# 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 km$^2$ and had a population of 706,764 at the 2010 Census and 801,718 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 828,883 (comprising 417,808 males and 411,075 females). Its capital is the town of Batang, about 100 km west of the province's capital city of Semarang.
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 and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as of mid-2023. 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 km$^2$ | Pop'n Census 2010 | Pop'n Census 2020 | Pop'n Estimate mid 2023 | Admin centre | No. of villages | Post code |
| 33.25.01 | Wonotunggal | 52.35 | 30,915 | 37,797 | 39,930 | Wonotunggal | 15 | 51253 |
| 33.25.02 | Bandar | 73.33 | 63,310 | 71,691 | 74,070 | Bandar | 17 | 51254 |
| 33.25.03 | Blado | 78.39 | 42,131 | 45,835 | 46,808 | Blado | 18 | 51255 |
| 33.25.04 | Reban | 46.34 | 35,353 | 40,306 | 41,726 | Reban | 19 | 51273 |
| 33.25.05 | Bawang | 73.85 | 50,705 | 55,672 | 57,006 | Bawang | 20 | 51274 |
| 33.25.06 | Tersono | 49.33 | 35,585 | 40,482 | 41,881 | Tersono | 20 | 51272 |
| 33.25.07 | Gringsing | 72.77 | 55,859 | 63,019 | 65,040 | Plelen | 15 | 51291 |
| 33.25.08 | Limpung | 33.41 | 38,683 | 43,887 | 45,368 | Limpung | 17 | 51271 |
| 33.25.15 | Banyuputih | 44.43 | 32,781 | 36,708 | 37,803 | Sembung | 11 | 51271 -51281 |
| 33.25.09 | Subah | 83.52 | 48,518 | 53,186 | 54,435 | Subah | 17 | 51263 |
| 33.25.14 | Pecalungan | 36.19 | 29,959 | 32,519 | 33,188 | Pecalungan | 10 | 51262 |
| 33.25.10 | Tulis | 45.09 | 33,425 | 38,785 | 40,357 | Kaliboyo | 17 | 51254 -51263 |
| 33.25.13 | Kandeman | 41.76 | 45,305 | 54,602 | 57,444 | Kandeman | 13 | 51261 |
| 33.25.11 | Batang (town) | 34.35 | 118,539 | 133,738 | 138,026 | Watesalit | 21 $^{(a)}$ | 51211 -51116 |
| 33.25.12 | Warungasem | 23.55 | 45,696 | 53,491 | 55,801 | Banjiran | 18 | 51252 |
| | Totals | 788.64 | 706,764 | 801,718 | 828,883 | 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.