Purwokerto

Purwokerto (Javanese: ꦥꦸꦂꦮꦏꦼꦂꦠ, romanized: Purwåkertå) is a large but non-autonomous town on the island of Java, Indonesia. It is the coordinating centre of local government (Bakorwil 3) and the largest city in southwestern Central Java (known as the Barlingmascakeb region). Currently, Purwokerto is the capital of Banyumas Regency, Central Java province. The population of the four districts which comprise the town at the 2010 census was 233,951 and 229,271 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 233,865. The City is considered to be the most comfortable city in Indonesia, as it is the favourite place for pensioners to live after they have finished working.
Purwokerto is located in the middle of Java Island within the province of Central Java, near the base of Mount Slamet, the second-tallest mountain in Java. The average elevation is 183,87 metres, maximum 286 m, and minimum 71 metres above sea level. The city is bisected by the Kali Kranji (Kranji River). It lies near two major east–west roads, Sudirman Street and Gatot Subroto Street. Its geographic location is 7°26′S 109°14′E﻿ / ﻿7.433°S 109.233°E﻿ / -7.433; 109.233.
Purwokerto has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with moderate rainfall in July and August and heavy to very heavy rainfall in the remaining months.
The history of Purwokerto as the capital of the Banyumas Regency is intertwined with the history of Banyumas itself. Banyumas was established in 1582 by Raden Joko Kahiman. He later became the first regent, Duke Mrapat.
Following the unintentional killing of Adipati Wirasaba VI in District Lowano (now Purworejo), Sultan Hadiwijaya summoned Joko Kahiman, the dead man's son in law. The Sultan made Kahiman "Adipati Wirasaba VII" (Regent of Wirasaba) and divided the Wirasaba regency into four parts. The Banjar region was given to Kyai Ngabei Wirayuda. The Meden territory was given to Kyai Ngabei Wirakusuma. The Wirasaba territory given to Kyai Ngabei Wargawijaya and the Kejawar territory was controlled by the Sultan himself. There, he cleared the Mangli forest and named the area "Banyumas". At that time, the capital of the Kejawar territory was in Banyumas. After the flood of 1861, the capital was moved to Purwokerto, which was located about 18 km further north.
Purwokerto used to be administratively equal to an "Administrative City" and now has a special status as the capital of Banyumas Regency. And it also used to have a Major (Walikotatif). Purwokerto is now divided into four administrative districts (kecamatan), each headed by a "Camat". The administrative municipalities of Purwokerto (and part of Banyumas Regency) follow:
If Purwokerto again became an autonomous city, now that it has 233,865 people, it would cover 38.58 km with 11 municipalities (kecamatan).
Purwokerto's nearest airport is the Tunggul Wulung airport in Cilacap township, approximately 40 km south of Purwokerto. Tunggul Wulung has direct flights (three times per week) from Halim Perdana Kusuma airport in Jakarta. The travel time from Jakarta to Cilacap is 45 minutes. Lately in 2016 Wirasaba (PWL) is planned for commercial flight service. The distance to the town is about 15 km only. Many news sources state that this airport will be developed for commercial flight, while even Garuda Indonesia and Susi Air will be serving this route to Jakarta. Additionally, there is a new bridge that has been built by two regencies between Banyumas and Purbalingga, called Linggamas which supports it.
