Garut Regency

Garut Regency is a regency in the Indonesian province of West Java. It covers an area of 3,065.19 km² (1,186.91 mi²). Geographically, it lies between 6°57′34″ – 7°44′57″ South latitude and 107°24′34″ – 108°7′34″ East longitude. The population at the 2010 census was 2,404,121,^[2] and at the 2020 census was 2,585,607; ^[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 2,683,665 (comprising 1,372,689 males and 1,310,976 females).^[1] South Tarogong (Tarogong Kidul) is the regency seat.

Garut Regency Kabupaten Garut
Regency
Other transcription(s)
• Sundanese	ᮊᮘᮥᮕᮒᮦᮔ᮪ ᮌᮛᮥᮒ᮪
Cangkuang Temple
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Kabupaten Intan (Regency of Diamonds)
Motto(s):  ᮒᮒ ᮒᮨᮀᮒᮢᮨᮙ᮪ ᮊᮨᮁᮒ ᮛᮠᮁᮏ Tata Tengtrem Kerta Raharja (Orderly, peaceful, and prosperous)
Location within West Java
Garut Regency Location in Java and Indonesia Show map of Java Garut Regency Garut Regency (Indonesia) Show map of Indonesia
Coordinates: 7°12′10″S 107°53′09″E
Country	Indonesia
Province	West Java
Regency seat	South Tarogong (Tarogong Kidul)
Government
• Regent	Abdusy Syakur Amin
• Vice Regent	Luthfianisa Putri Karlina
Area
• Total	3,065.19 km2 (1,183.48 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate)
• Total	2,683,665
• Density	880/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
	[1]
Time zone	UTC+7 (WIB)
Area code	0262
Website	garutkab.go.id

Adjacent regencies

It is bordered by:

• Eastern side: Tasikmalaya Regency
• Western side: Cianjur Regency and Bandung Regency
• Northern side: Sumedang Regency
• Southern side: Indian Ocean

Geography

In general, Garut has a cool but tropical climate, with an average temperature of 24 °C (76 °F). Average annual rainfall is 2,590 mm (102 inches). This area includes valley territory surrounded by volcanoes (Mount Karacak: 1,838 m, Mount Cikuray: 2,821 m, Mount Guntur: 2,249 m, Mount Papandayan: 2,622 m) on the northern side, with average heights of 700–750 m above sea level. Streams of solidified lava are present on their slopes.

Administrative districts

Garut Regency is currently divided into 42 districts (kecamatan), listed below with their areas and populations at the 2010^[2] and 2020 censuses, ^[3] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.^[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district (totaling 421 rural desa and 21 urban kelurahan), and its post code.

However, in 2013 the National Legislative Council approved a proposal to create a new Regency - South Garut Regency (Kabupaten Garut Selatan) - to include the 16 southernmost districts (those listed first in the table below) of the existing Garut Regency,^[4] with a combined population of 694,740 in mid 2023.^[1] The new Regency would thus inherit 63% of the land area of the existing regency, but only 26% of its population in mid 2023. As at 2024, this proposal has not yet been implemented, but for convenience the table below has been split to distinguish those districts in the proposed South Garut Regency.

Kode Wilayah	Name of District (kecamatan)	Area in km2	Pop'n 2010 census	Pop'n 2020 census	Pop'n mid 2023 estimate	Admin centre	No. of Villages	Post code
32.05.35	Cisewu	172.83	32,976	33,412	34,039	Cisewu	9	44169
32.05.36	Caringin	99.03	29,566	32,010	33,245	Purbayani	6	44166
32.05.37	Talegong	108.74	30,715	28,747	29,287	Sukamulya	7	44167
32.05.31	Bungbulang	146.98	59,659	58,300	59,820	Bungbulang	13	44165
32.05.32	Mekarmukti	55.22	15,634	18,161	19,251	Cijayana	5	44155
32.05.34	Pamulihan	132.44	17,570	18,592	19,181	Pakenjeng	5	44168
32.05.33	Pakenjeng	198.44	65,752	68,277	70,057	Jatiwangi	13	44164
32.05.30	Cikelet	172.32	40,928	44,488	46,258	Cikelet	11	44177
32.05.27	Pameungpeuk	44.11	38,852	42,560	44,353	Mandalakasih	8	44175
32.05.29	Cibalong	213.59	40,768	44,565	46,414	Karya Mukti	11	44176
32.05.28	Cisompet	172.25	49,848	52,746	54,417	Cisompet	11	44174
32.05.26	Peundeuy	56.79	22,408	23,755	24,521	Peundeuy	6	44178
32.05.24	Singajaya	67.69	45,509	47,313	48,563	Singajaya	9	44170
32.05.25	Cihurip	40.42	17,993	18,691	19,211	Cihurip	4	44173
32.05.22	Cikajang	124.95	78,164	83,944	86,978	Cikajang	12	44171
32.05.23	Banjarwangi	123.82	56,100	57,780	59,145	Banjarwangi	11	44172
	Totals South Garut	1,929.62	642,442	673,341	694,740		141

