the 1990s with unique facades built to attract people. Some of the stores also sell factory outlet garments, but the quality is rather inferior to factory outlets in Jl Setiabudhi, Jl Dago and Jl Riau. The new skywalk over the north part of Jl Cihampelas offers good views of the surrounding area. It has an elevator and small booths that sell food and accessories.

On the other side of the city, in Cibaduyut (South Bandung), leather shoes and other leather products are produced and sold in numerous stores. It is paradise for those who like long boots, which can be made to order at relatively cheap prices. They take between three and seven days to be ready.

Local handicrafts and souvenirs
Angklung is a Sundanese musical instrument. They are sold in handicraft shops in shopping malls, souvenir shops, and the dedicated Saung Angklung Udjo angklung centre in East Bandung. Wayang golek are Sundanese puppets. Unlike the Javanese wayang puppets, the Sundanese wayang golek are made from wood. There are various shops that sell them across the city, of which the main is the Cupumanik centre in Central Bandung.

Factory outlet stores
Fashion items for some of the world's top brands are made in Indonesia. Even slight defects such as a missing or incorrectly-inserted button are enough for the item to be rejected, or there might have production overruns that need to be discarded. These unwanted items are sold with sisa export tags, because they were made for export. Some of are Grade A (best quality, overrun product) or Grade B (export quality, slight defect) quality. Don't be surprised to see Made in Korea or Made in Singapore on the tags! While you will still see a bag priced at $65 for sale at New York City, they will sell for only Rp45,000 ($5), a dramatically small fraction of the listed price in the destination market! Enjoy bargain hunting but make a careful inspection yourself. Check for below-standard or damaged items and counterfeit branded products. The shops often have a wide range of modern contemporary styles and accessories.

Most factory outlet stores are concentrated in North Bandung (specifically Jl Riau and Jl Dago) and Northwest Bandung (Jl Cihampelas and Jl Setiabudhi). Bandung's most well-known factory outlet store, Rumah Mode, can be found in Jl Setiabudhi in the Northwest.

Independent designers
The phenomenon of distros ('distribution outlets') began in Bandung in the 1990s. Originally, indie bands and record labels started selling their merchandise (CDs but also clothing, stickers, etc.) in their own shops. There are more than 300 distros in Bandung that sell stylish products made by local designers and the phenomenon extends well beyond the original indie music scene. One thing that makes distros stand out from the factory outlet stores is that distros sell products from individual designers and young entrepreneurs, while factory outlet products come from a garment factory. Many of the designers that started distros have become famous, launching country-wide clothing brands, and therefore price levels have increased. Distros can be found throughout the city, but many of the most famous among them are concentrated in and around Jalan Trunojoyo in North Bandung.

Liquor stores

 * Dago 34, Jl Dago no.34. Located in the heart of Dago.
 * Warung Internasional, Jl Dago, near Dago 34.
 * Taurus, located near the alun-alun, it's easy to find.

Eat
Bandung is a heaven for food lovers who enjoy new experiences. There is a huge variety of places to eat, ranging from thousands of travelling hawkers and warung food stalls to high-end restaurants. Prices vary equally, but are generally lower than in Jakarta. A good meal from a warung or simple restaurant is likely to cost less than Rp30,000, but in high-end restaurants and in luxurious hotels you can easily spend 10 times this.

Budget eateries, including street food, are abundant throughout the city. Most of the higher-end restaurants can be found in the city centre and towards the north of the city, mainly in the Dago area. In addition, there is a huge range of restaurants (from cheap fastfood to high-end international cuisine) in the shopping malls, with the Paris Van Java mall in Northwest Bandung and the Trans Studio Mall in South Bandung standing out.

Although vegetarian restaurants are not common, many Indonesian (and Sundanese) dishes are vegetarian. It is therefore relatively easy to find vegetarian food, such as lotek (spicy vegetable salad) and dishes with tahu (tofu) and tempe. Be aware, however, that many dishes are served with sambal (chili sauce) that may contain terasi (shrimp paste), or with krupuk udang (shrimp crackers).

