Pakuan

Pakuan Pajajaran was the fortified capital of the Sunda kingdom, inland from the north coast of western Java. Set among the river valleys near the site of modern Bogor, it occupies a cherished place in Sundanese memory. Its royal residence, known as Sri Bima Punta Narayana Madura Suradipati, was a large wooden building, while the city itself contained houses roofed with palm leaves. The port of Sunda Kelapa linked the capital to maritime trade.

Sri Baduga Maharaja made Pakuan the capital of the united kingdoms of Sunda and Galuh in the late fifteenth century. The Batutulis inscription remembers works undertaken in his reign, including defences around the capital, religious mounds and an artificial lake. The Sundanese account of Bujangga Manik describes the travels of a prince and hermit whose home was at Pakuan, offering glimpses of life at court. In 1513 the Portuguese visitor Tomé Pires described the capital as a great city. Pakuan remained the royal seat until forces from Banten destroyed it in 1579, bringing the Sunda kingdom to an end.