Bogor Palace, Presidential palace in Central Bogor, Indonesia.
Bogor Palace is a white building with a lawn in front and surrounded by a sprawling garden where free-roaming deer wander between tall old trees. The main wing shows European columns and arched windows while the garden stretches back over gentle hills and is crossed by wide pathways.
A Dutch governor established a country estate here in the 18th century, which had to be rebuilt in the 19th century after an earthquake. The compound later served as an official residence for Indonesian presidents and remains a government seat.
The residence takes its name from a word describing a stand of sugar palm trees that once covered the area. Visitors today notice guards in traditional dress standing at the gates and local families often gathering outside the walls to take photographs.
Access to the grounds is usually by advance permission only, which is often easier to obtain for groups. Vendors near the fences sell food for the deer if feeding is allowed, and a visit typically takes place in the morning.
The architecture drew inspiration from an English manor house, which produced unusual features such as high ceilings and verandas adapted to the tropical climate. Rainwater from the roofs flows into hidden channels that feed the garden system and keep the vegetation fresh even during dry spells.
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