bundaran

Bundaran is an Indonesian term for a traffic roundabout or circular intersection, a road junction where intersecting roads meet a central island. The word derives from bundar, meaning circular, with the suffix -an forming a noun that names a place or thing. In urban planning, bundaran serve to organize traffic flow, reduce vehicle speeds at junctions, and provide space for landscaping, monuments, or fountains.

Designs of bundaran vary from simple, unsignalized circular junctions to more complex, signalized circles with multiple lanes and pedestrian crossings. They often function as city landmarks or public spaces, with a monument, sculpture, fountain, or garden placed at the center. In practice, bundaran can help manage conflicting traffic streams while offering a visual or cultural focal point for a district.

Bundaran HI, the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in central Jakarta, is one of the best-known examples. Located near major commercial districts, its central feature has included a prominent monument and fountain, making the site a recognizable symbol of the city. Other Indonesian cities also use bundaran as focal points around historic or civic spaces, reflecting a broader pattern of integrating traffic management with public space and local identity.

See also: roundabout, traffic circle, urban design.