Blitar

Blitar – Sukarno's childhood home and final resting place

The city of Blitar in East Java is proof that even small, quiet and seemingly unassuming cities can be rich in history. The city, located to the southwest of Surabaya city, spans 32.57 square kilometers and is home to a population of about 159,000 people as of 2023.

It is most well-known nationally as the place where the country's founding father and first president, Sukarno, was buried. His burial site is located at Bendogerit village about 2 kilometers from the city. His tomb was built with a traditional East Javanese architectural pattern and is housed within a 51-foot-tall mausoleum. It is here that he was rested side by side with his parents. This mausoleum, which is open to the public, continues to attract huge crowds. An estimated 1.5 million people visit this tomb annually. In addition to visiting Sukarno's grave, Indonesians have also flocked to Blitar to see the late founding father's home at Gebang Palace where he lived between the ages of 16 to 18. Much like the mausoleum, this destination has also been converted into a museum dedicated to exploring his life that is open for public viewing.

Beyond these Sukarno-related destinations, key historic attractions at Blitar include the Karanganjar Coffee Plantation that was originally founded in 1874 by the Dutch and the Candi Penataran, one of the largest Hindu temple ruin complexes in East Java. Those looking to find more nature-based tourism can check out the active Mt. Kelud volcano and the Peh Pulo, Tambakrejo and Gondo Mayit beaches.

Economically, the city has enjoyed strong growth as of late. Its total investment in 2023 was Rp 385.06 billion, a number that marked an increase of 11.54 percent compared to its total investment value of Rp 345.22 billion in 2022. In terms of gross regional domestic product (GRDP), which was recorded at Rp 44.89 trillion at the current prices and Rp 28.24 at constant prices in 2023, the three largest industries for Blitar were Wholesale and Retail Trade, Car and Motorcycle Repair; Information and Communication; and Financial Services and Insurance.