Saturday, September 13, 2008

Garut Regency At a Glance


On March 2 nd , 1811 Balubur Limbangan Regency was wiped out by Governor General Herman W. Daendels (Dutch Colonial). Its Regent, Tumenggung Wangsakusumah II was honourable resigned. Balubur Limbangan Regency comprised 6 sub-districts: Balubur, Malangbong, Wanaraja, Wanakerta, Cibeureum and Papandak.

On February 16 th, 1813 new Limbangan regency was founded by Liutenant Governor Thomas S. Raffles which now becomes Garut Regency.

RAA. Adiwijaya was the first Regent of Garut Regency who governed from the year of 1813 until 1821. He was well-know for his call of Dalem Cipeujueh.

On February 16 th, 1813 new Limbangan regency was founded by Liutenant Governor Thomas S. Raffles which now becomes Garut Regency. RAA. Adiwijaya was the first Regent of Garut Regency who governed from the year of 1813 until 1821. He was well-know for his call of Dalem Cipeujueh.

Garut is one of the regencies in Southern West Java with the area of 306.519 hectares or 3,006.88 square kilometers. Geographically, it lies between 657'34"-744'57" latitude and 107 24'34"-108 7'34 longitude. , belonging to West Java Province region in Indonesia where its borders are the follows;

• Eastern Side : Tasikmalaya Regency
• Western Side : Cianjur and Bandung Regency
• Northern Side : Sumedang Regency
• Southern Side : Indonesian Ocean

This area includes valley territory surrounded by volcanoes (mount Karacak:1838m, mount Cikuray:2821 m, mount Guntur:2249 m, mount Papandayan 2622 m in the Northern side with the average heights of 700 - 750 meters over sea level . There are the streams of frozen lavas on their slopes. In general Garut has cool and tropical climate with the average temperature of 24.3 Celsius degree, whereas the rain falls are average of 2,589 millimeters per-year.

The typology of land fertility is various because of being influenced by mountains, river stream and coastal lowland territories. With the mentioned condition the potency of Garut Regency's territory I dominated by agricultural businesses especially plantation, food plant, animal husbandry followed by forest resources.

Some of specific and well known commodities from Garut are Garut Orange Fruits (Jeruk Garut), Garut Lamb (Domba Garut), Dodol Garut (delicious specific snack from Garut), Vetiver Root Oil /Andropogon Zizanioides (Minyak Akar Wangi), Batik Tulis Garutan (hand painting clothes), Silk Worm Clothes, Gemstone, Leather Craft, and Bamboo Craft. Garut Orange commodity plant located at mountain hill area at Wanaraja, Samarang and Bayongbong District. That all location most popular in Indonesia as mountain hill area with highland view more than sea level 900 m - many kind of fruits and vegetable production. Since a long time ago, when Indonesia have been Dutch colonization, Garut orange are kind variety classified as one of Indonesia famous exotic fruits in the world. Garut Orange has a good taste, good coloring, thick skin textures, and good aroma. Until, a moment, CVPD ( citrus vein phloem degeneration/) damaged it.

Administratively, Garut regency consists of 42 sub districts and 419 rural districts with 2.173.623 people (1.106.473 males and 1.067.150 females). Garut Regency constitutes the buffer land and hinterland for the development of Bandung Raja's territory, has strategic position and the supplier for the needs of Bandung municipality and regency's populations all at once it takes a rote in restraining environmental equilibrium.

Based on the characteristic of the territory, Garut Regency is divided into two territories.

• The territory of Northern Garut consists of upland which constitutes the largest rice field in Garut regency and in general it consists of upland with mountains and range of hills.
• The territory of Southern Garut most consist of sloping land and flowed by twelve rivers going in directions of south and emptying into Indonesian Ocean .

The potencies of tourist resort in Garut Regency, not only coastal panorama and its sea but also crater, waterfalls. Lakes and a hot water place supported by fresh and cool air are much enjoyed by local tourist or those being out Garut Regency even foreign tourists instead. So it is reasonable at if Garut Regency had the call "Swiss Van Java" in the Dutch Colonial Period.

Garut Event :

Ram Fighting Dexterity

Ram Fighting dexterity is an people game accompanied by Kendang Pencak traditional arts for making atmosphere more lively. Ram Fighting dexterity has esthetical value at the rams take preparations and their heads collide each other. Beside that fighting ram have strong, beautiful, energetic bodies and nice movement while fighting.

This event is usually performed in June, August and December in three places that is : Ngamplang, Cangkuang and Ranca Bango.
Cangkuang Water Feast

This event is a routine in the framework of commemorating Indonesia 's independent day. The activity appeared is the race of rowing rafts, the race of catching ducks, etc accompanied by traditional arts of calung and pencak silat, usually held in August.

Ngalungsur Ceremony

Ngalungsur is a process of ritual ceremony where the inheritance heirlooms of Sunan Rohmat (Sunan Godog) every once a year cleaned or washed with flowers water and rubbed with perfume in or not to rusty. It is usually held on every the twelfth of Maulud month. Beside that there is performance of Garut specific arts.

Begendit Festival

Bagendit festival is a people feast held year. Several kinds of arts are presented, both traditional arts like lais, debus, hadro, etc and modern arts. Besides that water sports is also shown or raced.


"Helaran" Tradisional Art Festival

Helaran arts performance is a show from of several kinds of traditional arts which ever existed and developed in Garut either still intact, original or having been developed and then visualized by walking in procession in the street. Helaran is held every March in coincidence with the anniversary of Garut city.

"Seba" Ceremony

Seba ceremony is a devotion to someone occupying high position accompanied with delivery of something good. As for that delivery it is directed to ancestral souls that is Prabu Siliwangi and Keyan Santang because the two figures had high knowledge's supranatural powers, so their heirlooms have hidden and magic powers.

Shoutern Marine Feast

This event is a people ceremonial feast and arts performance usually held at Santolo beach (Pameungpeuk).

Mojang Jajaka Festival

This event is a creativity arena of young generations who have love of art and high worth of traditional culture and are able to appeared as tourism enjoys of Garut Regency. Mojang Jajaka contest is usually held in July.

(source : www.garut.go.id)