The lively capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, boasts a stunning saturation of Dutch colonial influences evidenced in many of the city’s buildings, each a splendid architectural monument of a bygone era. The Gedung Kesenian Gallery hearkens back to the city’s Dutch heritage and presents a must-visit site for your cultural itinerary. Make sure you check into a Jakarta hotel located in the bustling downtown area, which is where you will encounter the stylish trappings of the Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta. Get more bang for your buck by taking advantage of the property’s competitive Jakarta hotel deals which you can find on their website. The grand structure of the Gedung Kesenian (Arts Gallery), Jakarta will awe all those who visit the site as it remains a magnificent remnant of the Dutch presence on the archipelago. From its simple beginnings of a bamboo structure that was used to entertain the British troops under the patronage of Sir Stamford Raffles, the theatre eventually grew into the impressive colonial structure it is today courtesy of the Dutch population in the country following British rule. It underwent a massive renovation in 1821 that was sponsored by the Dutch government and the theatre’s first performance was Shakespeare’s Othello. Visiting this splendid edifice will transport you back to the height of the Dutch colonial empire so make sure it earns an important spot on your travel itinerary.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.