Batang Regency

Batang (Javanese: ꦧꦠꦁ) is a regency (Indonesian: kabupaten) 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 788.64 km² and had a population of 706,764 at the 2010 Census^[2] and 801,718 at the 2020 Census;^[3] the official estimate as of mid-2024 was 838,187 (comprising 422,237 males and 415,950 females).^[1] Its capital is the town of Batang, situated about 100 km west of the province's capital city of Semarang.

Batang Regency Kabupaten Batang
Regency
Kalikuto bridge
Coat of arms
Motto:  Batang Berkembang
Location within Central Java
Batang Regency Location of Batang Regency in Indonesia
Coordinates: 6°51′46″S 110°3′6″E
Country	Indonesia
Province	Central Java
Capital	Batang
Area
• Total	788.64 km2 (304.50 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2024 estimate)
• Total	838,187
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
	[1]
Time zone	UTC+7 (WIB)
Area code	+62 285
Website	batangkab.go.id

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 (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census^[2] and the 2020 Census,^[3] together with the official estimates as of mid-2024.^[1] The table also includes the locations of the district headquarters, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 239 rural desa and 9 urban kelurahan - the latter all in Batang (town) District), and its postcode.

Kode Wilayah	Name of District (kecamatan)	Area in km2	Pop'n Census 2010	Pop'n Census 2020	Pop'n Estimate mid 2024	Admin centre	No. of villages	Post code
33.25.01	Wonotunggal	52.35	30,915	37,797	40,669	Wonotunggal	15	51253
33.25.02	Bandar	73.33	63,310	71,691	74,883	Bandar	17	51254
33.25.03	Blado	78.39	42,131	45,835	47,139	Blado	18	51255
33.25.04	Reban	46.34	35,353	40,306	42,211	Reban	19	51273
33.25.05	Bawang	73.85	50,705	55,672	57,460	Bawang	20	51274
33.25.06	Tersono	49.33	35,585	40,482	42,360	Tersono	20	51272
33.25.07	Gringsing	72.77	55,859	63,019	65,730	Plelen	15	51291
33.25.08	Limpung	33.41	38,683	43,887	45,874	Limpung	17	51271
33.25.15	Banyuputih	44.43	32,781	36,708	38,177	Sembung	11	51271 -51281
33.25.09	Subah	83.52	48,518	53,186	54,860	Subah	17	51263
33.25.14	Pecalungan	36.19	29,959	32,519	33,415	Pecalungan	10	51262
33.25.10	Tulis	45.09	33,425	38,785	40,896	Kaliboyo	17	51254 -51263
33.25.13	Kandeman	41.76	45,305	54,602	58,426	Kandeman	13	51261
33.25.11	Batang (town)	34.35	118,539	133,738	139,492	Watesalit	21 (a)	51211 -51116
33.25.12	Warungasem	23.55	45,696	53,491	56,595	Banjiran	18	51252
	Totals	788.64	706,764	801,718	838,187	Batang	248

Note: (a) comprises 9 urban kelurahan (Karangasem Selatan, Karangasem Utara, Kasepuhan, Kauman, Proyonanggan Selatan, Proyonanggan Tengah, Proyonanggan Utara, Sambong and Watesalit) and 12 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) 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 - democracy activist, writer and also prominent national press figure, was born in Batang.