Banyuwangi Regency

Banyuwangi Regency Kabupaten Banyuwangi
Motto: Satya Bhakti Praja Mukti
Banyuwangi Regency Location of Banyuwangi Regency in Indonesia
Coordinates: 8°10′8″S 113°42′8″E / 8.16889°S 113.70222°E / -8.16889; 113.70222
Country	Indonesia
Province	East Java
Government
• Regent	Abdullah Azwar Anas
Area
• Total	5,782.5 km2 (2,232.6 sq mi)
Population (2010 Census)
• Total	1,554,997
• Density	270/km2 (700/sq mi)
Time zone	WIB (UTC+7)
Area code(s)	+62-333
Website	Official site

The Regency of Banyuwangi is located at the easternmost end of the Indonesian island of Java. It serves as a port between Java and the island of Bali. It is surrounded by mountains and forests to the west; by sea to the east and south. Banyuwangi is separated by Strait of Bali from Bali.

The regency had a population of 1,488,791 according to the 2000 Census; by the 2010 Census it had risen to 1,554,997. The city of Banyuwangi is the administrative capital. The name Banyuwangi is Javanese for "fragrance water", connected to the Javanese folklore of Sri Tanjung.

Banyuwangi Regency in East Java province

Society and history

View of Banyuwangi during colonial period.

One Banyuwangi native group is the Osing community which has a Hindu culture although they can be considered as a Javanese sub-ethnic group. They live mainly in the central part of Banyuwangi and they sometimes consider themselves as Majapahit descendants. ^{[citation needed]} Other groups are Javanese (living mostly in the south and west), Madurese (mainly in the north and coastal area) and Balinese (scattered but more concentrated in the east). Other smaller groups include Chinese, Buginese, and Arabs.

Once known as Blambangan (or its variation: Balambangan and Balumbungan), it was a vassal of the Majapahit Kingdom and a regional trade centre. After the Majapahit Kingdom ceased to exist, it became an independent kingdom and, as such, the last Hindu kingdom of Java. In order to defend itself from the troops of the Sultanate of Demak, which tried to occupy it, Blambangan asked for help from Balinese kings, which caused it to lose its independence to Balinese kingdoms. During this time Blambangan was deeply influenced by Balinese culture. After around 150 years of Balinese occupation, the Sultanate of Mataram gained control of the territory and renamed it Banyuwangi. Later, it was part of the Mataram territory controlled by the VOC (1770). During the expansion of plantations in 19th century, many parts of Banyuwangi were planted with coffee and sugar cane, which feature its landscape even now. The Chinese and Arabs came mostly during this period.

Banyuwangi people are known for their combination of Islamic and pre-Islamic beliefs.

Culture

Gandrung Dance

This is a Banyuwangi-typical dance which performed by a woman and along with simple music like violin, triangle (called kluncing), gong (or kempul), kendhang and sometimes with keyboard as result of modern influence. It is performed during night until dawn particularly in parties.

Janger or Damarwulan

This is a traditional theatre art which has been developed since the 19th century in Banyuwangi. It is a combination of Balinese, Javanese and local cultures. Balinese influences can be seen in its performers' costumes and instruments. Meanwhile Javanese influences is in its "lakon" or stories as well as language in dialogues. It is distinct from the Balinese Janger.

Administrative areas

The Regency of Banyuwangi is divided into 24 districts (Kecamatan):

Tourism

Many European tourists visiting Bali come to Banyuwangi to surf in Plengkung and dive in Tabuhan Island. Ferries from Bali arrive at the port of Ketapang, some 8 km to the north of Banyuwangi city. Plekung Beach is also known as G-land or green land have 3 types of waves up to 6 to 8 meters tall.^[1]

Diamond Triangle

Diamond Triangle consists of:^[2]

• Ijen Crater Nature Tourist Park, we can see tosca lake crater and traditional sulphur mining which the sulphur bunch mobilization still use human to hike and down to the crater.
• Alas Purwo National Park, besides see the animals we can surf at G-land/Plengkung with Money Trees, Speddy's, Kongs, Twenty-twenty and Tiger Track waves.
• Meru Betiri National Park, Sukamade Turtle Breeding Station regularly releases baby marine turtles to open ocean. 4 of 6 kind of turtles can be found in Indonesia regularly visit Sukamade to put their eggs. Penyu Hijau (Chelonia mydas) visit the Sukamade Beach almost everynight, Penyu Lekang (Lepidochelys olivacea) visit in March to June, Penyu Belimbing (Dermochelys coriacea) put the egg every 4 years in June to September and the scare Penyu Sisik (Eremochelys olivacea) very seldom to visit the beach.

Environment

The forest and river in Banyuwangi is well-preserved, says the Indonesia Dragonfly Society because they found 3 dragonfly species which only can live in good environment.^[3]

References

External links

Banyuwangi travel guide from Wikivoyage

• (Indonesian) Official site

Coordinates: 8°13′07″S 114°22′01″E / 8.21861°S 114.36694°E / -8.21861; 114.36694

v t e Regencies and cities of East Java (Jawa Timur) Capital: Surabaya Regencies Banyuwangi Bangkalan Blitar Bojonegoro Bondowoso Gresik Jember Jombang Kediri Lamongan Lumajang Madiun Magetan Malang Mojokerto Nganjuk Ngawi Pacitan Pamekasan Pasuruan Ponorogo Probolinggo Sampang Sidoarjo Situbondo Sumenep Trenggalek Tuban Tulungagung Cities Batu Blitar Kediri Madiun Malang Mojokerto Probolinggo Pasuruan Surabaya See also: List of regencies and cities of Indonesia