City history
A historic maritime hub and the second-largest city in Indonesia, known for its fierce spirit and colonial-era architecture.
Chapter one
Indigenous name
"Shark and Crocodile"
The name originates from the Javanese words Sura meaning shark and Baya meaning crocodile, reflecting a local legend of a struggle between these two creatures.
Shark and Crocodile
The name has remained consistent through the Majapahit, colonial, and independence eras.
Chapter two
The colonial administration implemented standardized local time to facilitate maritime and railway synchronization across the archipelago.
Following independence, Indonesia standardized time zones to support national administration, placing Surabaya in the Western Indonesian Time zone.
Chapter three
Surabaya served as a critical maritime gateway during the height of the Majapahit Empire's influence in Southeast Asia.
The expansion of the railway network connected Surabaya more deeply to the fertile interior of East Java.
The modernization of the Tanjung Perak port transformed Surabaya into a major international shipping hub for the region.
A defining moment in Indonesian history where local fighters defended the city, now commemorated annually on November 10.