Bengkulu

Once a small trading held up by the British in the late 17th century, Bengkulu City was finally handed over to the Dutch after an unsuccessful pepper trade. The British are known to leave remnants of their occupation, and Bengkulu City is no exception. Here you can find Fort Marlborough in all its stone glory, still with its ancient cannons, as well as some monuments left by Sir Raffles, such as the Thomas Parr monument and the Hamilton monument. This sleepy little city is now known as a coal mining district, annually producing tonnes of coal to export throughout Asia. Bengkulu City not only offers history, but also a splendid natural landscape, from the hilltops thick with vegetation to the long stretch of beach at Pantai Panjang.