Garut is a city and regency in the Parahyangan mountain region of Western Java, Indonesia.
In colonial times, Garut was known as 'the Switzerland of Java'. The city is surrounded by various mountains, including the Mount Galunggung volcano in the east, Mount Guntur volcano in the west, and Mount Cikurai volcano (over 2,800 metres high) in the south.
Garut is the capital of Garut regency, which stretches from near Sumedang in the north to the Indian Ocean coast in the south.
Most of the touristic attractions of Garut are not in the city, but in the surrounding area.
- Candi Cangkuang, Leles (16 km north of Garut city. A small 8th-century Hindu temple. One of the few Hindu temples ever discovered in West Java.
- Mount Papandayan, Cisurupan district (25 km southwest of Garut city. Active volcano that is a popular tourist destination. Tourists can walk across the crater and view bubbling mud pools, steam vents, and sulfur deposits. The bubbling yellow crater is a popular sight. The most recent eruption was in 2002, and more serious volcanic activity took place in 2011.
- Mount Guntur, Tarogong Kaler (10 km northwest of Garut city. Active volcano with a height of 2,249 m, that is the source of the Cipanas hot springs. The volcano used to erupt very frequently, with 20 eruptions recorded in the first half of the 19th century, but recently there have been no eruptions. The volcano can be climbed from the side of Cipanas.
Candi Cangkuang, Leles (16 km north of Garut city. A small 8th-century Hindu temple. One of the few Hindu temples ever discovered in West Java.
Mount Papandayan, Cisurupan district (25 km southwest of Garut city. Active volcano that is a popular tourist destination. Tourists can walk across the crater and view bubbling mud pools, steam vents, and sulfur deposits. The bubbling yellow crater is a popular sight. The most recent eruption was in 2002, and more serious volcanic activity took place in 2011.
Mount Guntur, Tarogong Kaler (10 km northwest of Garut city. Active volcano with a height of 2,249 m, that is the source of the Cipanas hot springs. The volcano used to erupt very frequently, with 20 eruptions recorded in the first half of the 19th century, but recently there have been no eruptions. The volcano can be climbed from the side of Cipanas.
The most famous type of food from Garut is the dodol snack, a sticky sweet made of coconut milk, jaggery, and sticky rice flour. There are various types of dodol Garut, such as dodol with sesame seeds or nuts, or with fruit such as pineapple, jackfruit, or durian. Dodol is sold by street vendors throughout Garut (both the city and the wider regency).
- Picnic Dodol Garut, Jl. Pasundan No. 102, +62 262 232512. Sat-Thu 8:30-14:30, Fri closed. One of the most famous sellers of dodol Garut. You can buy many types of dodol. It is also possible to visit the factory, but then it is advisable to send an email beforehand.
- Toko Fatima, Jl. Jend. A. Yani No.77. Dodol shop in the city centre. Another thing that is quite famous from Garut is leather products. You can find shoes, jackets, wallets, etc. made of leather in several shops in Sukaregang street.
- Sukaregang Leather Centre, Jl. Jend. A. Yani No. 302 (at the corner of Sukaregang street, +62 812 2488 7002. Daily 10:00-22:00.
Picnic Dodol Garut, Jl. Pasundan No. 102, +62 262 232512. Sat-Thu 8:30-14:30, Fri closed. One of the most famous sellers of dodol Garut. You can buy many types of dodol. It is also possible to visit the factory, but then it is advisable to send an email beforehand.
Toko Fatima, Jl. Jend. A. Yani No.77. Dodol shop in the city centre.
Sukaregang Leather Centre, Jl. Jend. A. Yani No. 302 (at the corner of Sukaregang street, +62 812 2488 7002. Daily 10:00-22:00.
Sundanese cuisine is ubiquitous, in restaurants and hotels, as well as in roadside stalls. Examples of popular roadside snacks include nanas goreng (fried pineapples), fried cassava, boiled salted peanuts, bakwan sayur (vegetable fritters), etc. Apart from that, dodol Garut (as mentioned above in the 'Buy' section) can be found in many places.
- Rumah Makan Cibiuk, Jl. Cikuray No. 23, +62 262 241 104. Daily 9:00-21:00. Traditional Sundanese restaurant.
Rumah Makan Cibiuk, Jl. Cikuray No. 23, +62 262 241 104. Daily 9:00-21:00. Traditional Sundanese restaurant.
- Tasikmalaya — larger city to the east, with a wide range of restaurants.
- Bandung — the provincial capital, and economic and cultural centre.