Bima

Bima
Mbojo
City

Seal
Motto: Maja Labo Dahu (Bima)
(Shame and Fear)

Location of Bima in West Nusa Tenggara
Bima

Location in Indonesia

Coordinates: 08°27′36″S 118°43′36″E / 8.46000°S 118.72667°E / -8.46000; 118.72667
Country Indonesia
Region Lesser Sunda Islands
Province West Nusa Tenggara
Regency Bima
Government
 • Mayor M. Qurais. H. Abidin
Area
 • Total 222.25 km2 (85.81 sq mi)
Population (2014)
 • Total 148,984
 • Density 670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zone WITA (UTC+8)
Area code(s) +62 374
Vehicle registration EA
Website www.bimakota.go.id

Bima (Indonesia: Kota Bima) is a city on the eastern coast of the island of Sumbawa in central Indonesia's province West Nusa Tenggara. It is the largest city on the island of Sumbawa, with a population of 142,443 at the 2010 Census, but the latest official estimate (as at January 2014) is 148,984. It is separate from (but surrounded by) the adjoining Regency of Bima which had a population of 407,636 at the 2010 Census.

The people of Bima and the entire eastern side of Sumbawa speak what is known as Bima language (Indonesia: Bahasa Bima ; Bima: Nggahi Mbojo). From 1620 to 1958 it was the capital of the Bima Sultanate. In modern times, Bima is the largest regional and economic hub of Eastern Sumbawa with transmigrants from other parts of Indonesia, especially Java, Bali, and Lombok. It has a central downtown commercial zone. It is home to the Sultan Salahuddin mosque and the Sultan Salahuddin museum (former Bima Sultanate palace). It is connected by provincial road to Dompu and Sape.

Geography

The city is located on the eastern shore of Bima Bay. Traditionally Bima was a port city that connected to other port cities in Eastern Indonesia such as Makassar and Ternate, as well as to ports in Lombok, Bali, and East Java.

Demography

Bima, based on data for 2000, had a population of 116,295–57,108 people (49%) male and 59,187 people (51%) female. There is uneven population distribution, with the densest population concentrated in the centers of economic activity and governance. Largest population in Sub Paruga, which amounted to 12,275 people (11%) and least in the village of 1130 souls totaling Kendo (1%). As of the population census of 2010, the population in Bima numbered 142,443–69,841 men and 72,602 women. The latest official estimate (as at January 2014) is 148,984.

The majority of the populace in Bima are Muslims, who forms about 97.38%, and the rest are Protestant 0.89%, Catholic Christians 0.62%, and Hindus and Buddhists around 1.11%.

Administration

Bima is divided into 5 administrative districts (kecamatan):

Transportation

Bima is connected through trans Sumbawa road to Sape harbour in the east and Dompu in Southwest all the way to Sumbawa Besar and Taliwang in the western part of Sumbawa. Bus services connected Bima to other neighboring cities in Sumbawa as far as Mataram in Lombok are available. Air transportation is served through Sultan Salahuddin Airport in southern outskirt of Bima by Merpati Nusantara Airlines and Wings Air to Denpasar and Surabaya. Bima was also a stop on Qantas Airways' pre-war route between Sydney and Singapore, serviced by C Class Empire flying boats.

Tourism

Dance can be seen in Sultan Palace as part of the attractions

Bima has several well-known tourist destinations, such as Mount Tambora, Wawo traditional Village, Snake Island, Ana fari Lake (Lake of the angels) and Satonda Island. There are many white sandy beaches both in the northern and southern parts of Bima, with beautiful scenery which is however still barely visited. The city has modest tourist accommodations, such as 1-star hotels and some restaurants. Its main attractions are the Sultan Salahuddin mosque and Sultan Salahuddin museum (former Bima Sultanate palace). Bima airport serves as the air-hub for domestic and foreign visitors, who are more attracted to visit Hu'u beach for surfing or Tambora volcano for hiking.

Sister cities

References

    Further reading

    Coordinates: 8°27′36″S 118°43′36″E / 8.46000°S 118.72667°E / -8.46000; 118.72667

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