The capital city of Indonesia is Jakarta, located on the northwestern coast of the island of Java. The area is the center for culture, economics, government, and media and has a rich history. Established in the fourth century as Sunda Kelapa, the area became an important trading port for the Dutch East Indies Trading Company. The city has been known as Jakarta since 1972 although, it was previously known as Jayakarta from 1527-1619.

The 2010 Indonesian national census found that 9.6 million people live in Jakarta. This city is one of the most densely populated in the world with an area of 664 square kilometres and a ratio of 15,174 people per square kilometre. Jakarta is a capital that is highly diverse in terms of culture, ethnicity, and languages. Approximately 35% of residents identify as Javanese, 27% Betawi, and 5% Sundanese. There are also communities of Chinese, Malay, Batak, and Minangkabau among others.

Jakarta Old Town, Jakarta Chinatown, the National Gallery, and the various mosques dotted around the city provide amazing cultural attractions. The Maritime and National Museums are also highly recommended. Jakarta's government has pledged to create more green spaces and this is reflected in the various parks and playgrounds around the area. Ancol Dreamland (Taman Impian Jaya Ancol) provides a theme-park experience with a water park and thrill rides as well as concert venues and water sports on offer.

The climate of Jakarta is considered a tropical monsoon environment with heavy precipitation. The average high temperature throughout the year is consistent between 28 and 31 degrees Celsius (84 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit). The average low temperature ranges between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius (73 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit). The wet season stretches from October-May with January and February, the wettest months, having an average of just under 300 millimetres (11.8 inches) of rain every year. The driest month of the year is August with an average of just 43.2 millimetres (1.7 inches) of rain. Humidity varies between 75-85% throughout the year in Jakarta.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018