Bengkulu in the history of the British East India Company (EIC)

Bengkulu administration area extends from the border of West Sumatra province of Lampung Province to the border, and the distance is approximately 567 kilometers. Judging from its geographical, Bengkulu province located between 2 º 16'-3 º 31 'latitude and 101 º 01'-103 º 41' East Longitude. Bengkulu province in the north bordering the province of West Sumatra, on the south by the province of Lampung, on the west bordering the Indian Ocean and on the east by Jambi and South Sumatra Province.

In Bengkulu region now stands was once ethnic empires such as the Royal River drawstring, wide kingdom, the kingdom of Pat Petulai, Kingdom Hall Buntar, Royal River Lemau, Sekiris kingdom, the kingdom of the Great House, Marau and the Kingdom of Carefree. Under the Sultanate of Banten, they become vazal.

British East India Company (EIC) since 1685 established the pepper trade center Bencoolen and then storage in what is now the city of Bengkulu. At that time, EIC expedition led by Ralph Ord and William Cowley to find a replacement for the pepper trade center after the Port Banten fall into the hands of the VOC and EIC banned from trading there.

Treaty with the Kingdom of width dated July 12, 1685 to allow the UK to establish a fort and various building trades. Fortress of York was founded in 1685 around the mouth of the drawstring. The name "Bencoolen" thought the name was taken from a hill in Cullen, Scotland, Bin of Cullen (or variations thereof, Ben Cullen).

In 1713 the castle was built Marlborough (completed 1719) until now still standing. However, the company gradually realized where it was not profitable because they can not produce sufficient amounts of pepper.

New since the implementation of the London Agreement of 1824, Bengkulu handed over to the Netherlands, in exchange for Malacca (as well as affirmation of ownership Tumasik / Singapore and Island Pacific Islands). Since then Bengkulu become part of the Dutch East Indies.

The discovery of gold deposits in the Rejang Lebong in the second half of the 19th century made the place as a gold mining center until the 20th century. Currently, commercial mining activities have been stopped since the expiration of the deposit.

In the 1930's, Bengkulu become dumping some supporters of independence activists, including Sukarno. In this period Fatmawati Sukarno became acquainted with who would become his wife.

Since the independence of Indonesia, Bengkulu first become a residency in South Sumatra Province. New since 18 November 1968 upgraded to the status of a province-26 (the youngest before East Timor).

Bengkulu Province is located in the west of Bukit Barisan mountain range. Broad jurisdiction reaches approximately 1,978,870 acres or 19,788.7 square kilometers. Bengkulu directly adjacent to the Indian Ocean coastline of approximately 433 kilometers. Hilly eastern part with the fertile highlands, while the western part is a relatively narrow lowland, extends from north to south and punctuated selangi bumpy areas.

Not much can be said about Bengkulu. It is known that Bengkulu province located on the western edge of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia face to face with the ocean. Therefore, the beach in Bengkulu enormous waves that are relatively prone to just swim at the beach.

The flora of the tropical forests of Bengkulu province that are well known and have become a tourist attraction is the flower Raflesia Arnoldi forest, located in the woods of North Bengkulu district. Besides it is also quite interesting and potentially to become forest attraction because of its rarity, namely: Vanda orchid, carrion flower, and wood Merbabu. Meanwhile, the wealth of fauna that have the potential to be developed into a tourist attraction is the Sumatran tigers, gibbons, tapirs, wild buffalo, deer, and captive Sumatran elephants.