Kode Wilayah	Name of District (kecamatan)	Area in km2	Pop'n 2010 census	Pop'n 2020 census	Pop'n mid 2023 estimate	Admin centre	No. of Villages	Post code
32.05.19	Cilawu	77.63	100,073	107,738	111,711	Cilawu	18	44181
32.05.17	Bayongbong	49.95	93,102	102,703	107,246	Bayongbong	18	44162
32.05.18	Cigedug	31.20	38,199	43,475	45,812	Cigedug	5	44116
32.05.20	Cisurupan	80.88	95,086	98,587	101,112	Balewangi	17	44163
32.05.21	Sukaresmi	35.17	37,082	39,844	41,290	Sukaresmi	7	44154
32.05.07	Samarang	59.71	71,169	77,181	80,197	Samarang	13	44160
32.05.08	Pasirwangi	46.70	62,048	64,935	66,779	Pasirwangi	12	44161
32.05.05	Tarogong Kidul	19.46	108,192	114,965	118,753	Sukakarya	12 (a)	44150
32.05.04	Tarogong Kaler	50.57	84,843	95,942	100,910	Cimanganten	13 (b)	44151
32.05.01	Garut Kota	27.71	126,452	127,583	130,750	Pakuwon	11 (c)	44111 - 44119
32.05.02	Karangpawitan	52.07	116,833	135,814	143,995	Sindanglaya	20 (d)	44182
32.05.03	Wanaraja	35.26	44,036	48,281	50,327	Wanaraja	9	44180
32.05.42	Sucinaraja	33.83	26,045	29,105	30,507	Tegalpanjang	7	44115
32.05.41	Pangatikan	19.72	38,472	42,043	43,783	Cimaragas	8	44183
32.05.15	Sukawening	38.83	49,689	55,890	58,693	Sukamukti	11	44179
32.05.16	Karangtengah	23.28	16,107	18,371	19,370	Sindanggalih	4	44184
32.05.06	Banyuresmi	47.88	78,190	91,016	94,487	Bagendit	15	44191
32.05.09	Leles	73.51	76,056	83,445	86,999	Leles	12	44152 (e)
32.05.11	Leuwigoong	19.35	41,485	46,398	48,645	Leuwigoong	8	44192
32.05.12	Cibatu	41.43	63,598	73,646	76,560	Cibatu	11	44185
32.05.13	Kersamanah	16.50	35,583	38,612	40,128	Kersamanah	6	44189
32.05.40	Cibiuk	19.90	30,368	34,560	36,417	Cipareuan	5	44193
32.05.10	Kadungora	37.31	86,516	92,233	95,366	Karangtengah	14	44153
32.05.38	Balubur Limbangan	73.59	76,530	78,608	80,402	Limbangantimur	14	44186
32.05.39	Selaawi	34.07	37,167	41,703	43,763	Selaawi	7	44187
32.05.14	Malangbong	92.38	118,671	129,588	134,923	Malangbong	24	44188
	Totals North Garut	1,135.55	1,761,679	1,912,266	1,988,925		301
	Totals Garut Regency	3,065.19	2,404,121	2,585,607	2,683,665		442

Note: (a) comprising 5 urban kelurahan (Jayawaras, Pataruman, Sukagalih, Sukajaya and Sukakarya) and 7 rural desa. (b) including one kelurahan (Pananjung).
(c) comprising all 11 kelurahan (Cimuncang, Ciwalen, Kota Kulon, Kota Wetan, Margawati, Muara Sanding, Pakuwon, Paminggir, Regol, Sukamantri and Sukanegla).
(d) comprising 4 kelurahan (Karangmulya, Lebakjaya, Lengkongjaya and Sucikaler) and 16 desa. (e) except the desa of Cangkuang, which has a post code of 44119.

