Magelang, And Everything on It - Central Java
Magelang
Magelang regency is one of Central Java regencies, and the largest town in the Kedu Plain between Mount Merbabu and Mount Sumbing in Central Java. The capital of this regency is Mungkid city. Magelang is bounded with Temanggung regency and Semarang regency in north, Semarang regency and Boyolali regency in east, DI Yogyakarta and Purworejo regency in south, Wonosobo and Temanggung in west, and Magelang city in the middle.
Magelang city is surrounded by mountains and hills such as: Mount Sindoro, Mount Sumbing. Telomoyo mountain, Mount Merbabu, Mount Merapi, Mount Andong, Menoreh Hills and there is “Hill Tidar” located in the heart of the city.
History of Magelang District can not be separated from the development of Magelang. According to a local act number 6 (1989), Magelang was established on 11 April 907. Magelang was then known as a village called Mantyasih, which is now known as Meteseh. There are three stele of historical importance in Magelang, namely Poh, Gilikan and Mantyasih, all of which are written on a plate of copper. Poh and Mantyasih were written under the rule of King Balitung of Mataram Kingdom. In those stele, the villages of Mantyasih and Glanggang were mentioned. They became Meteseh and Magelang respectively.
When Britain colonised Magelang in the eighteenth century, Magelang became the seat of the government and was made to the same level as a regency with Mas Ngabehi Danukromo as its first leader (Bupati). Magelang became the capital of Karesidenan Kedu in 1818. After the Dutch defeated the British, Magelang was made the central of economy because its strategic location. After the independence of Indonesia, Magelang became kotapraja (same level as a district) and then kotamadya (same level as city)
The composition of demography based on its religion and belief, Magelang people has varied and different belief and religion. Majority of magelang citizen are Muslim, but there are minority group such as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and also there are also spiritualism and traditional Javanese belief. Therefore, Magelang citizen are plural, although majority of them Muslim. They usually stick together and keep mutual relationship among them. Seems that, it is a Javanese wisdom which every people to get close and involve to maintain society.
Even though most people recognize that Borobudur temple is located in Yogyakarta, but it actually located in Magelang. Magelang has some potential destination that also interesting to be found out, regarding the nature and historical site. Beside Borobudur, Magelang also has Mendut temple, Umbul temple hotspring, Kedung Kayang waterfall, Elo river rafting, Silawe waterfall, Bleder lake, Babadan Merapi trekking, Ketep pass, Kalibening recreational park, Mendut recreational park, and some traditional ceremonies.
