West Papua has some history and historical relics that have very valuable value. One of the historical relics in this region can be used as a place that can be visited by many tourists. You can also enjoy the view of this island.
The province, which has a capital city named Manokwari, was previously the province of Irian Jaya, which is located in the west of the island of Papua. This region received special autonomy status from the government and still received special treatment.
The history of this province, which was formerly known as Irian Jaya before Indonesia’s independence, is indeed less discussed in national history books for elementary schools. However, at the high school level, students have studied Indonesian history.
During the period of work in the archipelago, the Sriwijaya royal government had sent native birds from Papua called Janggi by the Chinese royal government. From the names given by Papua, there is already a close relationship with the archipelago.
Another name for the island of Papua in the past was “Samudranta” which means that the Papua area is already known by the Sanskrit-speaking community. The language is known by the people who live in the Indonesian archipelago.
The symbols of Islam in the Black pearl country were initially spread in the West Papua region. Local people believe that Islam spread earlier than other religions. This is obtained from the information of their predecessors which is historical evidence.
A Place that has Historical Value and as a Relic of Colonialism
The old town of Doom Island is one of the islands near Sorong. Doom itself means an island overgrown with lots of trees and fruit. This island also has a long history of history in modern human civilization.
Traces of historical heritage from the Dutch colonial and Japanese troops can still be seen on this Doom Island. This island became the entry point for the Dutch colonialists before they controlled West Papua. The building to the city plan looks full of Dutch nuances.
Doom Island is called the old city in Sorong because this is where the Dutch first established a government center and built offices. It takes about 15 minutes by boat to reach the island from Sorong Harbor.
Next, there is Doreri Bay which is known for the beauty of living marine life. The tourist attraction in Bay III is also famous for being a diving destination and there is a diving point to take a closer look at the remains of the shipwrecks.
Dorrie bay contains shipwrecks and is one of the best sites for this type of shipwreck in Indonesia. Dorrie Bay has 3 small islands, namely Mansinam, Lemon Island, and Raimuti Island which still have beautiful coral reefs.
Relics of Islamic History in West Papua
West Papua is known for its history of Islam which spread for the first time on this island. This is evidenced by several historical relics such as a mosque located on the island of Papua and several histories that state the spread of Islam in the archipelago.
The Abubakar fingerprint mosque is located in the village of Rumbati, Fakfak. This mosque was founded around 1524 and has a land area of 900 square meters and a building area of 400 square meters. This mosque also still has a very simple model.
Furthermore, there is the Hidayatullah Saonek Mosque which is located in Saonek Village. This mosque was built in 1505. At that time, Islam was spread by the high priest Habib Ravana who is now immortalized as a street name.
The third is the old Patimburak mosque which is known as the historic old mosque. This mosque is located in Kokas, Fakfak, West Papua. This mosque is one of the historical relics of Islam in Papua and is one of the centers of Islamic religion in the Fakfak district.
There is some historical literature in Papua that mentions that the civilization of Papua began with the entry of Islam in Fakfak. Ancient manuscripts in the Onin Peninsula state that Islam entered Fakfak in 1606 through the rule of the Sultan of Bacan.
The influence of the Bacan sultanate was able to spread to community leaders and immediately embraced Islam. According to historical records, this mosque stood for more than 100 years and is even the oldest mosque that is still strong today.
The Benefits of Preserving the Historical Wealth in the Archipelago
There are many and varied historical buildings in West Papua. These buildings must continue to be preserved and introduced to future generations so that history can continue to be remembered.
• Increase the wealth and cultural repertoire of the nation.
By preserving the history in the archipelago, local and foreign tourists can enjoy the beauty and historical value of the building. Not only that but preserving history can also add to the cultural treasures.
• Increase state revenue through tourism activities.
Local and foreign tourists are very happy to visit and visit tours as well as additional education about the place. The more tourists who visit, then the state’s income will also increase with the taxes charged to tourists.
• As tangible evidence of historical events that can be observed today.
The thing that is no less important than preserving historical values is concrete evidence that the historical events experienced by our ancestors are real. By seeing real evidence firsthand, future generations will be able to learn about history.
By preserving the history that exists in the archipelago, we can add and strengthen the national values that we have. The Indonesian people will be proud to have preserved historical heritage like the buildings in West Papua.
