Taman Balai Kota Bandung, Urban park in Sumur Bandung, Indonesia
Taman Balai Kota Bandung is an urban park in central Bandung with green spaces, walking paths, and recreational zones surrounding the municipal government building. The park provides children's playgrounds, sports facilities, public restrooms, prayer rooms, and drinking water stations for visitors.
The garden was laid out in 1885 at the north end of Jalan Braga, designed by botanist R. Teuscher, and named Pieterspark after Pieter Sijthoff, assistant resident of Priangan. It was renamed Taman Merdeka in the 1950s and merged with the city hall terrace in the 1980s. The white rhinoceros statue was inaugurated on 10 November 1981 by mayor H. Husen Wangsaatmaja.
The park displays a white rhinoceros statue rooted in Sundanese mythology as a symbol of leadership, alongside a monument to educator Raden Dewi Sartika. Both figures shape how locals and visitors understand the space and its significance to the city.
The park is bounded by Jalan Merdeka to the east, Jalan Wastukencana to the west and Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan to the south. Its three gates, two original ones in the southeast and southwest plus one added in 1980 on the east side, are fitted with iron posts between the doors. Bandros tour bus passengers board at the Dewi Sartika garden parking area.
The park's white rhinoceros statue, installed in 1981, refers to a Sundanese belief that a place where a white rhino wallows is suited to be a government centre. The Alun-alun area was held to be such a wallowing spot, which is why the statue stands by the city hall.
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