Kendal (Javanese: ꦏꦼꦤ꧀ꦣꦭ꧀, romanized: Kendhal) is a regency in the northern part of Central Java province in Indonesia, west of Semarang. The regency is bordered by the Java Sea in the north, Semarang City and Semarang Regency in the east, Temanggung Regency in the south, and Batang Regency in the west. Kendal Regency was established on 28 July, 1605. Its administrative capital is the town of Kendal, which is also known as the City of Santri because there are thousands of Ponpes, especially in Kaliwungu District and it is also known as the City of Arts and Culture. The regency covers an area of 1,002.23 km2 and had a population of 900,313 at the 2010 census[2] and 1,018,505 at the 2020 census;[3] the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 1,064,812, consisting of 536,543 (50.39%) males and 528,269 (49.61%) females.[1]
History
The name Kendal was taken from the name of a tree, the Kendal Tree. No one at first knew its name, but when Pakuwojo hid in the tree, it was brightly lit. Finally the tree was called the Qondhali tree, which means lighting, and the area where the tree was, was called Qondhali because Javanese were not fluent in Arabic and later became Kendal. The lush leafy tree has been known since the time of the Demak Kingdom in 1500-1546 AD, during the reign of Sultan Trenggono. At the beginning of his reign in 1521, Sultan Trenggono once ruled Sunan Katong to order heirlooms to Pakuwojo. The events that caused the conflict and resulted in the death were recorded in the Inscription. Even now, the tomb of the two figures in Kendal's history in Protomulyo Village, Kaliwungu District, is still widely sacred to the community. According to the story, Sunan Katong was stunned by the beauty and longing of Kendal trees that grew in the surrounding environment. While enjoying the view of the Kendal tree that looks "sari", he mentioned that in the area later it would be called "Kendalsari". The big tree that the people mentioned was located on the edge of Kendal Youth Street was also known as Kendal Growing because the stem was hollow or growing.
A young man named Joko Bahu, a court servant of the Mataram kingdom, was someone who loved others and a hard worker until Joko Bahu succeeded in advancing his area. For this success, Sultan Agung Adi Prabu Hanyokrokusumo finally appointed him as the Kendal Regent, entitled Tumenggung Bahurekso. In addition Tumenggung Bahurekso was also appointed as Commander of the Mataram War on August 26, 1628, to lead tens of thousands of soldiers to invade the VOC in Batavia. In the battle on 21 October, 1628 in Batavia, Tumenggung Bahurekso and his two sons died as Kusuma Bangsa. From the journey of Sang Tumenggung Bahurekso led the VOC attack in Batavia on August 26, 1628, which was then used as a benchmark for the history of the birth of Kendal Regency. Further development with the momentum of the death of Tumenggung Bahurekso as the determination of the anniversary was considered by some to be inappropriate. Because the momentum was a dark history for a character named Bahurekso, it was feared to bring psychological effects. The emergence of the term "fail and fall" in Javanese mythology was feared to form psychological biases that influence the behavior of the pattern of taste, creativity and intentions of the people of Kendal Regency, so that it felt
Kaliwungu triumphed as the centre of government at the inception of Kendal Regency. However, due to the political conditions in the center of Mataram at that time and the consideration of the development of the government, the centre of government was moved to Kendal District. So that finally Kaliwungu is only used for the residence of the father of the Regent, who is often referred to as Kuhan, whereas the government administration is in Kendal District.
Kendal Regency consists of twenty administrative districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census[2] and the 2020 census,[3] together with the official estimates as at mid 2024.[1] The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 266 rural desa and 20 urban keluraham - the latter all in Kendal town District), and its post code.
