The region where today is Purikali has been inhabited for at least 25,000 years. Archaeological studies attest the human presence since the Pleistocene. The village of Purikali was founded by Muslim traders during the fourteenth century, close to the ruins of Wisnupuran, the "temple of Vishnu", in the place where there was a village of an aboriginal people called Hubian. The city grew considerably during the fifteenth century under the rule of the sultan of Rajakaoplan. The name of the city has its origin in Old Javanese and means "Palace of the River".

In 1532, Purikali was destroyed by Portuguese soldiers and replaced by the village of São Gabriel do Hube in 1557. Portuguese colonization began in the archipelago.

In the seventeenth century the Muslim king of Bandajaya, Ahmad Uninperaing, invaded and reconquered the city.  The great mosque of Kuwat Wijaya ("the Dome of the Victory") was built in the north of the city to celebrate the event and the city was renamed again as Purikali.. The period of Portuguese colonization has ended. The king Ismail Rajasena built a new palace in Purikali which became since then the capital of Kaupelan.

The city lies on a plain between the Bay of Masar in the south and the stone mountain, an extinct volcano, which due to its shape is called Gajawatu, the "Stone Elephant", in the north. It is crossed by the river Hubi that has its source in the lake on the top of the mountain. The Hubian people used the word anga for the bay and belahu for the lake. Nowadays, these words mean respectively "south" and "north" in Kaupelanese.

The city grew fast specially after the independence of Kaupelan with the influx of peasants and migrants of other islands and immigrants from Indonesia. In the seventies, refugees from East Timor came to the city.

With a population of more than one million inhabitants, the city faced a lot of social and demographic problems. At the end of the century, many public actions were done to improve the life in the big city. The subway started to be built in the decade of 1980 and the new international airport Nuno Kotamakuwa was inaugurated in the 1990's. Little by little the problems of the great metropolis were being solved. Currently Purikali is quite a cosmopolitan city with many hotels and restaurants with international standards.

Touristic Attractions: Saint Gabriel cathedral; Fort King Edward; Royal Palace (Kèratun Weru); Parliament (Haimauman); National Theater; Casino, National Museum; Hubian Palace; Central Station; Wisnupuran Tower; Saint Francis Church; Bandanese Forum (folkloric dance show); Islamic Centre; Uninpèraing Mosque; Market Street; Gajawatu Mountain Tram; Saint Luke Church; Aquarium; Fast Train Terminal  (to Bandajaya); War Museum; Zoo; Art Museum; National Stadium; FICT Headquarter. Shopping Malls: Sultandahen; Watera; Kuruwan; Raja Bazaar.

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PURIKALI PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Bus service: 112 lines. Every 20 min, from 4:00 am to 1:00 am, except from 7:00 am to 10:00 am and from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm (rush time), where it is every 10 min. A few bus lines operate from 1:00 am to 4:00 am, every hour. Ticket price: KAH 1.50 (2017)

Subway service: 4 lines, 92 km. Every 10 min, from 4:00 am to 1:00 am, except from 7:00 am to 10:00 am and from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm (rush time), where it is every 5 min. Ticket price: KAH 2.50 (2017)

BUS LINES

SUBWAY LINES