Malang

Malang is a city in East Java.

Malang is the second largest city in East Java with a rapidly growing population of about 820,000 in the city proper, and 1.2 million in the Malang area.

This is a city of great historical significance. The oldest existing record of Malang as a regency is from the 8th century when it was the seat of government of the ancient Kanjuruhan and Singhasari kingdoms. The city officially became part of the all encompassing Javanese Mataram kingdom in the 17th century which by that time was controlled by the Dutch colonialists. Unsurprisingly given that history, there are several interesting Hindu relics in this area. The city quickly became very popular with the Dutch due to its cool climate, very attractive rural surrounds and easy reach from the main trading port city of Surabaya.

Modern day Malang, although significantly urbanised, has retained much of its historical character, remains vibrant and is regarded as by far the most attractive large city in the East Java region.

Malang Regency is located between two groups of mountains with Mount Semeru, the highest mountain on Java, and Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park to the east. The biggest attraction here must be the beautiful landscape, in addition to which there are some temples not far away.

• East Java Tourist Office, Jl Jendral Basuki Rachmat 6, +62 341 323966.
• Indonesian Guides Association, Jl Semeru 4, +62 341 366852.
• Malang City Tourist Office, Jl Tugu 1, +62 341 327661.
• Malang Travel Guide, Jl Candi 3 No.513, +62 341 580924.

East Java Tourist Office, Jl Jendral Basuki Rachmat 6, +62 341 323966.

Indonesian Guides Association, Jl Semeru 4, +62 341 366852.

Malang City Tourist Office, Jl Tugu 1, +62 341 327661.

Malang Travel Guide, Jl Candi 3 No.513, +62 341 580924.

In a city of such great cultural and historical significance there are lots of cultural attractions and any visitor to Malang should dedicate some time to exploring these.

There are also a number of beautiful sights in the rural areas surrounding the city. Malang is home to multiple temples and mountains, as it is a mountainous region. Several mountains such as Bromo, Panderman and Semeru, surround the city and can be seen in the early morning and evening.

• Balekambang Beaches. There are actually three beaches here: Balekambang, Ngliyep and Sendang Biru. All three are quite beautiful, are close by to each other and locals most often refer to all 3 as just Balekambang. It is best to visit on weekdays as this is a very popular weekend escape and it can get crowded. It is not safe to swim here but these are great relaxation beaches which offer some stunning coastal scenery. There is an offshore island called Pulau Sempu which can be visited by chartering a boat from Sedang Biru beach. At Balekambang beach there are three little islets just offshore which are attached to the beach by walkways. Of the three beaches, Balekambang itself is perhaps the most attractive but all three are worth visiting. The beaches can be easily visited as a da-trip from Malang in a car but for the adventurous there are basic places to stay at and around all three. Rp 10,000.
• Ijen Boulevard, Malang. This is a quite beautiful street. It is lined with well-tended bougainvillea against a backdrop of old colonial structures. The street houses a number of interesting buildings including the Brawijaya Army Museum, the Catholic Church and the city library. Usually every Sunday, there is an event called "Car Free Day" when almost all of Ijen Boulevard is free of motorised vehicles. There is also a "Pasar Minggu", a traditional market which offers a wide range of items to buy, from traditional foods to clothing, even pets. It starts from 06:00 to around 10:00, depending on the number of events held. You should take in this area as part of a becak or walking tour of the historic downtown area.
• Padepokan Seni Mangun Dharma, Desa Tulus Besar Tumpang. Arts centre dedicated to the research, promotion and performance of traditional East Javanese art forms including dance, batik, shadow puppetry and carving. Superb place. Dance performances can be arranged on demand and are of excellent quality as the dancers are trained from childhood. Their motto is Rescuing the Arts of East Java.
• Purwodadi Botanical Gardens, Jl Raya Purwodadi (about 20 km north of Malang. Opened in 1941, This is one of the four official botanical gardens in Indonesia (the others being the headquarters at Bogor, Bedugul in Bali and Cibodas in West Java. The 85 hectares of gardens house an impressive collection and the splendid Baung waterfall.

• Singosari Temple, Singosari, Malang (about 12 km north from Malang. This well preserved Hindu temple dates from 1300 AD and is a reminder of the great Hindu kingdoms that ruled East Java before the arrival of Islam. A visit to the nearby bathing pools at Ken Dedes combines perfectly with Singosari Temple. Ken Dedes was the wife of the first King of Singhasari (later Singosari) and these bathing pools are believed to have been part of the royal court. There are some quite wonderful statues here. The whole area has some other fine relics from the early Hindu kingdoms including Candi Jago and Candi Kidal. Ask your guide or at Singosari Temple for further directions.
• Taman Rekreasi Senaputra, Jalan Brawijaya, Malang. Traditional East Java dances every Sunday morning at 10:00 in the park during the dry season only. Every last Wednesday of the month there is a Wayang Kulit shadow puppet show starting at 22:00.
• Malang Night Paradise, Jl. Graha Kencana Raya No.66, Balearjosari, Blimbing, Kota Malang, Jawa Timur 65126, +62812 3363 1616. 6-11PM. Family entertainment place with 2 theme parks. There are some replicas of dinousaurs.