Purwokerto is a hub city connecting Cirebon to Jogjakarta. The train is one of the main modes of transport to Purwokerto. All classes of the ticket, from economy to first class, are available for trips on trains from Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya. The total journey from Jakarta is 6 hrs (first class) and 10 hrs (economy class). Soon in 2016, is being built double track between Purwokerto and Kroya for about 25 km the distance. It will be easier also faster the trip between two station above. Double track from Jakarta to Purwokerto now is fully serviced and it takes 5 hours only for single trip. There are 2 new destinations serviced by new train:
Intercity buses connect Purwokerto to other cities on the island. The Purwokerto bus station is the third largest terminal in Central Java province after Terboyo (Semarang) and Tirtonadi (Surakarta). The Bulupitu's bus station services the passengers across the mainland to Bali/Lombok in the eastern also Banda Aceh (Sumatera) in the western. In 2016 will planned BRT system (Bus Rapid Transportation) serving between Purbalingga to Purwokerto. For more facilities now is built "Traffic Park" or Taman Lalu Lintas Bulupitu whereas becomes an education park for the public. This could be one of a little amount of additional bus station facilities in Indonesia. There is the first in Indonesia "Sleeper bus" serving Purbalingga/Purwokerto to Jakarta, which is a new facility where the beds are available inside and look just like a hotel's facility.
Cruising the roads in Purwokerto is challenging. The roads are not quite wide enough as ones in bigger cities, and there are still Becaks (rickshaw-like tricycles) using the same roads as motor vehicles. We will hardly ever see traffic jam here, but we will frequently bump into another car cruising the road very slowly or motorcyclists who ride in the middle of the road with low speed. It will need quite an effort for people coming from big city to adjust life on the road of Purwokerto. It is advisable to use bicycles instead.
Purwokerto's central public square, Indonesian: Alun-alun, has six banyan trees: a tree at each corner, and two in the center. The townsfolk often spend their leisure time in the shady square and it is a common place for children to play. Vendors in the square sell children's toys and local foods. On one side is the regional government building, Kabupaten. On the west side of the square is the Masjid Baitus Salam Mosque of Purwokerto. To the east is the old cemetery on Ragasemangsang Road.
Located in the city center, Bank BRI Museum was built and dedicated to the Bank BRI's founder, R.A. Wiriatmadja. Formerly named as De Purwakertosche Hulp-en Spaar Bank der Inlandsche Bestuur Ambtenaren in 1895, now Bank BRI is one of the largest bank in the nation, as well as the oldest in the nation. Displays a lot of collections of coin and money from the VOC era until the present time.
Baturraden, located 15 km north of Purwokerto is an area of the typical highland country at the foot of the Gunung Slamet volcano. It is a popular site for local tourism, with a children's playground, hot springs, trekking and camping. There are two natural hot springs at Baturraden, namely Pancuran Telu and Pancuran Pitu. The campground is called Wana Wisata. Some hotels, villas and budget hotels are available in Baturraden.
The Purwokerto local food includes mendoan (fermented soy bean covered in wheat flour dough and deep fried), ranjem, nopia and mino (small nopia), tempeh keripik and many different kinds of chips. Gethuk goreng, made of cassava and Javanese sugar is also available. It is sold by various shops under various names. Also, in the morning, one may find a serabi seller on almost every corner of town. One Purwokerto delicacy is soto. It is also made in the nearby town of Sokaraja. Purwokerto soto is made from the chicken while that from Sokaraja contains beef. Both are different from other sotos in Indonesia, because they are mixed with a spicy nut sambal.
Purwokerto is a center for medical care for the southern part of the Central Java Province. There are both public and private hospitals for both general and specialist care. They include:
The main state-run hospital is RSUD Margono Soekarjo County Hospital which is located on the eastern edge of Purwokerto. Its name is commonly shortened to "RS Margono Soekarjo". It was named after the first surgeon in Indonesia. The surgeon was born in Purwokerto and his grave is found in Pesarean Kebutuh, Sokaraja Kulon.
Since 2010, Purwokerto has also been known as the place offering plastic surgery services. It is believed that many celebrities come secretly to Purwokerto for plastic surgery instead of having it done in Jakarta. The plastic surgery services are provided by RSUD Margono Soekarjo County Hospital and RS Geriatri hospital.
Jenderal Soedirman University is the main university in Purwokerto. It is located on the town's northern outskirts and south of the town for Faculty of Medicine. There are many universities and academies in Purwokerto which serve the southern part of central Java. They include: