Pangalengan

Pangalengan
Tea plantations are commons in Pangalengan
Interactive map of Pangalengan
CountryIndonesia
ProvinceWest Java
RegencyBandung
Area
 • Total
216.70 km2 (83.67 sq mi)
Population
 • Total
169,257
 • Density781.07/km2 (2,023.0/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (IWST)

Pangalengan is an administrative district (Kecamatan) in the Bandung Regency, part of the West Java Province of Indonesia. It is located 48 kilometres (30 mi) south of the major West Java city of Bandung.

Main industries of the Pangalengan District include dairy farming and tourism, the latter arising from the popularity of the many traditional villages and natural attractions such as lakes, ponds, hot springs and waterfalls in the district. The area is an important centre of activity for the tea industry in Indonesia.[1] There is also considerable interest in the potential for the use of geothermal sites in the region for the production of electricity. The Wayang Windu plant, the largest geothermal plant in Indonesia with a capacity of 227 megawatts, is located to the east of Pangalengan on the slopes of the Wayang Windu volcano. The site has been jointly developed by Star Energy[2] and PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of the large state-owned oil company Pertamina.[3] The activity has not been without controversy however and local people near the site have sometimes protested about certain aspects of the development.[4]

Pangalengan District became a major site for the placement of refugees (internally displaced persons, or IDPs) after the large West Java earthquake in September 2009. Following the earthquake, it was estimated that 50,000 homes had been destroyed in the area, 80,000 people had been left homeless, and around 250,000 people had been displaced.[5]

Administrative divisions

Pangalengan is divided into the following thirteen administrative villages, all classed as rural desa, listed below with their areas and their populations as at 2025:[6]

Kode
wilayah
Village
(desa)
Area
in
km2
Population
Census
2010
Population
estimate
2025
Wanasuka 32.04.15.2012 31.98 4,740 4,833
Banjarsari 32.04.15.2008 25.61 5,500 6,114
Margaluyu 32.04.15.2002 14.04 8,440 9,926
Sukaluyu 32.04.15.2009 21.88 8,310 10,248
Warnasari 32.04.15.2003 24.66 7,890 10,264
Pulosari 32.04.15.2011 19.01 9,710 12,661
Margamekar 32.04.15.2013 5.61 8,050 10,714
Sukamanah 32.04.15.2004 6.39 18,300 22,556
Margamukti 32.04.15.2006 23.89 15,940 19,110
Pangalengan 32.04.15.2001 6.60 20,510 23,522
Margamulya 32.04.15.2007 17.37 15,680 20,360
Tribaktimulya 32.04.15.2010 4.77 5,150 6,564
Lamajang 32.04.15.2005 14.90 10,050 12,385
Totals for District 216.70 138,269 169,257

[7]

Nature reserves

  • Malabar
  • Mount Tilu (shared with Pasirjambu)

Mountains and volcanoes

  • Malabar Mountain (Besar peak is located entirely within Pangalengan, Haruman peak is shared with Cimaung) and several peaks and hills around it
  • Mount Bedil
  • Wayang Volcano (shared with Kertasari)
  • Windu Volcano
  • Mount Kencana
  • Mount Riung Gunung
  • Mount Waringin (shared with Pasirjambu)
  • Mount Tilu [8]

Tourism

A shortage of good roads in the area is believed to have held back development.[9] However, the area is attractive and was formerly well known for tourist spots in the Malabar region.

Some of the tea estates in the area provide good facilities for tourists to stay overnight, walk through tracks in the tea plantations, and bath in nearby hot springs.[10]

Main tourism sites near Pangalengan include the following.

  • Cultural or historical sites such as the Cikondang traditional village, and the gravesite of the Dutchman K.A.R. Bosscha who played a key role in helping develop the tea industry in the area.
  • Tea and quinine estates such as the Malabar estate and estates at Kertamanah, Purbasari, Pasir Junghuhn, Pasirmalang, Cukul, and the Indonesian Research Institute for Tea and Quinine[11] at Gambang.
  • Various lakes, of which the most well-known is Lake Cileunca, along with Lake Cipanunjang
  • Small lakes like Gede, Datar, Cukul, Cicoledas, and Kanceuh
  • Numerous hot springs
  • Waterfalls such as Panganten, Malabar, Patra, Sanghiang, and Bangku Waterfall
  • Wayang-Windu bike park
  • Cukul sunrise point

[12]

References

  1. ^ "tea industry in Indonesia". Archived from the original on 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  2. ^ "About Us | Star Energy". July 21, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21.
  3. ^ Reva Sasistiya, "Star Energy to Push PLN for Big Hike in Price of Geothermal Energy" Archived 2012-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, The Jakarta Globe, 15 September 2009.
  4. ^ Yuli Tri Suwarni, "Villagers want geothermal power plant suspended Archived 2012-10-12 at the Wayback Machine", The Jakarta Post, 31 October 2009.
  5. ^ Wendy Bruere, "The Quake Indonesia Forgot" Archived 2012-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, The Jakarta Globe, 1 December 2009.
  6. ^ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2025, Kecamatan Pangalengan, BPS-Katalog1102001.3204040).
  7. ^ "Badan Pusat Statistik". Archived from the original on 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  8. ^ "Nature Reserve Gunung Tilu - Jawa Barat - Bandung, Kabupaten". Archived from the original on 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  9. ^ Rana Akbari Fitriawan, 'Bad infrastructure blamed for slow growth' Archived 2010-03-27 at the Wayback Machine, The Jakarta Post, 20 February 2010.
  10. ^ Debra Pangestu, 'Drink In an Indonesian Highland Tea Tour' Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine, The Jakarta Globe, 19 July 2011.
  11. ^ "Pusat Penelitian Teh dan Kina - Home". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  12. ^ "Google Travel". Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.