Banda Neira, the island of spices

Located in Maluku province, Banda Neira is one of ten volcanic islands in the Banda Archipelago. As cited in www.indonesia.travel, the Banda Islands, known as the Spice Islands of ancient times, are covered with high aromatic tropical trees.

Indigenous to Banda Islands, the Myristica trees, are the source of two rare and lucrative spices, nutmeg and mace. A sapphire sea surrounds these incredible islands, making the Banda Islands not only a historically significant destination, but also an 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 town that has remained relatively unchanged for centuries. Remnants of a once great trading centre are visible across the island. The majestic Dutch Fort, Belgica, sits in its lofty position atop the high hill overlooking Neira’s Bay, commanding the attention and recognition of all who pass.

Ancient cannons lie scattered across the island, serving as reminders of the days when the Banda’s production of one of the world’s most sought-after commodities was one that was worth fighting to rule. Huge colonial palaces from times of the Dutch, Portuguese and British rule still leave their mark on Neira, built by those who had been catapulted into riches after successfully completing the arduous journey across oceans and seas for a spice once worth their weight in gold.

The Banda Islands have been a regional trading post for thousands of years, but were first settled by European sailors in the early 16th century. Upon discovery of the island’s high production of these spices, the Bandas were instantly transformed into an international centre of trade, luring merchants from opposite ends of the globe for a chance at fortune. The spices are well-known for their preservative qualities, and were once believed to have multiple medicinal qualities, including being a cure for the bubonic plague.

Neira is the only one of the Banda islands with enough flat space to allow a small town, and therefore supports the only settlement of significant size on any of the Banda Islands, and sustains more than half of the archipelago’s 15,000 population. Neira is one of only three inhabited islands in the cluster.

Banda Neira is one of few islands in the world that can proudly boast a beautiful landscape filled with rare and exotic wildlife, spectacular dive spots, coloured with exquisite corals and alive with all manner of sea creatures, and centuries of incredible history. A history both tremendous and tragic. A history of wealth and war. And the remnants remain to tell the story.

For instance if Fort Belgica. It was originally built by the Portuguese, then conquered and reinforced by the Dutch East Trading company, VOC. It is one of the largest remaining European forts in Indonesia. A towering, stone structure, looming 10 meters into the sky, and built strategically at the peak of a high hilltop, Fort Belgica looks very much like a medieval castle, and has indeed been very well maintained over the last four centuries.

Its pentagon-shaped walls are still guarded by ancient cannons pointing out to sea. The solid, iron balls once fired from these weapons were capable of sinking ships, and posed a deadly threat to any approaching opponents. Fort Belgica is just a 15 minute walk from the port of Banda Neira, and has been nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another fort is Fort Nassau, a smaller, yet still impressive fort, built by the Portuguese in 1529. Nassau was the defensive structure on the island before the construction of Fort Belgica in 1611.

This intriguing island is also a key destination for both diving and snorkelling. There are 22 available dive spots in the waters surrounding Banda Neira, each with their own unique splendor and charm – and many more are still being discovered. The crystal clear waters are almost overgrown in numerous types of corals and inhabited by hundreds of species of fish and other marine life. Divers exploring these waters can experience the full circle of the marine food chain, as the waters are abundant with fish of all colours, shapes and sizes.

Large schools of fish patrol the seas together with a mesmerizing array of surgeonfish, bannerfish, jacks and barracuda. Even schooling sharks and mobula rays are frequently sighted in the deeper waters. Other large species found roaming the waters include tuna, hammerhead sharks and several species of rays.