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Blitar
Overview
Blitar is a landlocked city in East Java, Indonesia, about 73 km from Malang and 167 km from Surabaya. The area lies within longitude 111° 40' – 112° 09' East and its latitude is 8° 06' South. The city of Blitar lies at an altitude on average 167 metres above sea level, and is an enclave within Blitar Regency which surrounds the city on all sides. It covers an area of 32.57 km2, and had a population of 131,968 at the 2010 Census and 149,149 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 161,204 (comprising 80,376 males and 80,828 females).
The city is noted as the location of the grave of Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia, five kilometers from the city plaza. The Istana Gebang (Gebang palace) where Sukarno lived as a child is nearby and has been converted into a museum. containing numerous items commemorating Sukarno's place in Indonesian history. In addition, the very active Kelud volcano is located just over 20 kilometers north of Blitar.
Blitar city is surrounded by four of the districts (kecamatan) of Blitar Regency - Kademangan, Garum, Nglegok and Sanankulon; added to the population of the city, this combined area of seven kecamatan had a total population in mid 2023 of 436,740 within 318.3 km2.
Facts
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Source
WBP almanac
External sources
Media
From Wikipedia870 words
WBP editorial3
Beyond the Mausoleum: Local rhythms
While most itineraries centre on the Sukarno memorial, Blitar’s daily pulse hides in its pasar pagi. Early‑morning stalls along Jalan Sumber offer a vivid cross‑section of Javanese life: spiced tempeh crisps, fresh mangoes, and the occasional musang (civet) coffee brewed on charcoal. Join a resident vendor for a quick lesson in the subtle art of balancing sweet and savoury, and you’ll glimpse the city’s culinary negotiations that have shaped local taste long before tourism arrived. The market’s rhythm also mirrors the city’s bus timetable, where minibuses (angkot) arrive every 15 minutes, a practical tip for navigating the urban sprawl without a car.
A railway stop with a story
Blitar’s station, a modest stop on the Surabaya‑Malang line, is more than a transit point; it is a living reminder of the railway’s role in reshaping East Java’s agrarian landscape. Travelers who linger long enough can watch the familiar clatter of freight wagons carrying cloves and coffee beans, a reminder of the region’s colonial export history. Pull a seat on the platform and you’ll often hear elderly locals recounting the “golden age” when the line linked village cooperatives to urban markets, a narrative that adds depth to any visit beyond the usual tourist script.