Balekambang Beaches. There are actually three beaches here: Balekambang, Ngliyep and Sendang Biru. All three are quite beautiful, are close by to each other and locals most often refer to all 3 as just Balekambang. It is best to visit on weekdays as this is a very popular weekend escape and it can get crowded. It is not safe to swim here but these are great relaxation beaches which offer some stunning coastal scenery. There is an offshore island called Pulau Sempu which can be visited by chartering a boat from Sedang Biru beach. At Balekambang beach there are three little islets just offshore which are attached to the beach by walkways. Of the three beaches, Balekambang itself is perhaps the most attractive but all three are worth visiting. The beaches can be easily visited as a da-trip from Malang in a car but for the adventurous there are basic places to stay at and around all three. Rp 10,000.

Ijen Boulevard, Malang. This is a quite beautiful street. It is lined with well-tended bougainvillea against a backdrop of old colonial structures. The street houses a number of interesting buildings including the Brawijaya Army Museum, the Catholic Church and the city library. Usually every Sunday, there is an event called "Car Free Day" when almost all of Ijen Boulevard is free of motorised vehicles. There is also a "Pasar Minggu", a traditional market which offers a wide range of items to buy, from traditional foods to clothing, even pets. It starts from 06:00 to around 10:00, depending on the number of events held. You should take in this area as part of a becak or walking tour of the historic downtown area.

Padepokan Seni Mangun Dharma, Desa Tulus Besar Tumpang. Arts centre dedicated to the research, promotion and performance of traditional East Javanese art forms including dance, batik, shadow puppetry and carving. Superb place. Dance performances can be arranged on demand and are of excellent quality as the dancers are trained from childhood. Their motto is Rescuing the Arts of East Java.

Purwodadi Botanical Gardens, Jl Raya Purwodadi (about 20 km north of Malang. Opened in 1941, This is one of the four official botanical gardens in Indonesia (the others being the headquarters at [[Bogor]], [[Bedugul]] in Bali and Cibodas in [[West Java]]. The 85 hectares of gardens house an impressive collection and the splendid Baung waterfall.

Singosari Temple, Singosari, Malang (about 12 km north from Malang. This well preserved Hindu temple dates from 1300 AD and is a reminder of the great Hindu kingdoms that ruled East Java before the arrival of Islam. A visit to the nearby bathing pools at Ken Dedes combines perfectly with Singosari Temple. Ken Dedes was the wife of the first King of Singhasari (later Singosari) and these bathing pools are believed to have been part of the royal court. There are some quite wonderful statues here. The whole area has some other fine relics from the early Hindu kingdoms including Candi Jago and Candi Kidal. Ask your guide or at Singosari Temple for further directions.

Taman Rekreasi Senaputra, Jalan Brawijaya, Malang. Traditional East Java dances every Sunday morning at 10:00 in the park during the dry season only. Every last Wednesday of the month there is a Wayang Kulit shadow puppet show starting at 22:00.

Malang Night Paradise, Jl. Graha Kencana Raya No.66, Balearjosari, Blimbing, Kota Malang, Jawa Timur 65126, +62812 3363 1616. 6-11PM. Family entertainment place with 2 theme parks. There are some replicas of dinousaurs.

• Take a tour of this fine old city by becak.
• Visit the many Buddhist and Hindu temples in the area.
• Buy souvenirs at the many bazaars (marketplaces).
• Climb one of the mountains surrounding the city.

But most people visit Malang as a starting point for a trip to the nearby volcanoes, or as a place to enjoy cooler weather for a time.

Tour operator:

• Helios Tours. Doing all kind of trips to Bromo, Ijen continuing to Bali. For example 3 days / 2 nights to Bromo, Ijen and ferry to Bali for Rp1.3 Mio.
• Bromo Holiday Tours.

Take a tour of this fine old city by becak.

Helios Tours. Doing all kind of trips to Bromo, Ijen continuing to Bali. For example 3 days / 2 nights to Bromo, Ijen and ferry to Bali for Rp1.3 Mio.

Bromo Holiday Tours.

Malang has some large shopping malls but you are better off in Surabaya for those. But you can visit one of the multiple bazaars that sell all sorts of things from traditional knives to foods to clothing.

Local textiles and handicrafts can be found at Batik Keris, Jl Merdeka Timur 2d.

