DERBAGE OF HISTORICAL CITY FORT BUILDING IN TEMPILANG (By Dwi Okta Putri)

Indonesia has buildings or places that leave history including establishment of forts in Indonesia. And these forts have historical values from the past. Many famous forts in Indonesia, but not rare also if there are historical fortresses that are still hidden or not known to many people, such as the city fort which is located in Tempilang sub-district, which is one of the forts in the Bangka Islands. 

This fort has been used as a tourist destination that has value history, but this place is hidden and far because it takes approximately one hour from the city to get to this historical place. The city fort site is precisely located in the village of Benteng Kota, Tempilang sub-district, West Bangka, which was founded around the 17th century which is where a captain in chief came from from the Portuguese who had the idea to build this fort as a place of defense, This building has a height of about 80 meters with the same length of 80 meters.

This place can't be left like that, because of course this place has manager or person in charge. This city fort site is taken care of by Mr. Keman or usually called Atok Keman who is 57 years old who is in charge of the site the fort, and he has long been in charge of historical tourist attractions and know a lot of historical values that exist in the temple. This city fort site has a special value or aesthetic value even though it is a an old building. Because it still has an aura of history which still has it half of the walls of the building and half are still standing but the building is still standing strong now, and also by having a characteristic tawny color, and having grass which is fresh green which is very wide and beautiful makes the atmosphere of this fort has exotic impression or very charming.

The remains of this building are still famous for being seen today, many young people make it a tourist spot to take pictures, and take their moments while being seen. As well as young adults or the elderly also make it a place to travel either out of curiosity or because of the beauty of this city fortress. Unfortunately, these fortresses are still poorly exposed in Indonesia, even in the Bangka Islands, and many still don't know about these fortresses. Which is one of the historical places that is still beautiful in Bangka, especially in West Bangka, Tempilang. 

This place is still well preserved and cared for by the person in charge of the place, even though there have been changes which are to maintain its beauty, and already have Pokdarwis as the person in charge of the existing tourist attractions, but still Atok Keman as a person who knows well and takes care of it. with both the city fort and also as a character in the fort which is the main goal of people when they come to the fort to know the history of this city fort.

However, as is well known, besides Tempilang which still needs development in the world of history, tourism or preservation of its beauty and culture, there are still many areas in Indonesia that have tourist attractions or historical sites that are not widely known. Therefore, keep cultivating local wisdom, and keep abreast of existing cultures in the Indonesian region, especially discovering and developing historical sites in the Bangka Belitung Islands. We as successors of the culture from where we live, and remain young people who know a lot about historical places and develop Bangka Belitung with young people who know the knowledge of historical buildings and historical stories in Bangka Belitung, especially where we were originally born.