BANDUNG, capital of the Mid-Preanger residency, Java, Dutch East Indies, the third largest city in Netherlands India. Pop. (193o) 166,722, (19,664 Europeans and Eurasians, 129,918 natives and 17,14o foreign Asiatics, including Chinese). In 1906 it had less than 5o,000 inhabitants. It is situated on a plateau in Preanger, 2,346ft. above sea, surrounded by heights of 5,000 to ft., and has a delightfully cool, healthful, malaria-free cli mate. It is quite one of the modern model cities of the world. It has cheap electric light and power, a telephone system, hard surfaced, wide, tree-lined streets and roads; and shops, business premises, banks, official buildings and private residences the equal of many in Europe, together with several churches, and first-class hotels, clubs, two hospitals, restaurants, markets, three parks, a theatre, several cinemas, and a race-course. Distant from Batavia (109 miles), by rail just under three hours, it has recently become headquarters of the Departments of War, Public Works, and Pub lic Industries, including post, telegraph and telephone services, mines service, salt monopoly, State rail and tramways, electricity and water-power. Bandung has a technical and several other high schools, including one for the sons of nobles, a Government Vac cination Institution and a Pasteur Institute, a hospital for eye diseases and an institute for the blind, a training school for native teachers, also one for training native officials, the largest quinine factory in Java, State railway workshops, several large factories, and an extensive artillery construction establishment. The Resi dent's house is a handsome building, also the official residence of the native Regent, and President of the Regency Council. There is a fine large mosque, and in the Lembang highlands, not far away, an important astronomical observatory, the Bosscha Observatory. On the neighbouring Pengalengan plateau the famous Malabar radio station—the most powerful wireless station in the world—stands at a height of 4,400f t.
Founded, practically, by Marshal Daendels, in 181o, Bandung was little more than a large village until, in 1884, the government railway was brought to it—from Buitenzorg, over Sukabumi and Chandjur. To-day it is looked upon as the capital of the whole of the Sundanese country, it is a health resort for the coastal peo ple, and, during race week, the centre of fashion, when European and native (particularly Sundanese) life may be seen at its gay est. In the neighbourhood of Bandung there is charming moun tain scenery, including several waterfalls, the most beautiful those of the Chi Burum, amid the luxuriant jungle of Pengalengan, the Chi Sarua, and the Chi Tarum, where the water rushes through a narrow gully to dash down from the Bandung plateau.
Bandung is connected by rail with practically all Java, is so centrally situated, has such a wealth of electrical power in its waterfalls, and such an ideal climate, that a great future must lie before it. (E. E. L.)