• Fabulous Spa & Salon, Jl Panderman 1A, +62 341 9600080. Offers professional massage and spa treatments in clean and relaxing ambience including body spa, body scrub, Balinese touch massage, manicure and pedicure spa. There is also a hair salon which offers haircuts and styling. Supplies are ordered in small and selected batches to ensure freshness when they are used. Fresh new towels are provided for each guest.

• Giant Supermarket, Mog Mall Olymic Garden Jl Kawi Kawman. 10am-9pm.
• Malang Plaza Mall, Jl Agus Sailm, +62 34-1324674. 09.30am-9.30pm. Has a big supermarket.

Giant Supermarket, Mog Mall Olymic Garden Jl Kawi Kawman. 10am-9pm.

Malang Plaza Mall, Jl Agus Sailm, +62 34-1324674. 09.30am-9.30pm. Has a big supermarket.

Fabulous Spa & Salon, Jl Panderman 1A, +62 341 9600080. Offers professional massage and spa treatments in clean and relaxing ambience including body spa, body scrub, Balinese touch massage, manicure and pedicure spa. There is also a hair salon which offers haircuts and styling. Supplies are ordered in small and selected batches to ensure freshness when they are used. Fresh new towels are provided for each guest.

Eating is a highly rated experience here. Local specialities are best sought out at street stalls and simple warungs and include:

• Ayam Goreng Kampung (fried village chicken).
• Tempe
• Bakso Malang. The city's own unique and delicious take on the Indonesian meat ball soup staple. Try Bakso Bakar, literally means "grilled meat ball". The famous one will be the one in Jl Pahlawan Trip, in the corner of the junction with Jl Ijen
• Jagung Bakar (grilled young corn on the cob) is everywhere. Best eaten at a streetside stalls fresh from the coals. Some of them congegrate in Pulosari Stalls.
• Apples (Apel). The highlands around Malang are the apple growing centre of Indonesia and the small green beauties (manalagi) are very highly prized. Eat them here and they are sure to be fresh from the tree.
• Malang's night market on Jalan Merdeka operates every Saturday. A riot of flavours and smells will assault your senses. A must do for any visitor to Malang.
• Bakmi Gajah Mada, Jl Pasar Besar 21. East Javanese noodle dishes at their very best.
• Inggil, Jl Gajah Mada no4, +62 341 332110. Highly rated restaurant specialising in Javanese cuisine.
• Warung Pojok, Jl Pejajeran 25. Very well known for rujak (salad with spicy sweet peanut sauce).
• Martabak Cairo. The kopi jahe is infused with cloves for a powerful and simply decadent taste. Serving martabak, sate kambing and nasi goreng cairo.
• Warung Subuh. Dizzying array of foods, incredibly cheap, fresh and delicious. This place is booming with locals, so you know it's good. A great place to try some new and interesting food and drink.
• Harmoni Restaurant, Jl. Bromo 44, +62 341 352911.
• Kongkow cafe, Jl. Patimura 48 malang, +6285259057058. Friendly owner who speaks good English and has good knowledge of area. Good and free wifi. Reasonable prices with western movie themed menu. Is about 500 metres North west of railway station. Corner of Jl. Patimura and Jl. Trunojoyo
• Bakso President, JL. Batanghari No 5, +62341 496746. 8AM-9.30PM.
• Kedai Remboeg Pawon, Jalan Terusan Sulfat No. 19-21, Pandanwangi, Blimbing, +62852 34004267. Mon-Sat 10AM-1AM, Sun 10AM-11:59PM. Original Indonesian coffee blended by pro. IDR 6.000 - 18.000.

Malang's night market on Jalan Merdeka operates every Saturday. A riot of flavours and smells will assault your senses. A must do for any visitor to Malang.

Bakmi Gajah Mada, Jl Pasar Besar 21. East Javanese noodle dishes at their very best.

Inggil, Jl Gajah Mada no4, +62 341 332110. Highly rated restaurant specialising in Javanese cuisine.

Warung Pojok, Jl Pejajeran 25. Very well known for rujak (salad with spicy sweet peanut sauce).

Martabak Cairo. The kopi jahe is infused with cloves for a powerful and simply decadent taste. Serving martabak, sate kambing and nasi goreng cairo.

Warung Subuh. Dizzying array of foods, incredibly cheap, fresh and delicious. This place is booming with locals, so you know it's good. A great place to try some new and interesting food and drink.

Harmoni Restaurant, Jl. Bromo 44, +62 341 352911.

Kongkow cafe, Jl. Patimura 48 malang, +6285259057058. Friendly owner who speaks good English and has good knowledge of area. Good and free wifi. Reasonable prices with western movie themed menu. Is about 500 metres North west of railway station. Corner of Jl. Patimura and Jl. Trunojoyo

Bakso President, JL. Batanghari No 5, +62341 496746. 8AM-9.30PM.

