Kendal () 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 ...

in the northern part 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, ...

, west 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 ...

. The regency is bordered by the

Java Sea The Java Sea (, ) is an extensive shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf, between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south, Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east. Karimata Strait to its northwest links it to the South Ch ...

in the north,

City and

Semarang Regency Semarang is a landlocked Regencies of Indonesia, regency () in Central Java province in Indonesia. It covers an area of 1,019.27 km2 and had a population of 930,727 at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 1,053,094 at the ...

in the east,

Temanggung Regency Temanggung Regency () is an inland Regencies of Indonesia, regency in the Central Java Province of Indonesia. It covers a land area of 870.65 km2 and had a population of 708,546 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 790, ...

in the south, and

Batang Regency Batang () is a Regencies of Indonesia, regency () on the north coast of Central Java province in Indonesia. It was created on 14 June 1965 from what was previously the eastern half of Pekalongan Regency. It covers an area of 857.21 km2 and ha ...

in the west. Kendal Regency was established on 28 July, 1605. Its administrative capital is the town of

Kendal Kendal, once Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness, England. It lies within the River Kent's dale, from which its name is derived, just outside the boundary of t ...

, which is also known as the City of Santri because there are thousands of ''Ponpes'', especially in Kaliwungu District and it is also known as the City of Arts and Culture. The regency covers an area of 1,002.23 km² and had a population of 900,313 at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 1,018,505 at the 2020 census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 1,064,812, consisting of 536,543 (50.39%) males and 528,269 (49.61%) females.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kabupaten Kendal Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3324)

History

The name Kendal was taken from the name of a tree, the Kendal Tree. No one at first knew its name, but when Pakuwojo hid in the tree, it was brightly lit. Finally the tree was called the Qondhali tree, which means lighting, and the area where the tree was, was called Qondhali because Javanese were not fluent in Arabic and later became Kendal. The lush leafy tree has been known since the time of the Demak Kingdom in 1500-1546 AD, during the reign of Sultan Trenggono. At the beginning of his reign in 1521, Sultan Trenggono once ruled Sunan Katong to order heirlooms to Pakuwojo. The events that caused the conflict and resulted in the death were recorded in the Inscription. Even now, the tomb of the two figures in Kendal's history in Protomulyo Village, Kaliwungu District, is still widely sacred to the community. According to the story, Sunan Katong was stunned by the beauty and longing of Kendal trees that grew in the surrounding environment. While enjoying the view of the Kendal tree that looks "sari", he mentioned that in the area later it would be called "Kendalsari". The big tree that the people mentioned was located on the edge of Kendal Youth Street was also known as Kendal Growing because the stem was hollow or growing. A young man named Joko Bahu, a court servant of the Mataram kingdom, was someone who loved others and a hard worker until Joko Bahu succeeded in advancing his area. For this success, Sultan Agung Adi Prabu Hanyokrokusumo finally appointed him as the Kendal Regent, entitled Tumenggung Bahurekso. In addition Tumenggung Bahurekso was also appointed as Commander of the Mataram War on August 26, 1628, to lead tens of thousands of soldiers to invade the VOC in Batavia. In the battle on 21 October, 1628 in Batavia, Tumenggung Bahurekso and his two sons died as Kusuma Bangsa. From the journey of Sang Tumenggung Bahurekso led the VOC attack in Batavia on August 26, 1628, which was then used as a benchmark for the history of the birth of Kendal Regency. Further development with the momentum of the death of Tumenggung Bahurekso as the determination of the anniversary was considered by some to be inappropriate. Because the momentum was a dark history for a character named Bahurekso, it was feared to bring psychological effects. The emergence of the term "fail and fall" in Javanese mythology was feared to form psychological biases that influence the behavior of the pattern of taste, creativity and intentions of the people of Kendal Regency, so that it felt Kaliwungu triumphed as the centre of government at the inception of Kendal Regency. However, due to the political conditions in the center of Mataram at that time and the consideration of the development of the government, the centre of government was moved to Kendal District. So that finally Kaliwungu is only used for the residence of the father of the Regent, who is often referred to as ''Kuhan'', whereas the government administration is in Kendal District. During the New Order era, the regency was the site of the Plantungan concentration camp, where former Communist Party and Gerwani members were imprisoned from 1971 to 1979.

