Bandung, also Bandoeng, one of the largest cities in Indonesia and the capital of West Java Province. Bandung is situated in the uplands of western Java at an elevation of 715 m (2,350 ft) in a scenic region dominated by high volcanoes. The city is a major industrial center, producing textiles, dyes, chemicals, aircraft, machinery, and quinine. It is also an important center for education and research, with facilities such as the Bandung Institute of Technology (1920), Pajajaran State University (1957), Parahyangan Catholic University (1955), the Pasteur Institute, and the National Research Institute. Bandung is the cultural capital of the Sundanese people and is noted for its Angklung bamboo orchestra and its tradition of classical Sundanese theater, dance, and gamelan music.
Bandung’s cool upland climate was a major factor in the establishment of the city by the Dutch in 1810. Originally a garrison town, Bandung grew rapidly in importance after a railway line reached the city in 1884. The city served for a time as headquarters of the colonial government of the Netherlands East Indies. Several fine examples of Dutch colonial architecture survive in Bandung today.
The city attracted worldwide attention in April 1955 when it hosted the Bandung Conference, which was attended by representatives of 29 Asian and African countries. Attendees resolved to strengthen cultural and economic ties between member nations and to unite in opposition to colonialism.
Once known as the Paris of the East because of its attractive design and vibrant cultural life, Bandung now struggles with growing traffic.
From Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.