BLITAR
Had you hear Blitar? Town with a lot of place to refresh your brain. If didn’t know, I well tell you man. Blitar is the second small regency in East Java province. Blitar is noteworthy for being the hometown of Indonesia's first president, Soekarno. It's a sleepy place that's got a tiny business district as well as ancient Hindu temples (called Penataran temple).
Blitar city has principle “Kridho Hangudi Jaya” (work hard to
reach the glorious) and its motto “Blitar Kota Patria” (Blitar the defender of the nation that well-regulated, cleanly, beautiful, and safety), also known as heroic city, student city and peaceful city.
Blitar city has try to build its city as ‘Patria’ city which supported by it commerce system. Blitar government chooses the tourism sector as the main product to increase its economic region.
Beside that, Blitar also has tourism objects as the others East Java’s regencies. The tourism objects that also has known by the public are Penataran Temple which is the ancient Hindu temple, Tambakrejo beach with its fantastic waves, Serang beach that commonly held Larung Sesaji Ceremony, Soekarno Graveyard which is one of Blitar religious tour, traditionally event in Blitar such as Grebeg Pancasila, etc. Pancasila is principle indonesian people. So, how wonderfull blitar?
Soekarno Graveyard
One of the tourist attractions in Blitar municipality is the tomb of Soekarno, an Indonesian proclamation reader and the first President of the Republic of Indonesia. It is located at 60 Slamet Riyadi Street, Bendogerit village, Sunan wetan district, about 2 kilometers from Blitar city.
The architectural "Joglo" dominates the tomb. It is in East Javanese style and combined with Gateway of Bentar. Beside the main building formed cover grave house of ‘Bung Karno’, this graveyard complx also completed with support building that is; Gapura Agung (The Great Gate), Mosque, and hall; which make the visitor feel comfortable to pilgrim in this location. There is also the complement building, consist of the grave manager house, public relax place, park area, and park. The impression is as great as the first president himself when he was still alive.
The tomb is visited by many pilgrims and opened for public. A lot of people come to visit at the time of memorial ‘Khol’ (the day of the death) of the Indonesia’s proclaim. The average of the visitors’ is amount to 150,000 per year, including both domestic and foreign visitors.
The great name of Soekarno invites the tourists to have pilgrimage tour to this graveyard. They feel astonished with the great president Soekarno, so that they pray in this graveyard to ask the benediction.
Sumber Udel
not far from Soekarno Graveyard, there are Sumber Udel. Sumber udel pool have national standard because it have two swimming pool types, which is swimming pool for children and adult.
This Sumber Udel swimming pool also has some facilities, such as:
- Children playground
- A Podium for performed Blitar artistry in every year
- Wide parking area
- Rental and deposit of swim appliances
This swimming pool usually visits by many people, because it has clear and fresh water. Visit this wide swimming pool with your family and enjoy its fresh water.
Serang Beach
Serang Beach is located in Serang village, Panggungrejo district, about 40 km from Blitar city. In every Suro month (new year in Java calendar), it has performed Larung Sesaji ceremony in this beach. In this location, also utilized to see Ramadhan and determined holiday of Idul fitri.
Serang beach has natural beautiful of beach. It spreads white sandy along the beach. The visitors can have many activities in this beach, such as swimming, sun bathing, fishing, canoeing, etc. This beach is one of the famous beaches in Blitar regency. Visit Serang beach, and you will find a new experiences in your trip that unforgettable. Beside that, the visitor also can watch the traditional ceremony in this beach that held in every year. If you know Sanur or Kuta in Bali, may be, serang look like them. But, this place are virgin. So... wow.
Larung Sesaji Ceremony
Larung Sesaji Ceremony is held every 1 Suro (the Javanese calendar) in the South Sea, Tambakrejo beach, Wonotirto district. Larung Sesaji Ceremony is done to express the grateful feeling and also to pray to God who has given the sailors a lot of sea products and also safety.
This ceremony has followed by almost all of society around the beach. They rice cone and throw away on the south sea. That food is the symbol of the grateful expression of the favors that they have gotten from the only one of God.
Tambakrejo Beach
in other tourism place in Blitar, such as serang beach, Tambakrejo Beach are so beautiful. Tambakrejo Beach is located about 30 km from Blitar city, in Tambakrejo village, Wonotirto district. In this location, in every first Suro month (the new year in Java calendar) is performed a "Larung Sesaji" ceremony, and visited by thousands people from various areas. According people in there, and superstition descended on this ceremony, there isn’t just man. But anggel and devil are in there. Believe it or not? Beleve it!
The south sea (Indonesia Ocean) waves splashing and the sunshine in the evening, make the situation feel peaceful. It is compatible for the townsman who had bored with the metropolitan life. They can enjoy the natural beach with its beautiful waves and beautiful sunset. The visitor can make some activities in this beach such as; swimming, sun bathing, fishing, canoeing, etc. Tambakrejo Beach has white sandy that spread along about 10 km. The wave is also not dangerous for the visitors who want to swim here.
There is rubber forest around the beach that adds its beautiful nature. And through the way you can see the dry lime hill. When arrive at the beach, the visitors can see the blue sea and canoe that already to accompanied to the sea. You can enjoy the fresh morning air and seafood in Tambakrejo Beach. If you go to Blitar, try to visit Tambakrejo Beach, then you will get new experiences.
Embultuk Cave.
“Wow, wonderful cave.” That can I said when go there. Embultuk Cave is a natural cave with beautiful stalagmite and stalactite. Embultuk cave is located in Tumpakkepuh village, Bakung district, to the south of Blitar city with a distance of about 40 kilometers. This cave is about 1500 meters long and about 3 meters wide and high.
In full of stalagmite along the length about 1,5 km, you will feel forbear to stay with impressing atmosphere, underground water voice add the natural impression. The visitors have to use ‘petromak’ lamp and double clothes.
Embultuk cave is the only cave in Blitar that presents its unique stalagmite for the visitors. The tour to this cave is crowded of visitors on school holidays, and the road to the cave has been renovated and can be passed by four-wheel vehicles.
From my story, what do you think about this town?