Bengkulu (city)
Indonesia · Asia
About Bengkulu (city)
Bengkulu, formerly Bencoolen (Dutch: Benkoelen) is the capital of the Indonesian province of Bengkulu. The city is the second largest city on the west coast of Sumatra Island after Padang. Previously this area was under the influence of the kingdom of Inderapura and the Sultanate of Banten. The city also became the place of exile of Sukarno from 1939 to 1942. It covers an area of 151.70 km2 and had a population of 373,591 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2024 was 397,321 (comprising 200,601 males and 196,720 females).
The Bengkulu region was historically inhabited by various ethnic communities and small local chiefdoms (kedatuan), including settlements in Sungai Serut, Sungai Lemau, Selebar, and surrounding coastal areas. The region was influenced by broader maritime trading networks across western Sumatra and the Indian Ocean. Historical records suggest that the area was connected to the sphere of influence of the Srivijaya during the early medieval period, although direct control over Bengkulu is not well documented.
From around the 15th century, Bengkulu became associated with the Banten Sultanate through trade...
Overview adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA. Photography via Wikimedia Commons.