MANGGA DUA SHOPPING CENTER

The area of Mangga Dua is part of Jakarta's long history starting from Sunda Kelapa port, China town or Glodok which are now under the municipality of Central Jakarta or Jakarta Pusat and very close to the border of North Jakarta municipality. The name " Mangga " refers to local fruits with high and long live tree which is no doubt the name come from. Before 1350 West Java was believed that it was under the control of Pasundan kingdom or often called kingdom of Parahyangan by a manuscript bearing the same name, and since 1350 the area had been controlled by Majapahit great kingdom which center was in East Java. The fall of Majapahit in 1500 had caused fraction of west Java into many small kingdoms which were among them Banten, Sunda, Cirebon, and many other small kingdoms along the north coast of west Java including a kingdom unknown that controlled the coast of present day Jakarta with its port of Sunda Kelapa.

According to the Dutch report it was a battle happened between prince Jayakarta and the Dutch governor General Jan Pieter Zoon Coen in 1619 to struggle for the present day Old town ( Kota ) Jakarta, 100 years after the fall of Majapahit. It was probable that after 1500 AD Sunda regained their control until it was devastated by Islam from Cirebon before the arrival of Dutch overseas trade in 1619. So the Islamization of West Java must had taken place between 1500 to 1619 AD, althought it might some small followers had been presence at the area much earlier with peacefull living with others.

Mangga Dua area covers a wide area with the most crowded traffic of cars and people. The area is bordered by at the west is Jalan Gajah Mada and in the east is Jalan Gunung Sahari, while in the middle is Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta and Jalan Mangga Dua Raya where the shopping centers are located. The construction of toll roads and fly overs have made faster to reach the area from airport and other parts of Jakarta, although to pass the toll roads cars must pay not cheap fees. Today, what is special for Mangga Dua, it is shopping!! Every one hears the name will in reflex thinking of shops - shops and all. The shopping area is consist of 6 main complexes such as Mangga Dua Mall, Harco Mas Mangga Dua, Mangga Dua WTC, The ITC Mangga dua I, ITC Mangga Dua II, Dusit Mangga Dua and Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua. They are all look as giant shopping malls with unlimited types of products, as one to another without clear border.

Normally what are people looking in Mangga Dua are clothes and electronic goods. According to shoppers enthusiasts the best place to look for clothes in terms of variety and price are the WTC Mangga Dua and the Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua. WTC also has entertainment such as swimming pool, hypermart, apartment and food court ( restaurant ). While best place to hunt electronics are at Dusit and Harco Mas.

In the complex of Mangga Dua as a whole one can find night clubs, just like those being offered in old town to mention of them are Lido Palace inside Harco Mangga Dua Plaza and Antik Discotheque at Jalan Pangeran Jayakarta. Food court such as the Sarang Kepiting at the front of WTC Mangga Dua serves various crab dishes. Dim Sums at the Taipan ITC Mangga Dua which is considered the best in the area.

For travelers wish to overnight at the area of Mangga Dua have some choices of hotels from 3 star to 4 star. Yet with the popularity of Mangga Dua shopping centers not only for Indonesian but south east Asian countries in general, hotels have become more expensive compared to the same level of hotels in the other area of the city.

See More Area Information on Jakarta
Ancol Recreation Park
China Town or Glodok
Gambir Railway Staion
Kemang Area
Kelapa Gading
Kebayoran Baru Area
Kuningan Area
Jakarta Convention Center
Jakarta International Expo
Jalan Thamrin Area
Lapangan Banteng Area
Mangga Dua Area
Marina Boat Pier
Tanjung Priok Sea Port
Tebet Area
Museum in Jakarta
National Museum
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
Taman Marzuki Art Center