Bima is a city on the eastern coast of the island of Sumbawa in central Indonesia's province West Nusa Tenggara. It is the largest city on the island of Sumbawa, with a population of 142,443 at the 2010 Census, but the latest official estimate is 148,984. It is separate from the adjoining Regency of Bima which had a population of 407,636 at the 2010 Census. The people of Bima and the entire eastern side of Sumbawa speak what is known as Bima language. From 1620 to 1958 it was the capital of the Bima Sultanate. In modern times, Bima is the largest regional and economic hub of Eastern Sumbawa with transmigrants from other parts of Indonesia, especially Java, Bali, and Lombok. It has a central downtown commercial zone. It is home to the Sultan Salahuddin mosque and the Sultan Salahuddin museum. It is connected by provincial road to Dompu and Sape.
Geography
The city is located on the eastern shore of Bima Bay. Traditionally Bima was a port city that connected to other port cities in Eastern Indonesia such as Makassar and Ternate, as well as to ports in Lombok, Bali, and East Java.
Demography
Bima, based on data for 2000, had a population of 116,295–57,108 people male and 59,187 people female. There is uneven population distribution, with the densest population concentrated in the centers of economic activity and governance. Largest population in Sub Paruga, which amounted to 12,275 people and least in the village of 1130 souls totaling Kendo. As of the population census of 2010, the population in Bima numbered 142,443–69,841 men and 72,602 women. The latest official estimate is 148,984. The majority of the populace in Bima are Muslims, who forms about 97.38%, and the rest are Protestant 0.89%, Catholic Christians 0.62%, and Hindus and Buddhists around 1.11%.
Bima was once one of the four sultanates on the island of Sumbawa. From the 17th to 20th centuries, it was the capital of the Bima Sultanate and is home to an old palace of the city's rulers.
Tourism
Bima has several well-known tourist destinations, such as Mount Tambora, Wawo traditional Village, Snake Island, Ana fari Lake and Satonda Island. There are many white sandy beaches both in the northern and southern parts of Bima. The city has modest tourist accommodations, such as 1-star hotels and some restaurants. Its main attractions are the Sultan Salahuddin mosque and Sultan Salahuddin museum. Bima airport serves as the air-hub for domestic and foreign visitors, who are more attracted to visit Hu'u beach for surfing or Tambora volcano for hiking.
