city
A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...
in
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, ...
, about 73 km from
Malang
Malang (; , ), historically known as Tumapel, is an inland List of regencies and cities of Indonesia, city in the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of East Java. It has a history dating back to the age of the Singhasari, Singhasari K ...
and 167 km from
Surabaya
Surabaya is the capital city of East Java Provinces of Indonesia, province and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strai ...
. 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 on average 167 metres above sea level, and is an enclave within
Blitar Regency
Blitar Regency () 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 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 1,223,745 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 20 ...
which surrounds the city on all sides. It covers an area of 32.57 km2, and had a population of 131,968 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 149,149 at the 2020 Census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 159,781 (comprising 79,651 males and 80,130 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, ''Kota Blitar Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3572)
The city is noted as the location of the grave of
Sukarno
Sukarno (6 June 1901 – 21 June 1970) was an Indonesian statesman, orator, revolutionary, and nationalist who was the first president of Indonesia, serving from 1945 to 1967.
Sukarno was the leader of the Indonesian struggle for independenc ...
, the first
president of Indonesia
The president of the Republic of Indonesia () is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Indonesia. The president is the leader of the executive branch of the Indonesian government and the commander-in-chief of the ...
, five kilometers from the city plaza. The ''Istana Gebang'' (Gebang palace) where Sukarno lived as a child is nearby and has been converted into a museum. containing numerous items commemorating Sukarno's place in Indonesian history. In addition, the very active
Kelud
The Kelud (, sometimes spelled as ''Klut'', ''Cloot'', ''Kloet'', ''Kloete'', ''Keloed'' or ''Kelut'') is a mountain stratovolcano located in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia. Like many Indonesian volcanoes and others on the Pacific Ring of Fire, K ...
volcano is located just over 20 kilometers north of Blitar.
Blitar city is surrounded by four of the districts (''kecamatan'') of Blitar Regency - Kademangan, Garum, Nglegok and Sanankulon; added to the population of the city, this combined area of seven ''kecamatan'' had a total population in mid 2023 of 442,247 within 318.3 km2.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, ''Kota Blitar Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3572)
Administrative districts
Blitar city is divided into three
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, ''Kota Blitar Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3572) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of
villages
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 ...
(urban ''kelurahan'') in each district, and its postal codes.
The names of the ''kelurahan'' in each district are:
*Sukorejo: Blitar, Karangsari, Sukorejo, Pakunden, Tanjungsari, Turi, Tlumpu
*Kepanjenkidul: Bendo, Kauman, Kepanjenkidul, Kepanjenlor, Ngadirejo, Sentul, Tanggung
*Sawanwetan: Bendogerit, Gedog, Karangtengah, Klampok, Plosokerep, Rembang, Sananwetan
Local economic governance
Based on the survey conducted between August 2010 and January 2011, Blitar was rated number one in Indonesia for local economic governance, being considered particularly good in infrastructure, the interaction between local administrations and businesses, business licensing, and regional head capacity and integrity.
Sukarno's Mausoleum
It is located at Bendogerit village, in Sunanwetan district, about 2 kilometres from Blitar city.
The tomb is built in East Javanese "Joglo" architectural pattern, and combined with Gateway of Bentar.
The mausoleum is 51 feet high, with a copper roof of a three-tier building. Underneath, Sukarno's plot is flanked by that of his mother and father. A stone of black andesite bears the inscription, "Here lies Bung Karno, proclaimer of independence, first president of Indonesia."
Beside the main building of the tomb, the graveyard complex has Gapura Agung (The Great Gate), Mosque, halls, parks, a rest-area, and a parking place.
The tomb is opened to the public, attracts a large number of visitors, both domestic and international. About 1.5 million people visit the tomb annually.
Balitar Islamic University
Balitar Islamic University is one of the popular universities in Blitar, Blitar City, East Java, Indonesia. This private university was founded at September 5, 2003 under the auspices of the Bina Citra Anak Bangsa foundation. Campus which b ...
*Kesuma Negara College of Economics (STIEKEN)
*PGRI Blitar Teacher Training and Education College (STKIP PGRI Blitar)
*Patria Husada College of Health Sciences (STIKES Patria Husada)
*Indonesian Tax Management Academy (AMPINDO)
* Putra Sang Fajar Blitar State Community Academy (AKN Putra Sang Fajar)
People from Blitar
*
Boediono
Boediono (Perfected Spelling System, EYD: Budiono, pronounced ; born 25 February 1943) is an Indonesian politician and economist who served as the 11th Vice President of Indonesia, vice president of Indonesia from 2009 to 2014. He became vice pr ...
Admiral
Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...
Nitya Krishinda Maheswari
Nitya Krishinda Maheswari Korwa (born 16 December 1988) is an Indonesian badminton player affiliated with Jaya Raya Jakarta and current coach in Indonesia national badminton team, specializing in doubles event. She won the women's doubles gold m ...
, badminton athlete
* Wiweko Soepono, inventor and director/pilot of
Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia is the flag carrier of Indonesia, headquartered at Soekarno–Hatta International Airport near Jakarta. A successor of KLM Interinsulair Bedrijf, it is a member of SkyTeam airline alliance and the second-largest airline of Ind ...
Anthony Fokker
Anton Herman Gerard "Anthony" Fokker (6 April 1890 – 23 December 1939) was a Dutch aviation pioneer, aviation entrepreneur, aircraft designer, and aircraft manufacturer. He produced fighter aircraft in Germany during the First World War such ...
Anas Urbaningrum
Anas Urbaningrum (born 15 July 1969) is an Indonesian politician who is the chairman of the Nusantara Awakening Party. He was the chairman of the Democratic Party (Partai Demokrat), the party who won Indonesia's general election in 2009, bet ...
Masjchun Sofwan
Masjchun Sofwan was born on 7 September 1927 in Blitar, East Java, Indonesia. Sofwan became the governor of Jambi from 1979 to 1989. After graduating from Gadjah Mada University, Sofwan served as the mayor of the Temanggung Regency
Temanggun ...
, politician
*
Sukarni
Sukarni Kartodiwirjo (14 July 1916 – 7 May 1971) was an Indonesian freedom fighter and activist who demanded independence for Indonesia during the Dutch colonial era and the Japanese occupation, and was the chairman of the Murba Party until ...
tropical monsoon climate
An area of tropical monsoon climate (occasionally known as a sub-equatorial, tropical wet climate or a tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate) is a tropical climate subtype that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category ' ...
(Am) with moderate to little rainfall from June to October and heavy rainfall from November to May.
See also
*
1945 PETA Revolt in Blitar
The PETA revolt in Blitar () was an anti-occupation revolt in present-day Indonesia, which took place on 14 February 1945 by the PETA daidan (battalion) in Blitar. This revolt was widely known as the first major uprising of local armies in Indo ...