Kebumen

History

The word Kebumen is taken from the name Kyai Pangeran Bumidirja. He was an Islamic scholar and nobleman from the Mataram sultanate. He was in exile in Panjer (today's Kebumen) and changed his name to Kyai Bumi. He settled in Panjer and established an Islamic school. People started calling the place Ki-Bumi-An which referred to the Islamic school. Later, it became simply Kebumen. During the Mataram sultanate Kebumen was used by the ruler, Sultan Agung, to provide logistical support in his attempt to conquer Batavia (today's Jakarta).

People

Kebumen regency has a population of about one million in an area of approximately 1,300km². Therefore, it is not densely populated. The majority are Javanese and are able to speak Javanese and Indonesian. English is not widely spoken. Many people use the Banyumas and Yogyakarta dialects of Javanese. Many people work in the agriculture or fishing sectors.

Climate

The lowest average annual temperature is 20.6°C, while the highest temperature is about 34°C.

Visitor information

• Kebumen Regency Tourism Office

  phone: +62 287 381988
  address: Jl Pahlawan 136

By plane

The closest airport is Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta. From there, you can get to Kebumen by train from Yogyakarta station or Lempuyangan station, or by bus from Giwangan terminal.

By train

There are two main train stations:

• Kebumen Station

  address: Jl Stasiun
  On the east side of Kebumen.

• Gombong Station

  address: Jl Stasiun II, Gombong
  To the west of Kebumen town.

There are also two minor train stations:

• Karanganyar Station

  address: Jl Stasiun, Karanganyar

• Prembun Station

  address: Jl Stasiun, Prembun
  This station only serves the Prambanan Ekspres (Prameks) train that passes through Jogja and terminates at Solo's Balapan Station.

By bus

There are two main bus terminals:

• Kebumen Bus Terminal

  address: Jl Raya Alternatif Luar Kota
  On the east side of town.

• Gombong Bus Terminal

  address: Jl Tentara Pelajar, Semanding, Gombong
  In the western part of Kebumen regency.

There is also one mini terminal that is used by Efisiensi Bus in

Wonosari Rest Area

. The Efisiensi bus serves Cilacap, Purwokerto, Yogjakarta city, and Adisutjipto International Airport.

By car

Kebumen is relatively small, travelling around town should not be too expensive. You could jog around it in about 40 minutes.

By trishaw

Traditional three-wheeled pedal-powered rickshaws known as becak can be found in most parts of Kebumen. Haggle furiously.

By minivan

• Angkot — battered minibuses, derived from the words angkutan kota, or city transport have fixed routes but pick up and drop off anywhere along that route. Sometimes they can be crowded, but it's a great way to meet the locals. Costs Rp2,500 per passenger, paid when you alight.

By car

There are two taxi companies in Kebumen :

• Puri Kencana Taksi

  phone: +62 819 15008855

• Menganti Trans Abadi

  phone: +62 822 44499997

• Van Der Wijck Fort

  phone: +62 813 2714-6560
  address: Jl Sapta Marga, Gombong
  Built in 1818, it is named after the Dutch soldier Van Der Wijck. It was used by the Dutch during the Java War against Prince Diponegoro. However, it is unclear what the main function of the fort was, because there is some argument that it was used for logistics and military training. Now, there is a park and two swimming pools around the fort.

• Horse racing

  address: Tegalrejo, Desa Ambalresmi, Ambal
  Horse racing is held annually, three days after Idul Fitri for four days. Crowds of up to 4,000 people are expected.

• Roemah Martha Tilaar

  phone: +62 287 473313
  address: Jl Sempor Lama No.28, Wonokriyo, Gombong
  Museum in a colonial-style building from 1920. It was Marta Tilaar's house. The home of a nationally-famous beautician.

• Tugu Lawet

  address: Jl Pahlawan
  The icon of Kebumen

• Alun-alun Kebumen

  address: Jl Pahlawan, Bumirejo
  The large grassed square found in the centre of all Javanese towns, the focus of local government and always popular for recreation.

• Taman Kota Jenderal HM Sarbini Kebumen

  address: Jl Indrakila or Jl Ahmadyani
  A new city park.

Beaches

• Suwuk Beach

  phone: +62 878 3793-8000
  address: Tambakmulyo, Puring
  Suwuk beach is about 3km long. Swimming is forbidden because of strong current. It is surrounded by limestone hills. There is also small water park.

