Banten

Banten is Indonesia's westernmost province on the island of Java, facing the Sunda Strait toward Sumatra. It is a region of historic port cities, industrial hubs, coastal resorts and protected rainforest, with Serang as its capital and Tangerang as its largest city.

The area grew around the powerful Banten Sultanate, whose 16th-century pepper port at Bantam was one of Southeast Asia's most important trading centres. Its legacy survives at Old Banten, where visitors can see the Great Mosque of Banten, the ruins of the Surosowan and Kaibon palaces and the 17th-century Speelwijk fort.

Beyond the old sultanate, the province ranges from the beaches and lighthouse of Anyer and Carita to Ujung Kulon National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that shelters the critically endangered Javan rhinoceros. The port of Merak connects Java with Sumatra by ferry across the Sunda Strait.

Tangerang and South Tangerang are fast-growing satellite cities of Greater Jakarta and are home to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, while Cilegon is a major industrial centre known for steel and petrochemical production. Serang remains the administrative heart and a practical base for exploring Banten's heritage sites.

Banten's combination of living history, coastline, protected national parkland and proximity to Jakarta makes it relevant for both leisure and business travellers. Visitors can try local dishes such as sate bandeng and rabeg, relax at coastal resorts and reach West Java's urban corridor easily.