200th Anniversary of Bandung City

Bandung does not stand together with the formation of Bandung regency / district. The city was built with very long grace period after the Bandung regency standing . Bandung regency was formed in middle of 17th century AD, with the first regent was Tumenggung Wiraangunangun. He ruled until 1681. Originally the capital of Bandung regency was Krapyak (now Dayeuhkolot ), its approximately 11 kilometers to the south of the city center now. When Bandung regency led by the sixth regent, RA Wiranatakusumah II ( 1794 - 1829 ), named "the Dalem I", the power of the nation switched from the Company to the Government of the Netherlands East Indies, with the first Governor -General Herman Willem Daendels ( 1808 - 1811 ).

For the smoothness of running of his duties on the island of Java, Daendels built the Post Road ( Groote Postweg ) from Anyer on the western tip of West Java to Panarukan at the eastrern tip of East Java ( about 1000 km ). The construction of the great post road was conducted by indigenous people under the leadership of each local district regents.

In the are of Bandung particularly and the Priangan region generally, the great post road was began to build the construction in teh middle of 1808, by repairing and widen the existing roads. Today, in the area of Bandung, the roads are known as Jalan Jendral Sudirman - Jalan Asia Afrika - Jalan A. Yani, continues to Sumedang and so on. For the smoothness of the post road construction, and for simplyfing the officials of colonial government to reach the regent's office, Daendels through a letter dated May 25, 1810 was requesting Bandung Regent and Parakanmuncang Regent to move the regency capital to Cikapundung regency and Andawadak ( Tanjungsari ) regency, near the great post road.

Apparently Daendels did not realize, that long time before the letter went out, the Regent of Bandung had already planned to move the capital of Bandung regency, he even had found a pretty good and strategic place for the central of government. The place that had been chosen was forested land, located on the west bank of the River Cikapundung, the south bank of the Post Road that was being built ( the central city now ). The reason of the displacement of the capital were, because Krapyak was not a strategic place for the capital of government administration, since it was located on the southern side of Bandung and often flooding when the rainy season came.

Around the end year of 1808 / the beginning of year 1809, the Regents along with a number of his people were moving from Krapyak, approaching land for the new capital. At first, the Regent was living in Cikalintu ( Cipaganti area), then he moved to Balubur Downstream, the moved again to Kampur Bogor ( Kebon Kawung, today on Pakuan Building land ). The city was built on the initiative of the Regent of Bandung, the city's development even directly led by the Regent. In other words, Regent R.A. Wiranatakusumah II was the founder ( the founding father ) of Bandung city. Bandung City was inaugurated, as the new capital of Bandung regency with a decision letter dated September 25, 1810.