Kode Wilayah
Name of District (kecamatan)
Area in km2
Pop'n census 2010
Pop'n census 2020
Pop'n estimate mid 2024
Admin centre
No. of villages
Post code
33.24.01
Plantungan
48.82
28,826
32,586
34,049
Tirtomulyo
12
51362
33.24.03
Sukorejo
76.01
57,080
60,399
61,517
Sukorejo
18
51363
33.24.02
Pageruyung
51.43
31,487
35,671
37,304
Pageruyung
14
51361
33.24.04
Patean
92.94
46,892
52,105
54,083
Curugsewu
14
51364
33.24.05
Singorojo
119.32
46,757
52,854
55,226
Ngareanak
13
51382
33.24.06
Limbangan
71.72
30,722
34,937
36,163
Limbangan
16
51383
33.24.07
Boja
64.09
69,417
82,443
86,418
Boja
18
51381
Sub-totals
South (highland) area
524.33
311,181
351,995
364,760
105
33.24.08
Kaliwungu
47.73
58,514
66,157
68,363
Sarirejo
9
51372
33.24.20
Kaliwungu Selatan (South Kaliwungu)
65.19
44,495
54,251
51,795
Magelung
8
51372 -51382
Sub-totals
North-east (Kaliwungu) area
112.92
103,009
120,408
120,158
17
33.24.09
Brangsong
34.54
44,662
50,611
52,333
Brangsong
12
51371
33.24.10
Pegandon
31.12
33,418
37,954
39,271
Tegorejo
12
51358
33.24.19
Ngampel
33.88
31,100
35,855
37,261
Ngampel Wetan
12
51357
33.24.11
Gemuh
38.17
45,360
52,409
54,498
Gemuh Blanten
16
51356
33.24.18
Ringinarum
23.50
31,866
36,620
38,020
Ringinarum
12
51359
33.24.12
Weleri
30.28
55,770
59,885
60,962
Penyangkringan
16
51355
33.24.16
Rowosari
32.64
46,151
53,566
55,775
Rowosari
16
51319 (a)
33.24.17
Kangkung
38.98
42,143
49,883
52,237
Kangkung
15
51353
33.24.13
Cepiring
30.08
46,932
52,654
54,288
Karangayu
15
51352
33.24.14
Patebon
44.30
54,612
60,085
61,599
Jambearum
18
51351
33.24.15
Kendal (town)
27.49
54,109
59,832
61,429
Karangsari
20 (b)
51311 - 51319
Sub-totals
North (lowland) area
364.98
486,123
546,102
567,912
164
Totals
1,002.23
900,313
1,018,505
1,064,812
Kendal
286
Note: (a) except one desa (Karangsari) for which the post code is 51354. (b) comprising the 20 kelurahan of Balok, Bandengan, Banyutowo, Bugangin, Candiroto, Jetis, Jotang, Kalibuntu Wetan, Karang Sari, Kebondalem, Ketapang, Langenharjo, Ngilir, Pakauman, Patukangan, Pegulon, Sijeruk, Sukodono, Trompo and Tunggulrejo.
Kendal town is the administrative headquarters. Besides Kendal, other significant district centres are Kaliwungu, Boja and Weleri. Kendal Regency has a coastline with a length of 41.0 kilometres.
In general, the Kendal Regency region is divided into two distinct areas, namely lowland areas in the north (with beaches) and highland areas in the south (mountains). The northern region of Kendal Regency is a low-lying area with an altitude between 0–10 metres above sea level, which includes the districts of Weleri, Rowosari, Kangkung, Cepiring, Gemuh, Ringinarum, Pegandon, Ngampel, Patebon, Kendal, Brangsong, and Kaliwungu. The southern part of Kendal Regency is a highland area consisting of mountainous land with an altitude between 10 and 2,579 metres above sea level, covering the districts of Plantungan, Pageruyung, Sukorejo, Patean, Boja, Singorojo, Limbangan and Kaliwungu Selatan.
Kendal has a soccer club, the Persik Kendal. Its stadium is the Bahurekso Stadium. The stadium is located at Kebondalem Village, Kendal City. It also has some volleyball clubs at the Krida Bahurekso Gym.
Industry
Sugar Factory in Cepiring In Dutch era.
One of the Industries in Kendal is Kendal Industrial Estate in Kaliwungu District and Sugar Factory in Cepiring District. The Sugar Factory in Cepiring has existed since the Dutch era.
Tourism
Natural Tourism
Ngebum Beach. Located In Kaliwungu
Curug Sewu / Sewu Waterfall. Located in Patean
Jeglong Waterfall. Located in Plantungan
Cacaban Tourism Village. Located in Singorojo
Sekatul Agrotourism. Located in Limbangan
Muara Kencan beach. Located in Patebon
Ngebruk Fruit Garden in Patean.
Sendang Sikucing. Located in Rowosari
Semawur Waterfall. Located in Plantungan
Kiskendo Cave. Located in Singorojo
Penglebur Gongso Waterfall. Located in Limbangan
Selo Arjuno Hill. Located in Limbangan
Tiban Island Tourism in Patebon.
Gonoharjo Hot Spring. Located in Limbangan
Medini Tea Plantation. Located in Limbangan
Sewu Waterfall/ Curug Sewu
Religious Tourism
Wali Joko's Grave. Located in Kendal Mosque Complex
Wali Hadi's Grave. Located in Kendal Mosque Complex
The Tomb of Prince Djoeminah. Located in Kaliwungu
Tomb of Sunan Bromo. Located in Boja
Kyai Asyari's Grave. Located in Kaliwungu
Wali Gembyang's Grave. Located in Kendal City
The Tomb of Habib Mansyur Al Munawar. Located in Kendal City