Batang () is a
regency
In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
() on the north coast of
Central Java
Central Java (, ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogya ...
province in
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
. It was created on 14 June 1965 from what was previously the eastern half of
Pekalongan Regency. It covers an area of 857.21 km
2 and had a population of 706,764 at the 2010 Census
[Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.] and 801,718 at the 2020 Census;
[Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.] the official estimate as of mid-2024 was 838,187 (comprising 422,237 males and 415,950 females).
[Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kabupaten Batang Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3325)] Its capital is the town of
Batang, situated about 100 km west of the province's capital city of
Semarang
Semarang (Javanese script, Javanese: , ''Kutha Semarang'') is the capital and largest city of Central Java province in Indonesia. It was a major port during the Netherlands, Dutch Dutch East Indies, colonial era, and is still an important regio ...
.
People in Batang are mostly Javanese who speak both Javanese and Indonesian.
The regency comprises both coastal and mountainous landscapes. Batang's town centre is located on the side of the north coast trans-Java highway network, widely known as "the Pantura". Economic activities are concentrated along this highway and also in the vicinity of the town square known as "alun-alun". In the middle of the square, there is a huge old ficus tree which has become one of the Regency's icons.
Administrative Districts
Batang Regency comprises fifteen
districts
A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...
(''kecamatan''), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census
[Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.] and the 2020 Census,
[Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.] together with the official estimates as of mid-2024.
[Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kabupaten Batang Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3325)] The table also includes the locations of the district headquarters, the number of
administrative village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban village ...
s in each district (totaling 239 rural ''desa'' and 9 urban ''kelurahan'' - the latter all in Batang (town) District), and its postcode.
Note: (a) comprises nine urban ''kelurahan'' (Karangasem Selatan, Karangasem Utara, Kasepuhan, Kauman, Proyonanggan Selatan, Proyonanggan Tengah, Proyonanggan Utara, Sambong and Watesalit) and twelve rural ''desa''.
Attractions
These include:
* Curug Genting 40m waterfall surrounded by pine forest, about 38 km southward (Blado District).
* Ujungnegoro Coast, 4 km northeastward, coast with steep edge, very rare in North Java. Aswotomo cave and small graveyard established by the Muslim missionary Syeikh Maulana Maghribi. Canoes can be hired and there is fishing.
* Curug Gombong: 13 m waterfall that divides naturally layered stones (raj stones), situated in Gombong village, about 6 km south of Subah District.
* Agrotourism: Pagilaran tea plantation in Andongsili hill and others, about 40 km to the mountain. There is a "tea walk" and tea products are on sale. Accommodation is available.
* Batang Beach: About 3 km from town northward. Watch the sunrise and take a look at fishermen's lives.
Special events
Every "Jumat Kliwon" night (the night before a particular Friday, which coincides with the mystical fifth day of Kliwon of the
Javanese calendar
The Javanese calendar () is the calendar of the Javanese people. It is used concurrently with two other calendars, the Gregorian calendar and the Islamic calendar. The Gregorian calendar is the official calendar of the Republic of Indonesia and c ...
) people gather in the town square, creating a monthly festival with hundreds of street vendors selling goods. It occurs every 35 days.
People related to Batang Regency
Goenawan Mohamad
Goenawan Mohamad (born 29 July 1941) is an Indonesian poet, essayist, playwright and editor. He is the founder and editor of the Indonesian magazine ''Tempo''. Mohamad is a vocal critic of the Indonesian government, and his magazine was periodi ...
- democracy activist, writer and also prominent national press figure, was born in Batang.
References
External links
Batang Regency Government - official site
ยป Berita Seputar Kabupaten Batang
Batang Update{Authority control
Regencies of Central Java