Pondok Indah

Pondok Indah is an upscale residential area in Pondok Pinang, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It is one of the most prestigious suburb areas in Jakarta, and even in Indonesia. Pondok Indah is a much sought-after suburb by expatriates, conglomerates, celebrities, and government officials.

Houses in this suburb can run upwards to millions of U.S. dollars. In 2021, the price range of houses in the suburb equals to Beverly Hills, California. Many of the larger mansions are inhabited by wealthy Indonesians and expatriates.

This area was built in the 70s by Ciputra through Metropolitan Kentjana Group in the 70s and is designed to be the most prestigious and complete residential complex and commercial area in Indonesia.

Landmarks in the suburb includes Pondok Indah Mall (top five shopping malls in Indonesia according to Forbes), and Pondok Indah Hospital.

Naming
The name Pondok Indah is a combination of two Indonesian words, "Pondok" and "Indah". According to Ciputra, the name "pondok" refers to Pondok Pinang, the name of the plantation area which became the development area of the residence and also the administrative village (Kelurahan) of Kebayoran Lama. Literally, pondok means residence or house, while indah means beautiful. Thus, if the two words are combined, it become "a beautiful house". The name Pondok Indah was in accordance with Ciputra's wishes to made it as the most luxurious residence in Jakarta.

Background
Pondok Indah area was previously a vast expanse of dry fields, rice fields, and also a rubber and secondary crops plantations. At one point, the area was visited by a famous architect and urban developer, Ciputra, which according to him, the plantation area is very strategic, since it is bordered by Jalan Ciputat Raya (which was previously part of the National Road from Jakarta to Bogor that passed through Palmerah, Ciputat, and Parung) to the west and Lebak Bulus to the south. The plantation is located near Kebayoran Baru (the first modern satellite city in Indonesia) and is not a flood-prone area, and the soil does not contain salt like in the northern region of Jakarta. The area was also still a stretch of mild forest and a source of clean water.

Ciputra felt that Jakarta would reach its population boom in the 1970s. He predicted that a large number of vertical housings would occupy Jakarta in the future. That became the reason for him to redevelop the plantation area into a new satellite city.

Realization
On developing Pondok Indah, Ciputra partners with Sudono Salim which at the time Salim wanted to develop Sunter area, Jakarta. Pitching that the plantation has better soil and air quality compared to Sunter, Salim agreed to work together and finance the development of Pondok Indah. He later said:"The area can be turned into a luxurious residence that will continue to shine from time to time. I can make a master plan right away. Regarding the permit to work on a project in this area, I can talk to Mr. Ali Sadikin immediately."

Early development
Ciputra and his colleagues started the development in the 70s. He only built few houses, since Ciputra felt that the behavioral of the elites which want to design and build their own houses.

Ciputra was worried because the budget to acquire land and build road infrastructure and waterways were enormous. Therefore, they build small houses in the north of Pondok Indah area to grab quick funds, which were sold out quickly. Most interested people were whom have been rich for a long time, and new rich people who have emerged as a result of business activity.

Shopping mall and Commercial Area

 * Pondok Indah Mall (abbreviated as "PIM") is the main landmark of the area and considered by Forbes as one of the best shopping malls in Jakarta. The mall includes main buildings and place of interests such as:
 * The mall itself, consists of four interconnected main buildings (PIM1, PIM2, PIM Street Gallery, PIM3)
 * Pondok Indah Water park
 * Pondok Indah Office Towers, abbreviated as PIOT, which has 3 towers
 * Pondok Indah Golf course (venue of the 1983 Golf World Cup)
 * InterContinental Hotel Pondok Indah
 * Metro Duta is the commercial area, located next to Pondok Indah Hospital, with connection to Transjakarta Corridor 8, and tenants such as Starbucks McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Yoshinoya, and main banking area for Pondok Indah.
 * Niaga Hijau commercial area which next to Metro Duta, which has "Wisma BCA", and "Menara Pondok Indah" (colloquially known as "Menara Citibank" before the bank ceased its operation in Indonesia), and Swiss-Belhotel Pondok Indah.
 * THB-34 or colloquially known as Pertok, which caters hawker style food stalls.
 * Pondok Indah Plaza 6 which known for the anchor tenant "Ranch Market"
 * Decathlon Pondok Indah

Education

 * Jakarta Intercultural School Pondok Indah Campus
 * Bakti Mulya 400
 * Tirta Marta BPK Penabur
 * Don Bosco
 * Raffles Christian School
 * SDI Harapan Ibu
 * HighScope Indonesia, Pondok Indah

Healthcare

 * Pondok Indah Hospital

Accommodation

 * InterContinental Jakarta Pondok Indah (adjoined with PIM2)
 * Swiss-Belhotel Pondok Indah

Religious

 * Pondok Indah Grand Mosque

Diplomatic

 * 🇨🇺 Embassy of Cuba

Nearby Place of Interest around Pondok Indah Area

 * Gandaria City, an upscale shopping mall adjacent to Sheraton Hotel
 * Poin Square, a shopping center which adjacent to Lebak Bulus MRT station

TransJakarta

 * BRT routes, which two stations; Underpass Lebak Bulus and Pondok Indah, served by two lanes:
 * Corridor (Lebak Bulus–Pasar Baru)
 * S21 Cross Feeder (Ciputat - CSW)
 * Mikrotrans routes
 * JAK-49 (Cipulir–Lebak Bulus)
 * JAK-95 (Lebak Bulus–Pasar Minggu)
 * JAK-102 (Lebak Bulus–Blok M)

Other buses

 * Mayasari Bakti
 * AC73 (Kampung Rambutan–Ciledug via Pondok Indah)

Rail transport

 * North–South Line of the Jakarta MRT, with one station:
 * Lebak Bulus Grab