Kedai Remboeg Pawon, Jalan Terusan Sulfat No. 19-21, Pandanwangi, Blimbing, +62852 34004267. Mon-Sat 10AM-1AM, Sun 10AM-11:59PM. Original Indonesian coffee blended by pro. IDR 6.000 - 18.000.

Malang is by no means famous for its nightlife, being a more relaxed and less party-intensive city, however there are still some decent bars if you're up for a drink.

• KL Express Cafe, Jl. Villa Puncak Arjuna. 24. 24/7 bar
• Levels Brewhouse, Jl. Terusan Borobudur No. 26. 11AM-1AM. Bar with more rare beer brands and live music.

KL Express Cafe, Jl. Villa Puncak Arjuna. 24. 24/7 bar

Levels Brewhouse, Jl. Terusan Borobudur No. 26. 11AM-1AM. Bar with more rare beer brands and live music.

• RSUD Dr. Saiful Anwar, Jl. Jaksa Agung Suprapto No. 2, +62 341 362101.
• RS Panti Nirmala, Jl. Kebalen Wetan No. 6, +62 341 362459.
• RSU Lavalette, Jl. W.R Supratman No. 10, +62 341 470805.
• RSI Aisyiyah, Jl. Sulawesi No. 16, +62 341 326773.
• RST Tk. II Dr. Soepraoen, Jl. S. Supriadi No. 22, +62 341 325113.
• RSI UNISMA, Jl. MT Haryono No. 139, +62 341 326773.
• RS Panti Waluya Sawahan, Jl. Nusakambangan No. 56, +62 341 362017.
• RS UMM, Jl. Raya Tlogomas No. 45, +62 341 561666.
• RS Permata Bunda, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta No. 75, +62 341 487487.
• RS Universitas Brawijaya (UB) Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. A6, +62 341 4372841.
• RSIA Hermina Tangkubanprahu, Jl. Tangkubanprahu No. 33, +62 341 325082.
• RS Bersalin Husada Bunda, Jl. Pahlawan Trip No. 2, +62 341 566972.
• RS Khusus Bedah Manu Husada, Jl. Sultan Agung No. 12, +62 341 320376.
• Persada Hospital, Jl. Panji Suroso Kompleks Araya Business Centre Kav. II-IV, +62 341 2996333.
• RSIA Mardi Waloeja Kauman, Jl. Kauman No. 23, +62 341 358508.
• RSIA Melati Husada, Jl. Kawi No. 32, +62 341 341357.
• RSIA Mutiara Bunda, Jl. Ciujung No. 19, +62 341 400403.

RSUD Dr. Saiful Anwar, Jl. Jaksa Agung Suprapto No. 2, +62 341 362101.

RS Panti Nirmala, Jl. Kebalen Wetan No. 6, +62 341 362459.

RSU Lavalette, Jl. W.R Supratman No. 10, +62 341 470805.

RSI Aisyiyah, Jl. Sulawesi No. 16, +62 341 326773.

RST Tk. II Dr. Soepraoen, Jl. S. Supriadi No. 22, +62 341 325113.

RSI UNISMA, Jl. MT Haryono No. 139, +62 341 326773.

RS Panti Waluya Sawahan, Jl. Nusakambangan No. 56, +62 341 362017.

RS UMM, Jl. Raya Tlogomas No. 45, +62 341 561666.

RS Permata Bunda, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta No. 75, +62 341 487487.

RS Universitas Brawijaya (UB) Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. A6, +62 341 4372841.

RSIA Hermina Tangkubanprahu, Jl. Tangkubanprahu No. 33, +62 341 325082.

RS Bersalin Husada Bunda, Jl. Pahlawan Trip No. 2, +62 341 566972.

RS Khusus Bedah Manu Husada, Jl. Sultan Agung No. 12, +62 341 320376.

Persada Hospital, Jl. Panji Suroso Kompleks Araya Business Centre Kav. II-IV, +62 341 2996333.

RSIA Mardi Waloeja Kauman, Jl. Kauman No. 23, +62 341 358508.

RSIA Melati Husada, Jl. Kawi No. 32, +62 341 341357.

RSIA Mutiara Bunda, Jl. Ciujung No. 19, +62 341 400403.

The telephone area code for Malang is 0341

• Batu - nearby hill town. Very cool, fresh and visually extremely attractive, with a few theme parks and beautiful views.
• Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park - active volcanoes and unearthly scenery.
• Surabaya, a port city that's a hub for local life.
• Wendit - a little lake with a woody place full of monkeys, nice to see and to swim.
• Sengkaling - a place for swimming with crystal clear water.

Wendit - a little lake with a woody place full of monkeys, nice to see and to swim.

Sengkaling - a place for swimming with crystal clear water.