Blitar Regency () 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 ...

East Java East Java (, , ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia located in the easternmost third of Java island. It has a land border only with the province of Central Java to the west; the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean border its northern ...

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 covers an area of 1,558.79 km² and had a population of 1,116,639 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 1,223,745 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 1,252,242 (comprising 629,098 males and 62,144 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, ''Kabupaten Blitar Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3505) These figures exclude

Blitar Blitar is a landlocked city in East Java, Indonesia, about 73 km from Malang and 167 km from Surabaya. The area lies within longitude 111° 40' – 112° 09' East and its latitude is 8° 06' South. The city of Blitar lies at an altitude ...

city, which is now a separate administrative entity, enclaved within the regency but completely independent from it. Since 2010, the regency's capital has been located in the town of Kanigoro, after sharing the same capital with

city for more than a century.

History

Blitar Regency as an administrative area is believed to be established in 5 August 1324 AD, during the reign of King Jayanegara (1309-1328).

Administrative districts

Blitar Regency (excluding the city) is divided into twenty-two

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 population totals from the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and the 2020 Census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, ''Kabupaten Blitar Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3505) The table also includes 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 220 rural ''desa'' and 28 urban ''kelurahan''), and its postal codes. The districts are in each case named after their administrative centre; they are grouped into southern and northern sectors, which have no administrative or legal significance, but highlight the much lower density in the south of the regency (adjoining the sea) compared with the north (centred on

city). Notes: (a) including 7 small offshore islands. (b) including 13 small offshore islands. (c) including 8 small offshore islands.
(d) comprising 7 ''kelurahan'' (Jegu, Jingglong, Kalipang, Kedungbunder, Kembangarum, Sukorejo and Sutojayan) and 4 ''desa''.
(e) including one ''kelurahan'' - the administrative centre. (f) including 2 ''kelurahan'' (Kanigoro and Satreyan).
(g) comprising 4 ''kelurahan'' (Bajang, Kamulan, Kaweron and Talun) and 10 ''desa''. (h) comprising 5 ''kelurahan'' (Babadan, Beru, Klemunan, Tangkil and Wlingi) and 4 ''desa''.
(i) comprising 4 ''kelurahan'' (Bence, Garum, Sumberdiren and Tawangsari) and 5 ''desa''. (j) comprising 4 ''kelurahan'' (Dandong, Kauman, Srengat and Togogan) and 12 ''desa''.

Temples

Because of its strategic location, Blitar has been important for religious activities in the past, especially

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

. The most famous temple in this area is Candi Penataran located in Penataran village, Nglegok District. According to history, Candi Penataran used to be a ''temple state'' or the main temple of the kingdom. Candi Penataran was built when King Kertajaya offered ''sima'' to adore ''sira majesty of Lord Palah'' in the year 1119 Saka (1197 AD). Other temples are scattered throughout Blitar, including : * Candi Bacem * Candi Gambar Wetan * Candi Kalicilik * Candi Kotes * Candi Sawentar * Candi Sumbernanas * Candi Plumbangan * Candi Simping * Candi Tepas * Candi Wringin Branjang

Beaches

* Jolosutro Beach * Pangi Beach * Peh Pulo Beach * Serang Beach * Tambakrejo Beach

References

{{Authority control Regencies of East Java Brantas basin