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Banda Neira: Spice Island Heritage and colourful ocean Gardens

The Banda Islands are a regional country store for thousands of years, however were initial settled by European sailors within the early sixteenth century


Banda Neira or Banda Nigerian monetary unit is one in every of 10 volcanic islands within the Banda ground within the Maluku province, in japanese Dutch East Indies. The Banda Islands, in all probability higher referred to as the unreal island of precedent days, area unit coated with eminent, aromatic, tropical-evergreens. The magnolia divot genus Trees, autochthones to the Banda Islands, area unit the supply of 2 rare and moneymaking spices: nutmeg and mace – once found solely on the Banda Islands. A sparkling, sapphire ocean surrounds these already unimaginable islands, full with exquisite corals and plentiful ocean life, creating the Banda Islands not solely a traditionally important destination, however conjointly Associate in Nursing internationally recognized diving spot.


Stepping onto the shores of Banda Neira is like taking a stroll through history—a trip back in time into a city that has remained comparatively unchanged for hundreds of years. Remnants of a once nice mercantilism centre area unit visible across the island.  Belgica, the majestic Dutch Fort, sits in its lofty position atop the high hill commanding Neira’s Bay, commanding the eye and recognition of all WHO pass. Ancient cannons scattered across the island, serving as reminders of the times once the Banda’s production of 1 of the world’s most sought-after commodities was one that was value fighting to rule. Brobdingnagian colonial palaces from times of the Dutch, Portuguese and British the rule is still leave their mark on Neira, engineered by people who had been catapulted into material resource when with success finishing the arduous journey across oceans and seas for a spice once value their weight in gold.

The Banda Islands are a regional country store for thousands of years, however were initial settled by European sailors within the early sixteenth century. Upon discovery of the island’s high production of those spices, the Bandas were instantly reworked into a world trade  centre, luring merchants from opposite ends of the world for an opportunity at fortune. The spices area unit well-known for his or her preservative qualities, and were once believed to possess multiple meditative qualities, together with being a cure for the plague.

Neira is that the only 1 of the Banda islands with enough flat area to permit atiny low city, and thus supports the sole settlement of serious size on any of the Banda Islands, and sustains over half the archipelago’s 15,000 population. Neira is one in every of solely 3 colonized islands within the cluster.

Pulau Run, or Run Island is one in every of the smaller Banda islands, activity solely regarding three x one kilometer, nonetheless it's typically thought-about to be Indonesia’s “most valuable assets.” Multiple European powers had battled for management of the islands for several years till the signing of the pact of Breda in 1667. country listed little the small the little island of Run with the Dutch for Associate in Nursing equally tiny island on the opposite aspect of the planet, so giving the Dutch full monopoly of the Banda islands that they maintained for nearly 2 hundred years. The island across the world listed to country still goes by its Dutch name: Manhattan, in big apple, USA.




To Do


Banda Neira is one in every of few islands within the world that may with pride boast an exquisite landscape stuffed with rare and exotic life, spectacular dive spots, colored with exquisite corals and alive with all manner of ocean creatures, and centuries of unimaginable history. A history each tremendous and tragic. A history of wealth and war. And therefore the remnants stay to inform the story.

History and Culture


Fort Belgica was originally engineered by the Portuguese, then conquered and strengthened by the Dutch East mercantilism company, VOC. it's one in every of the biggest remaining European forts in Dutch East Indies. A towering, stone structure, looming ten meters into the sky, and engineered strategically at the height of a high brow, Fort Belgica appearance abundantly sort of a medieval castle, and has so been okay maintained over the last four centuries. Its pentagon-shaped walls area unit still guarded by ancient cannons commenting to ocean. The solid, iron balls once dismissed from these weapons were capable of sinking ships, and exhibit a deadly threat to any approaching opponents. Fort Belgica is simply a fifteen minute walk from the port of Banda Neira, and has been appointed a United Nations agency World Heritage website.

Fort Nassau may be a smaller, nonetheless still spectacular fort, engineered by the Portuguese in 1529. Nassau was the structure on the island before the development of Fort Belgica in 1611.

Other colonial buildings still exist across the island together with the Dutch necropolis, the Dutch Reformed Church, the mini Neira Palace, that was the Governor’s house, Associate in Nursing recent jail, and a deposit stuffed with artifacts collected over the centuries.

Diving


This intriguing island is additionally a key destination for each diving and snorkeling. There are a unit twenty two accessible dive spots within the waters close Banda Neira, every with their own distinctive splendor and charm – and lots of additional area unit still being discovered. The crystal clear waters area unit nearly overgrown in various kinds of corals and colonized by many species of fish and different marine life. Diverse exploring these waters will expertise the complete circle of the marine organic phenomenon, because the waters area unit plentiful with fish of all colors, shapes and sizes.

Large colleges of fish patrol the seas along with a hypnotic array of percoidean, banner fish, jacks and spiny-finned fish. Even schooling sharks and Mobula rays area unit often argus-eyed within the deeper waters. Different massive species found roaming the waters embody tuna, hammerhead sharks and a number of other species of rays.


Nursing Island consisting entirely of a volcano. Its last major eruption was in 1988. Molten, hot volcanic rock flowed across the island and into the ocean, destroying all corals and marine life in its path. However once cooled, a spectacular development occurred. The hardened andesitic flow created therefore fertile a ground that in exactly some short years, it supported the next diversity and abundance of corals and ocean life than the adjacent reefs, not coated by volcanic rock.


Now, twenty years later, coral growth around Gunung Api Banda not solely matches, however exceeds the event that ordinarily takes coral formations over seventy years to realize, creating it the foremost fast growing coral within the world.

 

Get There


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The fastest route to the Banda Islands is thru the Pattimura flying field in Ambon Island, regarding thirty six kilometers from Ambon town. This can be a domestic solely flying field, with flights accessible from capital of Indonesia, Surabaya, Makassar, Kupang, {and several and a number of different and several other} other smaller destinations.

From Ambon, you'll charter atiny low plane to Banda Neira or catch the occasional Merpati flights, however these area unit quite sporadic. it's not possible to book trip flights, therefore you'd have to be compelled to make certain to book your ticket once in Ambon, and don’t forget to stay reconfirming, as flights area unit typically off because of inclemency, engine issues, and different unforeseen circumstances.

Alternatively, you'll cross the Banda Ocean by ferry, that is regarding seven hours from Ambon to the Banda islands, however yet again, these voyages area unit very unpredictable

The Banda Islands also are a preferred destination for cruise ships, and might be accessed via numerous cruise corporations further.




To Stay


The Maulana building may be a luxurious building boast ancient colonial design with Associate in nursing expansive terrace simply feet from the crystal clear Banda Waters, and spectacular views of Gunung Api. All rooms area unit cool and equipped with rest room facilities. Rates begin at simply fifty USD per night.

Email    : info@divingbanda.com
Website: http://www.divingbanda.com
Live aboard cruises and tours also are quite fashionable and might be engaged at sites such as:

http://www.liveaboards-indonesia.com

http://eastindonesiacruises.com

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