Banten

Banten province was carved out of West Java in 2000 and now has about 11.9 million people, making it Indonesia's seventh-most populous province. It occupies the western tip of Java, immediately west of Jakarta. The province includes major industrial cities (Cilegon, Tangerang), the Carita beach gateway to Krakatoa tours, the Sawarna surf coast, and the traditional Baduy community in the southern hills.

Geography

Banten covers about 9,700 square kilometres across the western end of Java. The geography ranges from flat industrial lowlands in the north (around Cilegon and the Tangerang-Jakarta border) to mountainous interior and rugged Indian Ocean coast in the south.

Industrial heart

Northern Banten is heavily industrialised:

• Cilegon: home to PT Krakatau Steel (Indonesia's largest steel producer) and major petrochemical facilities; also the ferry port to Bakauheni on Sumatra
• Tangerang: technically split between Banten province (Tangerang City) and Jakarta's outer ring; major manufacturing and the location of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
• Serang: the provincial capital, smaller and more administrative

Tourist destinations

For visitors:

• Anyer and Carita Beach: the standard weekend escape from Jakarta and the launching point for Krakatoa volcano tours. The beaches are dark sand, the resorts are mid-range, and the atmosphere is "Jakarta-by-the-sea."
• Sawarna: surf coast on the southern (Indian Ocean) side, with several beach areas and a growing surf-camp scene
• Ujung Kulon National Park: the western tip of Java, last refuge of the critically endangered Javan rhinoceros (about 75 individuals); accessible by boat from Sumur or Tamanjaya
• Banten Lama (Old Banten): ruins of the 16th-17th century Banten Sultanate, a major spice-trade port; nearby is the Sasanti Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin tomb
• Baduy villages: the traditional Sunda Wiwitan communities in southern Banten (covered in the Sundanese culture article); accessible from Ciboleger with a local guide and a permit

Carita and Krakatoa

Carita Beach on Banten's west coast is the most accessible base for Krakatoa volcano tours. The volcano (Anak Krakatau, the "child" of the 1883 eruption) is visible offshore on clear days. Day trips run from Carita on speedboats (about 2 hours each way); operators include Krakatau Tour, Sunda Strait Tour, and several others.

The 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami, triggered by a flank collapse of Anak Krakatau, killed over 400 people in Banten and Lampung. The volcano remains active and tour access depends on current alert status.

Culture

Banten is predominantly Sundanese in the south and Banten Malay (a related but distinct group) in the north. The Baduy in the southern hills follow the pre-Islamic Sunda Wiwitan religion and maintain traditional customary law.

Religion is overwhelmingly Muslim (95%), generally of orthodox Sundanese tradition. Banten city historically was a centre of Islamic learning.

Practical

• Airport: Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (technically in Banten province, though serving Jakarta)
• Roads: extensive toll road network from Jakarta; the Trans-Java toll road begins in Banten
• Best time: dry season (May-October) for beaches and surf
• Climate: hot, humid year-round
• Tourist focus: most visitors come from Jakarta for weekend trips; long international stays are rare

Banten functions partly as Jakarta's western suburb (Tangerang) and partly as a beach-and-surf weekend destination. The Baduy villages and Ujung Kulon are the most distinctively interesting destinations.