• Karangbolong Beach

  phone: +62 822 2060-2742
  address: Karangbolong, Buayan
  Next to Suwuk beach. There is small cave near the beach (hence the name: karang means coral, and bolong means hole). Similar to Suwuk beach, Karangbolong is surrounded by limestone hills.

• Petanahan Beach

  phone: +62 821-3355-29364
  address: Karangrejo, Petanahan
  One of Kebumen's famous long beaches. Close to Suwuk beach. There are people who offer boat rides. It is forbidden to swim because of the strong current.

• Logending Beach

  phone: +62 853 8567-9445
  address: Ayah
  As well as the beach, there is also a mangrove forest. Boat rides available.

• Menganti Beach

  address: Jl Pantai Menganti, Karangduwur, Ayah
  A newly-developed destination in Kebumen. Not so many facilities but its natural beauty makes people call it the New Zealand of Kebumen.

• Lampon Beach

  phone: +62 82135517009
  address: Jl Ayah-Karangbolong, Pasir, Ayah
  A new vacation spot on five different beaches: Pasir, Lampon, Tanjung Karang Penganten, Gebyuran and Surmanis. There are several caves, a waterfall and hills to camp on.

Caves

• Jatijajar Cave

  phone: +62 813 2764-2775
  address: Jatijajar, Ayah
  Famous limestone cave discovered in 1802 by Jayamenawi, close to Logending beach. People can enter the cave to see the stalagmites and stalactites. It is 50 meters above sea level, with 250 meter in length. It is named Jatijajar because when it was discovered, there were two teak trees (jati) in a row (jajar). Inside the cave there are two natural springs, Sendang Kantil and Sendang Mawar. It is said that if you wash your face using water from Sendang Mawar, you will stay young. If you wash your face at Sendang Kantil, your dreams will come true. There are two more natural springs, but access is difficult. There is also a diorama of Lutung Kasarung, a story from Indonesian folklore.

• Petruk Cave

  phone: +62 823 2200-3444
  address: Ayah
  Still natural (not crowded). You must be accompanied by an official guide. There is no lighting so bring a flashlight. The return journey into the cave can take up to two hours. Your feet will get wet because there is water on the cave floor. Inside the cave, there are various stalagmites and a waterfall.

Dams

• Sempor Dam

  phone: +62 821 3413-2112
  address: Tunjungseto, Sempor
  An embankment dam on the Sempor River. It is used for irrigating paddy fields, flood control, and hydroelectric power generating 1MW of electricity. It was built in 1967, but was breached in the same year, causing a flood that killed a thousand people. It was rebuilt in 1978. It is possible to go fishing and to explore the dam by boat.

• Wadaslintang Dam

  phone: +62 813 2827-9525
  address: Sendangdalem, Padureso
  Completed in 1988 after six years in the building, the dam is used to generate hydroelectric power. The dam is surrounded by many hills.

Other

• Krakal Hot Spring

  phone: +62 813 5954-1980
  address: Krakal, Alian
  A natural hot spring with water temperatures 39°C–42°C (86°F–104°F). There are VIP rooms for private use.

• Jembangan Wisata Alam

  address: Jembangan, Poncowarno
  A lake and forest. To explore the lake, you can cross a bridge or take a boat. There is also a zoo, Jembangan Fantasy Zoo and a park for kids.

• Kedungdowo Adventure Park

  phone: +62 812 2998-0074
  address: Kedungdowo, Poncowarno
  A nature park with outbound activities(e.g. flying fox). Close to Jembangan Wisata Alam.

• Sawangan Adventure

  address: Karangduwur, Ayah
  A nature park organised by the local community, consisting of a beach and waterfall. There is also rappelling and a flying fox.

Traditional markets

The biggest traditional market is Pasar Tumenggungan. Second is Pasar Wonokriyo. There are also several small traditional markets, such as Pasar Selang and Pasar Wonosari.

Boutiques

There are a number of boutiques and newer outlets along Jl Pahlawan and Jl Ahmad Yani, in the middle part of the city. They're popular with monied youths and college students.