Administratively, the 42 districts are subdivided into 442 villages, comprising 421 rural desa and 21 urban kelurahan. Cibalong District is the largest district and covers 6.97% of the area of all Garut Regency districts, while the Kersamanah District is the smallest, with an area of 1,650 ha or 0.54%. Garut constitutes the buffer land and hinterland for the development of Bandung Raja's territory. It has a strategic position and acts as the supplier for the needs of Bandung Municipality and Bandung Regency's populations.

The Garut Regency has two distinct topographical areas:

• Northern Garut consists of highlands and mountainous terrain, which have the largest rice fields of Garut
• Southern Garut is mostly made out of downward sloping lands, along with twelve main rivers which flow south into the Java Trench, an area of oceanic crust near the southern coast of Java that is part of the larger Indian Ocean.

Tourist resorts are well-established in Garut Regency, with coastal views, and others with craters, waterfalls, lakes and a hot springs.^[5]

History

Coat of Arms of Garoet used during Dutch colonial era, adopted from 1920s.

On March 2, 1811, the Balubur Limbangan Regency was defeated by Governor General Herman W. Daendels (of the Dutch Colonial Army), and Regent Tumenggung Wangsakusumah II resigned. Balubur Limbangan Regency then comprised 6 districts: Balubur, Malangbong, Wanaraja, Wanakerta, Cibeureum and Papandak.

On February 16, 1813, a new Limbangan Regency was founded by Lt. Governor Sir Stamford Raffles which became Garut Regency. R.A.A. Adiwijaya was the first Regent of Garut Regency. He governed from 1813 until 1821. He was well known for his call of Dalem Cipeujeuh.

• 
  Garut sanatorium in the 1920s
• 
  The Regent of Garut Raden Adipati Aria Wiratanudatar VII with his wife, RA Lasminingrat, and family.
• 
  Garut's main street in 1936

Localities

• Garsela
• Sindangratu

Local produce

Land fertility varies greatly because of influence by mountains, rivers and coastal lowlands. As a result, agricultural businesses are primarily plantation-based, as well as subsistence farming and animal husbandry, followed by forest resources.

Some known products from Garut are:

• Garut Orange fruits (Jeruk Garut)
• Mangdogars Handycraft "Mang Dogar" as Garut Icon likes ornament, dolls, souvenir, clothes
• Garut Lamb (Domba Garut)
• Dodol Garut (a snack)
• Vetiver Root Oil (Andropogon zizanioides)
• Batik Tulis Garutan (hand painted clothes)
• Silk clothes
• Gemstones
• Leather crafts
• Bamboo crafts

Tourism in Garut

Garut is known as Zwitserse van Java (Switzerland of Java). It has so many tourist attractions divided into several tourism zone units (Indonesian: Satuan Kawasan Wisata (SKW)):

• Cangkuang TZU including Paragliding Mount Haruman, Cikembulan Zoo, Cimandi Racun Waterfall, Cangkuang Lake, Cangkuang, Jafar Umar Sidiq Tomb,
• Cipanas TZU including Bagendit Lake, Citiis Waterfall, Mount Guntur, Cipanas Water Park
• Darajat Crater TZU including Darajat Crater and water parks around.
• Mbah Godog Tomb TZU including Godog Tomb, Linggaratu Tomb, Cinunuk Tomb, Talaga Bodas,
• Ngamplang TZU including Cihanyawar Waterfall, Flamboyan Golf Course, Dayeuh Manggung Tea Plantation,
• Pameungpeuk TZU including Darmaga Beach, Manulusu Beach, Gunung Geder, Santolo Beach, Neglasari Beach, Sayang Heulang Beach
• Papandayan TZU including Cimmanuk River Rafting, Ciburuy Site, Curug Orok, Papandayan Crater,
• Rancabuaya TZU including Rancabuaya Beach, Cikandang River Rafting, Sanghiyang Taraje Waterfall,
• Sancang TZU including Sancang Forest, Cijeruk Indah Beach and Karang Paranje Beach