Hearing the word "history" may make us imagine the boring things. About past stories or ancient things for example. In fact, adding insights on history does not make us saturated. One of them is by exploring historical tours.
Blitar, is a city located in the southern part of East Java province, exactly 167 km from Surabaya city. We may not know much that the city that is just below the foot of Mount Kelud holds many tourism potentials with its historical values.
Well, if you visit Kediri, Tulungagung, or Malang - there's nothing wrong with going to this small town. Not merely traveling for fun, but dropping to Blitar is a way we value history in our own country.
Blitar is so attached to the figure of our Proklamator. There is Ndalem Gebang where Bung Karno spent his childhood
Blitar city deserves more deeply known. From this small town, one of the most influential people in the process of Indonesian independence came from. Yup, Soekarno clearly has a big role for Indonesia's independence. Without his services and his associates, we may not be able to enjoy the freedom that we feel today.
So, not surprisingly, this city is also referred to as Bumi Bung Karno. The reason is, this city is the home of both parents of Bung Karno as well as where he spent his childhood.
Blitar city should not be forgotten, because this is where the first president of Indonesia is buried
After experiencing a long period of struggle, this is where Soekarno then buried. He was buried in the village of Bendogerit, Sanawetan district, about 3 km from downtown Blitar. A lot of controversy happened about Bung Karno's funeral in Blitar. The placement of his tomb in Blitar, is said to be an attempt by the Soeharto regime to isolate Sukarno because of the conflict between the two at that time.
Whether true or not it, yet his persistence in against the invaders are still imprinted in our memory as an Indonesian. Until now proved that the final petilasan Bung Karno is never deserted from visitors who want to visit or just remember history.
Pancasila made the basis of the state of Indonesia, that's why Blitar menghelat Grebeg Pancasila every June 1 in order to commemorate the birth of Pancasila
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To prove that Blitar deserves to be called the city of History of Indonesia is what they are titles to celebrate Pancasila's birthday on June 1st. Yup, different from other cities, the event is done to remember the history of this nation's struggle is done in 3 main events, namely cultural ceremony, kirab gunungan, and Pancasila kenduri.
In addition, another reason for this great event is to remember the memories of the struggle at that time. This event as well as a symbol of community pride Blitar Bung Karno figure will be set also in June as the month of Bung Karno.
The struggle against the invaders is worth remembering. Blitar is the mute witness of the first rebellion of Laskar Pembela Tanah Air (PETA) against the Japanese army
Forget for a moment about the correlation between February 14th with Valentine's Day. If you reopen your old history book, then you will find that on 14 February 1945 is the day when the Laskar Pembela Tanah Air (PETA) made a first-ever rebellion against the Japanese government.
Under the leadership of Sodanco Supriyadi, although it failed and lasted only for a few hours, this rebellion was able to trigger young people in other areas to fight. Young people in other cities like his burning spirit to seize the independence of Indonesia that has long been seized by other countries. Until now, to commemorate the event, always held "PETA rebellion theater" every February 14 with the main character Sodanco Supriyadi which is usually played by the mayor of Blitar itself.
South Blitar is the place where Operation Trisula was launched in order to quell the remnants of the PKI's glory
The destruction of the PKI on 30 September 1965 did not dampen its move to survive. The PKI attempted to regroup its forces with Mae Ze Dong's guerrilla strategy and tactics (retreat, move, hide in the forest, then fight back) by consolidating the isolated areas.
South Blitar witnessed the "Operation Trisula" which became the solution after the failure of "Operation Blitar Selatan" which was the initiation of Colonel Thohir at that time. In this "Operation Trisula" there are approximately 10,000 members of Banser and surrounding residents who do tactic "posse" to raided the PKI hideout. To commemorate the event, has been built Trisula monument located in the village Bakung, Blitar district.
In the past, Blitar became one of the administrative cities like Jakarta and Surabaya. Gemeente Blitar, so the name pinned by the Dutch government
Maybe some of you do not know if Blitar had been one of the administrative cities during the Dutch colonial period. In the past, he paralleled his position with Batavia (Jakarta), Bandung, and Surabaya. But as time goes by, its existence is inferior to other big cities because its construction only runs on the spot.
Gameente Blitar is the name given by the Dutch government when the city was first formed on April 1, 1906. Not only big cities that have other names such as Jakarta with Batavia or Bandung with Paris Van Java, formerly Blitar also included in the row of big cities in the Dutch East Indies government as the Gameente Blitar.
Did you know that this city had become a polemic when the new order era? At that time the presidential clan of Suharto wanted to get rid of Sukarno's traces along with his home region by making it a municipality.
But after the reform era of 1998, the area commonly referred to as Bumi Bung Karno was finally officially become a city. The strong resistance of the people of Blitar became the key to the failure of the city's isolation. And as citizens of Indonesia as well as the younger generation who should not be "blind" with history, is not visited Blitar could be an option when traveling? So, when are you going to visit there? 🙂