Government

Administrative Districts

Kendal Regency consists of twenty administrative

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 and the 2020 census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2024.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Kabupaten Kendal Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3324) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, 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 266 rural ''desa'' and 20 urban ''keluraham'' - the latter all in Kendal town District), and its post code. Note: (a) except one ''desa'' (Karangsari) for which the post code is 51354. (b) comprising the 20 ''kelurahan'' of Balok, Bandengan, Banyutowo, Bugangin, Candiroto, Jetis, Jotang, Kalibuntu Wetan, Karang Sari, Kebondalem, Ketapang, Langenharjo, Ngilir, Pakauman, Patukangan, Pegulon, Sijeruk, Sukodono, Trompo and Tunggulrejo. Kendal town is the administrative headquarters. Besides Kendal, other significant district centres are Kaliwungu, Boja and Weleri. Kendal Regency has a coastline with a length of 41.0 kilometres. In general, the Kendal Regency region is divided into two distinct areas, namely lowland areas in the north (with beaches) and highland areas in the south (mountains). The northern region of Kendal Regency is a low-lying area with an altitude between 0–10 metres above sea level, which includes the districts of Weleri, Rowosari, Kangkung, Cepiring, Gemuh, Ringinarum, Pegandon, Ngampel, Patebon, Kendal, Brangsong, and Kaliwungu. The southern part of Kendal Regency is a highland area consisting of mountainous land with an altitude between 10 and 2,579 metres above sea level, covering the districts of Plantungan, Pageruyung, Sukorejo, Patean, Boja, Singorojo, Limbangan and Kaliwungu Selatan.

List of Regents

List of Vice Regents

Sport

Kendal has a soccer club, the Persik Kendal. Its stadium is the Bahurekso Stadium. The stadium is located at Kebondalem Village, Kendal City. It also has some volleyball clubs at the Krida Bahurekso Gym.

Industry

One of the Industries in Kendal is Kendal Industrial Estate in Kaliwungu District and Sugar Factory in Cepiring District. The Sugar Factory in Cepiring has existed since the Dutch era.

Tourism

Natural Tourism

* Ngebum Beach. Located In Kaliwungu * Curug Sewu / Sewu Waterfall. Located in Patean * Jeglong Waterfall. Located in Plantungan * Cacaban Tourism Village. Located in Singorojo * Sekatul Agrotourism. Located in Limbangan * Muara Kencan beach. Located in Patebon * Ngebruk Fruit Garden in Patean. * Sendang Sikucing. Located in Rowosari * Semawur Waterfall. Located in Plantungan * Kiskendo Cave. Located in Singorojo * Penglebur Gongso Waterfall. Located in Limbangan * Selo Arjuno Hill. Located in Limbangan * Tiban Island Tourism in Patebon. * Gonoharjo Hot Spring. Located in Limbangan * Medini Tea Plantation. Located in Limbangan

Sewu Waterfall/ Curug Sewu

Religious Tourism

* Wali Joko's Grave. Located in Kendal Mosque Complex * Wali Hadi's Grave. Located in Kendal Mosque Complex * The Tomb of Prince Djoeminah. Located in Kaliwungu * Tomb of Sunan Bromo. Located in Boja * Kyai Asyari's Grave. Located in Kaliwungu * Wali Gembyang's Grave. Located in Kendal City * The Tomb of Habib Mansyur Al Munawar. Located in Kendal City

Event

* Kendal Expo in Kebondalem Village. Kendal City * Nyadran. In Kendal Coast * Syawalan. In Kaliwungu and Boja

Notable People

* Dr. Mirna Annisa (Regent of Kendal 2016 - 2021) * Dr. Widya Kandi Susanti (Regent of Kendal 2010 - 2015) * Don Murdono (Regent of Sumedang 2003 - 2013) * H Tino Indra Wardono (Chairperson of Central Java KNPI) * Alamuddin Dimyati Rois (Member of the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

) * Achmad Rifa'i (Heroes of Struggle and

Kyai A kyai ( ) is an expert in Islam. This denomination is usually used among the ethnic Javanese people. Origins The word kyai is originally from Javanese. Sometimes, it is spelled kiai. Traditionally, students of Islam in Indonesia would study ...

). * Tumenggung Bahurekso (First Regent of Kendal from 1605 to 1629) * Bambang Irawan (Film Actor and Director)

Typical Culinary

Food

* Mangut Lele * Telur Ikan Mimi (Mimi Fish Eggs) * Soto Kendal * Momoh * Sate Bumbon (Bumbon Satay) * Brongkos * Bebek Ijo (Green Fried Duck) * Rica Rica Menthog * Pecel Kembang Turi * Krupuk Petis (Crackers) * Rambak (Crackers) Kerupuk kulit

Rambak

Drink

* Kopi Cacaban (Cacaban Coffee) * Bir Jawa (Java Beer) * Dawet Sukun Ireng

Gallery

File:LOGO KABUPATEN KENDAL LAMA.png, Former emblem of Kendal Regency replaced in 2011.

References

{{coord, 7.0256, S, 110.1685, E, source:wikidata, display=title Regencies of Central Java Bodri basin