SURABAYA CITY OF HEROES

History of Surabaya

East Java offers picturesque mountain scenery and the capital, Surabaya, provincial capital of East Java and Indonesia's second-largest city, served for over half a millennium as trading port for the inland empires of Java. Situated at the mouth of the Brantas River, the city was officially founded in 1293 when Raden Widjaja established Majapahit, Indonesia's most glorious empire on the site of a legendary battle between a shark (sura) and crocodile (baya). Now the two animals are used as the city's logo, the two facing each other while circling the city's monument, the Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes' monument).

Surabaya, known as the "City of Heroes", because of its role in the nation's independence struggle, has grown into a elegant city of large, colonnaded buildings bordering broad, tree shaded avenues. It serves as the commercial centre of a thriving industrial and agricultural hinterland. The city's historical sites include Kali Mas harbour with its tall-masted trading schooners and, nearby, the narrow alleyways and shops of the Arab quarter, redolent of the Middle East. The historic hotel Majapahit, where Indonesia's war of independence was begun, and the elegant Grahadi State Buildings, an 18th century mansion, have been restored as monuments to an era of colonial grace. Surabaya is also home to one of southeast Asia's oldest and largest zoos. For travellers in East java, Surabaya serves as a convenient base for exploring the region's many charms, including Mount Bromo, the cool mountain retreats of Tretes and Malang and the natural wonders of several nature reserves.

However, with more than 400 years of colorful history behind it, you may be expecting more than this sprawling city of more than four million has to offer. Up until the turn of the century, Surabaya was the largest and most important seaport in the archipelago. Today, it ranks second (after Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok).

It is recommend head for Kalimas Surabaya’s old harbor, to see the colorful Bugis schooners, or “pinisi”, which have sailed the seas of Indonesia for hundreds of years. Other Surabaya attractions are a well-stocked zoo, the Mpu Tantular Museum, with archaelogical art and cultural items from prehistoric times until independence, and the many shopping plazas, where you’ll find a huge selection of batik, embroidered needlework, basketry, paintings and ceramics.

Across the Strait Madura, half an hour by fery from Surabaya is the island of Madura, famous for its unique bull races held each year after the harvest season. Indeed, Surabaya is an ideal springboard to many other East Java attractions.

The tropical climate has two main identifiable seasons. The dry season generally lasts from May to October, and the wet or rainy season from November up to April. The heaviest rains normally occur between December and January. The lowest temperature, usually in February, is about 25.5 celcius and the highest temperature is 33.0 celcius in October. The average annual temperature is 27.8 celcius.
From the port area of Tanjung Perak ferries leave regularly for Madura, and air services to and from Surabaya's Juanda Airport connect the city with Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bali and other parts of Indonesia.

Surabaya
Places of interest in Surabaya
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