Your culinary tour in Bandung does not end at the restaurants and cafés. There are plenty of bakeries in the city where exotic pastries entices you to bring one home — a legacy of the Dutch colonial time. Some of them have a high popularity, that you may have to be in a queue even before the shop opens!

Street food
Street food in Bandung can be found everywhere throughout the city. Travelling vendors carrying a basket roam through the neighbourhoods selling pre-prepared food. Kaki lima food stalls (mobile kitchens) may also travel around, or stand on the same street corner every day. The same applies to warung, which are slightly less mobile stalls that often have some shelter and a few tables and plastic stools. Some of the warung, that are being rebuilt at the same location every day, have grown to become very popular establishments with hundreds of guests per day (for example, the Bebek Ali Borromeus food stall in North Bandung). In general, the number of customers is a good indication of the level of hygiene of the place, with busy warung being probably safe.

Popular street food options include Sate (satay skewers), Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng (fried rice and fried noodles), and Ayam Goreng (fried chicken, served with chilli sauce and rice). Specifically for breakfast, popular options are bubur ayam (chicken porridge), kupat tahu (rice dumplings, tofu, and bean sprouts with peanut sauce) and Lotek (vegetable salad with peanut sauce).

Many temporary food stalls can be found along Jalan Cisangkuy from Diponegoro intersection down to Jalan Citarum. Every Sunday morning till noon the street food stalls can also be found behind of Gedung Sate.

Ethnic cuisine
The local cuisine is Sundanese food, as covered in the guide on the wider Parahyangan region. An example of a local delicacy is bakso tahu (also known as siomay), a steamed meat with or without tofu. It is served with peanut paste, sweet soy sauce and a lime. It is suitable for a snack to eat at anytime. In almost all streets you can find somebody selling this food with a wheeled stall (gerobak). Batagor is similar to bakso tahu/siomay but it is fried instead of being steamed. Basreng is a spicy snack made from fried meatballs, with the addition of the spicy and savory seasonings suitable for you. Soto Bandung is a soup with beef meat, soy beans and some vegetables. Lotek is a mixed boiled vegetables, served with peanut paste and some chillies, similar to gado gado. The hotter the better. Laksa Bandung is the famous old traditional dish. This dish is kind of chicken soup using coconut milk with turmeric for the stock, and in side it contains sliced rice cake (cooked inside a banana leaf), bean sprout, vermicelli, shredded chicken and for the finishing is garnished with holly basil and Oncom Bandung the traditional fermented soy bean cake.

Throughout the city, cuisines from other regions of Indonesia can be found, with Padang restaurants from West Sumatra especially ubiquitous, as well as local food from Jakarta and Central Java. The Chinese Indonesian minority operates a large number of Chinese restaurants, and also Japanese food (mainly sushi and ramen) is common. Western-style restaurants (such as steak houses and pancake places) are also common, although the quality varies. The better Western restaurants can be found in the major shopping malls and in the Dago area.

Nightlife
Alcohol is usually not served in most restaurants and cafés. However, there are many upscale bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, as well as various nightclubs. Many bars also serve imported beers and spirits, but prices are high. The most popular nightlife areas among expats and tourists is the Dago area in North Bandung, but there are also various bars and lounge clubs in the city centre. Among the most popular nightlife venues are the Amnesia and Southbank clubs in Central Bandung, Golden Monkey in North Bandung, and Sobber's Bar in Northwest Bandung. Karaoke (KTV) venues are ubiquitous. Note that some karaoke bars (mainly in a few streets and alleys near the central Alun-alun square, and along Jalan Setiabudhi towards Lembang) are in fact brothels. Regular KTV venues can be recognised by being branded 'family karaoke'. The most well-known chains include NAV, Inul Vizta, and Happy Puppy.

Cafés and coffee houses
Similar in other big cities like Jakarta and Surabaya, coffee houses are a popular place to hang out and also are always packed after working hours or on the weekends. Most coffee places in Bandung are amping up their appearances as well to attract many more customers.

