Blitar Regency (Javanese: ꦏꦧꦸꦥꦠꦺꦤ꧀ꦧꦶ ꧀ꦭꦠꦂ) is a regency in East Java, Indonesia. It covers an area of 1,558.79 km2 and had a population of 1,116,639 at the 2010 Census[2] and 1,223,745 at the 2020 Census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 1,252,242 (comprising 629,098 males and 62,144 females).[1] These figures exclude Blitar 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 Blitar city for more than a century.[4]
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).[5]
Administrative districts
Blitar Regency (excluding the city) is divided into twenty-two districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their population totals from the 2010 Census[2] and the 2020 Census,[3] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.[1] The table also includes the number of administrative villages 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 Blitar city).
Kode Wilayah
Name of District (kecamatan)
Area in km2
Pop'n Census 2010
Pop'n Census 2020
Pop'n Estimate mid 2023
No. of villages
Post code
35.05.05
Bakung
111.24
25,011
27,335
28,705
11
66163
35.05.08
Wonotirto (a)
164.54
35,253
37,920
40,014
8
66173
35.05.13
Panggungrejo (b)
119.54
40,551
42,297
44,162
10
66174
35.05.20
Wates (c)
68.76
27,688
30,151
31,453
8
66194
35.05.16
Binangun
76.79
42,717
45,862
47,263
12
66193
35.05.12
Sutojayan
44.20
46,837
51,076
52,279
11 (d)
66172
35.05.04
Kademangan
105.28
63,519
69,712
71,833
15 (e)
66161
Totals - South sector
689.85
281,576
304,360
315,709
75
35.05.10
Kanigoro
55.55
72,919
81,769
80,697
12 (f)
66171
35.05.14
Talun
49.78
59,167
65,419
66,433
14 (g)
66183
35.05.22
Selopuro
39.29
39,319
43,900
45,431
8
66184
35.05.19
Kesamben
56.96
48,418
53,033
54,409
10
66191
35.05.21
Selorejo
52.23
34,784
38,617
39,906
10
66192
35.05.18
Doko
70.95
37,648
40,701
42,024
10
66186
35.05.17
Wlingi
66.36
49,902
53,719
55,077
9 (h)
66185
35.05.15
Gandusari
88.23
66,337
73,240
75,205
14
66187
35.05.11
Garum
65.56
62,025
68,313
68,975
9 (i)
66182
35.05.09
Nglegok
92.56
67,479
74,807
75,570
11 (e)
66181
35.05.07
Sanankulon
33.33
53,040
57,528
57,223
12
66151
35.05.06
Ponggok
103.83
96,783
108,169
111,575
15
66153
35.05.03
Srengat
53.98
62,071
67,715
69,259
16 (j)
66152
35.05.01
Wonodadi
40.35
45,830
49,097
50,418
11
66155
35.05.02
Udanawu
40.98
39,341
43,365
44,331
12
66154
Totals - North sector
898.94
835,063
919,385
936,533
173
Totals - Regency
1,588.79
1,116,639
1,223,745
1,252,242
248
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. 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 :
