Bima

Bima is a city on Sumbawa island. It was once the capital of the Bima Sultanate.

Bima city is a coastal city on the east of the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia's province of West Nusa Tenggara. It is the largest city on the island of Sumbawa, with a population of 142,443 at the 2010 census and 155,140 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid-2024 was 165,113 (comprising 82,338 males and 82,775 females). It is separate from (but surrounded on the landward side by) the adjoining Bima Regency which had a population of 535,530 according to the mid-2023 official estimates.

Bima lies in a relatively dry part of Sumbawa compared with the wetter western parts of the island. The surrounding landscape consists of hills, dry agricultural land, coastal areas and bays.

The city has traditionally been an important trading centre for communities in eastern Sumbawa. Agriculture, livestock, fishing, commerce and government services are important parts of the local economy.

The local culture is strongly influenced by the Bima people. The Bima language is widely spoken, while Indonesian is used for education, government and formal communication.

Bima has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with moderate to little rainfall from April to November and heavy rainfall from December to March.

• -8.539722118.6872221 Sultan Muhammad Salahudin Airport (BMU  ^IATA), Jalan Sumbawa, Belo, Palibelo.  (updated Nov 2019)

• -8.4539118.72721 Museum Asi Mbojo. The old Sultan's palace and former home of the rulers of Bima.  
• -8.4551118.72642 Masjid Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin. Historical mosque built in 1770 by Sultan Abdul Kadim Zillulah Fil Alam.  

• Sape — A port town on the eastern tip of Sumbawa.
• Komodo National Park — Famous for Komodo dragons and marine life, accessible by boat from the Sape area.
• Mount Tambora — Historic volcanic landscape on northern Sumbawa.
• Sumbawa Besar — A major town farther west on Sumbawa.