Salatiga

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Salatiga is a city in Central Java, Indonesia, located between the cities of Semarang and Surakarta. It sits at the foot of Mount Merbabu (3,142 m) and Mount Telomoyo, and has a relatively cool climate due to its elevated position.

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[edit] History

The Monolith of Plumpungan
The Monolith of Plumpungan

Writing in Javanese in the Monolith of Plumpungan (Prasasti Plumpungan in Sanskrit), King Bhanu declared on the 31st date and 4th year of the Saka calendar: "Srir = astu swasti prajabhyah", which means May you be happy! All the people. Thus the village of Hampran (Desa Hampran) was conceived as a Perdikan village (Desa Perdikan, meaning a tax-free village). The people of this village, who celebrate the goddess of Trisala called the village Trisala and in the years to come became Salatri and eventually Salatiga. In the modern calendar, this scroll is dated 24th July, year 750. This date has been officially marked as the birthdate of Salatiga. On 1st July 1917 the village of Salatiga was nominated as staads gemeente or small town, by the Dutch colony.

An alternative mythical version is that of Ki Ageng Pandanaran, the first regent of Semarang, was robbed by three muggers, and he thus named the location Salah Telu. Salah means wrong in Indonesian and Javanese, and telu is Javanese for three, and tiga in Indonesian, hence Salatiga.

Today, Salatiga is one of 35 provincial districts/cities in Central Java with population of 150,000 or less.

[edit] Administration

Salatiga is divided into 4 subdistricts (kecamatan): Argomulyo, Tingkir, Sidomukti, and Sidorejo.

[edit] Geography

Mount Merbabu viewed from Salatiga
Mount Merbabu viewed from Salatiga

Position:

  • 110 ° 28' 37.79" - 110o 32' 39.79" BT
  • 7 ° 17' 4.00" - 7o 23' 23.48" LS
  • Area: 56km²
  • Elevation: 450m to 800m
  • The sun is located directly over Salatiga on 20th February and 20th October
  • Climate: tropical
  • Record from 1992 shows
  • Average temperature: 26.25°C
  • Lowest temperature: 23.89°C in July
  • Highest temperature: 31.80°C in October
  • Average rainfall: 118mm
  • Number of rainy days: 145
  • Salatiga in Google Maps

Distance from Salatiga to other cities:

[edit] Places of interest

Mount Telomoyo is accessible by motorcycle
Mount Telomoyo is accessible by motorcycle

The region surrounding Salatiga is in the scenic foothills of Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi and has a number of places interest close by:

  • Muncul natural spring pool (7 km)
  • Ambarawa locomotive museum (15 km)
  • Kopeng highlands (12 km)
  • Bandungan highlands (25 km)
  • Gedongsongo ancient temples (30 km, 5 km from Bandungan)
  • Climb to Mount Merbabu
  • Climb to Mount Telomoyo (15 km)
  • Climb to Mount Merapi volcano
  • Hire a boat at Lake Rawapening (10 km)

[edit] Famous foods

  • Progo Noodle (Bakmi Progo), alley near Reksa Theatre
  • Babat meatballs (Bakso Babat), in front of Roncalli Institute
  • Pecel Madya (Salad), behind old Madya theatre
  • Enting-enting gepuk (crushed peanuts), kripik paru (lung crackers), lidah asap (smoke tongue/beef) in front of Chinese temple

[edit] External links