The satay skewer
A tower topped with six balls.
Rahmatdenas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gunawan Kartapranata — CC BY-SA 3.0 · BxHxTxCx (using album) — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Anton Leddin — CC BY-SA 3.0
The symbol of Bandung and the seat of the West Java provincial government, an elegant white building erected by the Dutch between 1920 and 1924, blending European architecture with Javanese and Balinese ornament. Its popular name means the satay building, because the tower at the centre of its roof is topped by what looks like a satay skewer with six balls, said to stand for the six million guilders it cost. In front is a broad garden and square that fills with locals exercising and strolling on Sunday mornings, and inside is a small modern museum telling the story of the building and West Java with interactive screens and shows, with the chance at times to go up for a view of the city. It is a working government seat, so parts are closed. The museum fee is a token few thousand rupiah, possibly a little more for foreigners, and it usually closes on Mondays. Photographing the building from the garden is free at any time. It is close to the Geological Museum and the West Java People's Struggle monument, so they fit into one morning. Bandung is cooler than Jakarta thanks to its altitude, so walking here is pleasant.
A tower topped with six balls.
European with Javanese and Balinese ornament.
History of the building and West Java.
Jalan Diponegoro, north-central Bandung
The small museum is open most days except Monday, while the government offices are closed. Its finest view is from the front garden.