Shopping malls

• Toserba Jadi Baru — the biggest mall in Kebumen
• Rita Pasaraya — the first department store chain in Kebumen. There is located in Jl Pahlawan.
• Affa Supermarket — the supermarket in the middle-east of Kebumen city.
• Pusaka Indah Swalayan

Handicrafts

There are plenty of handicraft and souvenir stands in nearby Goa Jatijajar, a cave & resort-town just to the west.

• Satay ambal is chicken satay, with tempeh as the main ingredient for the dipping sauce. It is the only satay in Indonesia with this kind of sauce. It tastes spicy, salty, and umami.
• Lanthing is a traditional snack made from cassava. Its shape is like number such as 0 or 8. It tastes a little bit salty. However, recently there is a wide range variants of seasoning used in Lanthing including chicken onion, spicy and barbecue.

• Kebumen Coffee: Coffee in Kebumen is grown near the shores which is only 5 meter above sea level. Both arabica and robusta are produced. There are two local coffee brands: kopi bubuk Cap Djempol and Yum Roasted Coffee. Both are available in market across Kebumen.

There are wide range hotels in Kebumen. It is quite easy to find hotel along the Jalan National III and at the centre of Kebumen. The price starts from 40,000/night IDR to 600,000 IDR/night. Only a few hotel accepts credit card, therefore, it is better to contact the hotel first. In addition, it is also possible to book some hotels from mainstream web booking services.

• Meotel Kebumen by DAFAM Hotels

  phone: +62 287 381111
  address: Jl. Ahmad Yani No.31

• Hotel Patra

  phone: +62 287 381520
  address: Jalan Pemuda No. 71

• Puri Laras Hotel & Cafe

  phone: +62 287-385589
  address: Jl. Pemuda 109

• Hotel Nillo

  phone: +62 287 382068
  address: Jl. Pemuda 7

• Mexolie Hotel & Resort

  phone: +62 873 881-333
  address: Jl. Merak II No. 8, Panjer

• Hotel Aman

  phone: +62 287 551006
  address: Jl. Revolusi No. 88, Karanganyar

• Hotel Grafika Gombong

  phone: +62 287 471205
  address: Jl Yos Sudarso Barat No. 565, Gombong

• Hotel Istana

  phone: +62 287 471484
  address: Jl. Yos Sudarso 559 Gombong

• Hotel Candaka

  phone: +62 287 471176
  address: Jl. Yos Sudarso No.72, Wero, Gombong

Emergency

• Ambulance: 118
• Police: 110

• Kebumen Police

  phone: +62 287 383705
  address: Jl. Tentara Pelajar No.39, Panjer

Hospital

• Dr Soedirman Regional Public Hospital Kebumen

  phone: +62 287 3873318
  address: Jl. Lingkar Selatan, Muktisari
  The regency government hospital

• RS Permata Medika (RSPM)

  phone: +62 287 6662345
  address: Jl. Indrakila No. 17

North

• Geopark Karangsambung on the southern slope of northern Kebumen highlands and just from town offers a cooler climate and springs in verdant pine forests. There are sea floor rocks that rise to the land.
• Banjarnegara, the regency and sleepy small town near the Dieng Pleteau.

East

• Purworejo, the regency and small town which borders the province of DIY.

South

• Suwuk Beach, Suwuk beach is about 3km long. Swimming is forbidden because of strong current. It is surrounded by limestone hills. There is also small water park.
• Karangbolong Beach, Next to Suwuk beach. There is small cave near the beach (hence the name: karang means coral, and bolong means hole). Similar to Suwuk beach, Karangbolong is surrounded by limestone hills.
• Petanahan Beach, One of Kebumen's famous long beaches. Close to Suwuk beach. There are people who offer boat rides. It is forbidden to swim because of the strong current.
• Logending Beach, As well as the beach, there is also a mangrove forest. Boat rides available.
• Menganti Beach, A newly-developed destination in Kebumen. Not so many facilities but its natural beauty makes people call it the New Zealand of Kebumen.
• Lampon Beach, A new vacation spot on five different beaches: Pasir, Lampon, Tanjung Karang Penganten, Gebyuran and Surmanis. There are several caves, a waterfall and hills to camp on.

West

• Cilacap on the south coast is a growing industrial city, with oil refinery, power station and cement factory. The adventurous can hop off to the south coast beaches of West Java by taking a boat through the Segara Anakan bay.