Bengkulu, Port city on western Sumatra, Indonesia
Bengkulu is the capital of Bengkulu Province on the southwestern coast of Sumatra, facing the Indian Ocean. The city stretches along the shoreline with hills rising inland, while the historic Fort Marlborough overlooks the bay.
The British East India Company founded the settlement in 1685 as a trading post and later built Fort Marlborough in 1714 to control the pepper trade. The British held the city until 1824, when it was handed over to the Dutch in exchange for Singapore.
The Tabot ceremony takes place every year during the month of Muharram, bringing residents together in processions and performances that honor a historic religious event. Local groups carry ornate models through the streets, accompanied by drums and chants.
Fatmawati Soekarno Airport connects the city with Jakarta, Palembang, and other Indonesian destinations, while Pulau Baai harbor offers shipping routes along the coast. Visitors move around the city using becak bicycle rickshaws, motorcycle taxis, or local minibuses.
Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, lived in exile in the city between 1938 and 1942, where he met Fatmawati, who later became his wife. His former residence still stands today and serves as a small museum displaying personal items from that period.
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