Sleep
Bandung has a vast range of accommodation, being an important destination for domestic business travellers, a citytrip destination mainly for Indonesians, Singaporeans, and Malaysians, and foremost the main place for people from Greater Jakarta to go for a weekend break. Occupancy rates are therefore high during weekends, and especially long weekends and holidays, and so are accommodation prices. Broadly speaking, most accommodations are in the central and northern parts of the city. All major domestic (favehotel, Santika, Aston) and many international (ibis, Novotel, Holiday In, Hilton, Sheraton) hotel chains are present with one or more hotels in the city.

Central Bandung is home to the city's grand old hotels, the Savoy Homann and the Grand Preanger, but also a very wide range of business hotels of various price and quality levels. Business hotels can also be found in abundance around the Pasteur toll gate in Northwest Bandung. Many tourist-oriented hotels, including some luxurious hotels such as the Sheraton, can be found in the Dago area, including the northern hillsides. In the Ciumbeleuit and Setiabudhi areas of Northwest Bandung there is also a growing number of hotels, including the large and luxurious Padma Hotel with spectacular hill views. More to the north, the mountain town of Lembang also has many accommodation options, including private villas.

The extensive residential areas of East and South Bandung have fewer accommodation options, although there are still various budget hotels. A notable exception is the Trans Studio complex in South Bandung, which in addition to the large indoor theme park and high-end shopping mall also include Asia's largest Ibis hotel, and a very luxurious hotel that brands itself as 'the first hotel with 6 stars in the country'.

Stay safe
The emergency phone number for police is 110, while the fire brigade can be reached via (022)113. There are numerous police stations in the city, with the largest ones being the provincial police headquarters (Polda) in East Bandung, and the city police headquarters (Polrestabes) in Central Bandung. There are 28 local police stations (Polsek) scattered throughout the city.

Stay healthy
Tap water in Bandung is not potable, although it is generally fine for a bath or a toothbrush session. Bottled water (generally known as 'aqua ' after the most common brand) is cheap. Check if the tamper proof seal is intact.

There are numerous hospitals and health clinics in Bandung. Although the standards of healthcare remain below what most visitors would be accustomed to in their home country, some of Bandung's major hospitals have among the highest standards of the country. Hospitals with 24-hour emergency units can be found throughout the city (see the district articles for listings of the major hospitals). In any case, it is advisable to have insurance coverage for emergency medical evacuation as a precaution. If a medical evacuation is required then patients are normally moved to Singapore.

The emergency phone number for ambulances is (022)118. However, the service level of both the phone number and the ambulance services is highly variable. Rather than waiting for an ambulance to come, it is usually quicker to hail a taxi to bring you to the nearest hospital.

Connect
The telephone area code of Bandung is 022.

Consulates

 * 🇦🇹 Austria
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary
 * 🇵🇱 Poland

Nearby
There are various cities, towns, and mountainous areas surrounding Bandung, that are suitable for day trips.
 * Cimahi — Bandung's largest suburb, known as the 'city of soldiers' for its many military institutions, as well as a large Dutch war cemetery.
 * Lembang — mountain town just north of Bandung, at the base of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, and home to Indonesia's only observatory.
 * Ciater — at the other side of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, a small town known for its volcanic hot spring resorts.
 * Ciwidey — an area of tea and strawberry plantations south of Bandung, with the Kawah Putih crater lake as its highlight. Via the Soroja (Soreang Pasirkoja) Toll Road, the drive to Kawah Putih lasts about one and half hours.
 * Garut — about one and half hours from Bandung to the southeast, resort town surrounded by several volcanoes.

Next destinations

 * Bogor Raya — mountainous area west of Bandung, with among others the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park and the city of Bogor.
 * East Parahyangan — the southeast of the province, about 4-6 hours from Bandung, including Pangandaran beach at the Indian Ocean coast.
 * North Coast of West Java — the northern plains of the province, including the port city of Cirebon at the Java Sea coast, about 2-3 hours from Bandung.

title: Bandung