The Dazzling Land Of Soekarno: 10 Things To Do In Blitar, Indonesia

The Dazzling Land Of Soekarno: 10 Things To Do In Blitar, Indonesia
Rofiq
Rofiq 
Updated
| 4 min read

Blitar sounds unfamiliar. However, the region situated on the southern coast of East Java reminds us of Soekarno, the founding father of Indonesia. Blitar is a region offering Javanese hospitality, various tropical fruits, great food, and amazing landscapes. In addition, Blitar is the right place to witness historical evidence of the ruling Javanese Kingdom, Dutch occupation, and how Indonesia fought for its independence. Let’s learn more about the top 10 things to do in Blitar!

1. Learn the history of Indonesia at Bung Karno Museum and Library

Soekarno Memorial Library
Source: Photo by user Prayitno / Thank ... used under CC BY 2.0

You can’t say you’ve visited Blitar unless you visit Bung Karno Museum and Library next to Soekarno’s graveyard. You can walk through the galleries inside the museum where paintings, photography, and historical objects of Soekarno are well maintained. The highlight of the museum is the living painting of Soekarno, which has a beating pulse, at the main entrance. The adjacent library upstairs has a large book collection about Indonesia’s history. To reach the site, you can grab a unique local transport called becak wisata.

Bung Karno Museum and Library

Address: Jl. Kalasan No.1, Bendogerit, Sananwetan, Kota Blitar, Jawa Timur 66133

Opening Hours: 8 am to 4 pm (every day)

Access: 7 min drive from the city square

Contact: +62-(0342) 815477

Near by Food: Warung Pecel Mbok Bari

Website: Perpus Bung Karno, in Bahasa

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2. Visit the ancient Penataran temple

Candi Panataran Naga Temple, Java 1296
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Michael Gunther used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Located just 12 km (7.45 mi) from the city, Penataran temple is another attraction that is worth a visit. Art lovers will be mesmerized by the reliefs and sculptures of the three terraced main temple, depicting the epic Ramayana and Kresnayana story. In the front of the main Hindu temple, there is another masterpiece from the Majapahit Kingdom named Candi Naga (dragon temple), as the main structure is wrapped by the figure of a dragon. A sacred pool behind the main temple was used for ritual purposes. The temple’s entrance ticket is only 3,000 IDR or 0.2 USD.

Penataran Temple

Address: Penataran, Nglegok, Penataran, Nglegok, Blitar, Jawa Timur 66181

Opening Hours: 8 am to 5 pm

Access: It is approximately a 20 min drive from Soekarno Museum

Near by Food: Lesehan Presiden

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3. Taste the local chocolate in Kampung Coklat

selfie at Kampung Coklat
Source: rofiq

Trying the local chocolate in Kampung Coklat is a must when visiting Blitar. It is approximately a 25 minute drive from the Soekarno Museum. The area is really good for family travelers because you can educate your children about the cocoa plant, see the production of chocolate, and enjoy a wide variety of chocolate based snacks and dishes. Mi coklat or the chocolate noodle is the main specialty you should try. It sounds weird yet mi coklat is super tasty and unique. There is also a tiny amusement park for children at the site.

Kampung Coklat

Address: Desa Plosorejo, RT. 01 / 06, Jl. Banteng - Blorok No. 18, Kademangan, Blitar, Plosorejo, Kademangan, Blitar, Jawa Timur 66161

Price: from 0.37 USD / ~4,926 IDR for entrance ticket

Opening Hours: 7.30 am to 4 pm

Access: 25 min drive from Soekarno Museum

Contact: +62-(0342) 807457

Website: Kampung Coklat, in Bahasa

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4. Enjoy a panoramic view at Bukit Teletubbies

The beauty of lush hills at Bukit Teletubbies.
Source: rofiq

Bukit Teletubbies is a range of hills covered by a sugarcane plantation in the northwest of Blitar. It was initially a spot to observe the activity of volcanic mount Kelud. However, the lush beauty of the hills has recently attracted more people. The name Teletubbies is adapted from Teletubby Land from the favorite children’s TV series in the 1990’s due its resemblance. You need to reach a spot named Tower to enjoy the green landscape through some steps. Taking some selfies with fake air balloons, wooden houses, or people dressed up in costumes is fun to do at the hills.

Bukit Teletubbies

Address: Sumberasri, Nglegok, Blitar, East Java 66181

Price: from 0.75 USD / ~9,985 IDR for the entrance ticket

Opening Hours: 6 am to 6 pm

Access: 40 min drive from Soekarno Museum

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5. Feel the Dutch colonial atmosphere at Perkebunan Kopi Karanganyar

Perkebunan Kopi Karanganyar is suitable for family travelers and a good site for coffee lovers.
Source: rofiq

There are some iconic spots like the museum, coffee plantation, and must-see Dutch coffee shop that you can enjoy while visiting Perkebunan Kopi Karangaanyar. The Dutch colonial atmosphere dominates this area where typical old Indonesian music with local singers is always performed. You should try the local brewed coffee, named Karangayar coffee, as well as other Indonesian coffees such as Wamena and Aceh coffee. To enter the site, you will be charged 5,000 IDR (0.37 USD). Family travelers are highly recommended to visit this site, which is open for visitors from 8 am to 5 pm.

Perkebunan Kopi Karangaanyar

Address: Modangan, Nglegok, Blitar, Jawa Timur 66181

Opening Hours: 8 am to 5 pm. Closed on public holidays.

Access: 26 min drive from Museum Soekarno

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6. Try local street food in the city square (Alun-Alun)

The food stall offering "es pleret" in Alun-Alun
Source: rofiq

The best part of traveling is enjoying the local cuisine. Don’t forget to try Blitar street food in the city square, which the locals call Alun-Alun. The bakso (meatball soup), chicken soto, gorengan (Indonesian fritters), and cilok (starchy ball with soya sauce) are among the highlights. Es Blitar and Es Pleret have legendary drinks you should try, so that you feel the authenticity of Blitar culture and warmth. The street vendors are super friendly to visitors. Although the food is cheap, the taste is incredibly rich in flavor and mouth-watering.

Blitar Alun-Alun

Address: Jl. Merdeka, Kepanjen Lor, Kepanjenkidul, Kota Blitar, Jawa Timur

Opening Hours: 24 hours.

Access: 7 min drive from Soekarno Museum

Near by Food: Rumah Makan Padang Sari Bundo

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7. Sunbathe at Peh Pulo Beach

The pristine beach of Peh Pulo
Source: rofiq

Peh Pulo beach located in the district of Pangggungrejo offers pristine white sand beaches for adventure travellers. The beach facing the rough Indian Ocean is surrounded by small islands barricading the strong waves from the south. It takes enormous effort and determination to reach this gorgeous beach. The poor road conditions is the main reason to hinder travellers. The best time to enjoy the gorgeous beach is in the dry season (between May to August), when you can enjoy sunbathing and other beach activities.

Peh Pulo Beach

Address: Sumbersih, Panggung Rejo Blitar

Price: free

Opening Hours: 24 hours

Access: 1 hour and 12 min drive from Alun-Alun

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8. Enjoy fresh air and black tea in Sirah Kencong

Sirang Kencong is a tea plantation located at the slope of Mount Kawi.
Source: rofiq

Moving to the cool north, Sirah Kencong is the right spot to enjoy your vacation. Sirah Kencong is the largest tea plantation in Blitar, with a black tea factory, newly found waterfall, and historical temples. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to drive from the city’s center. You are recommended to try the local black tea produced by the factory, which has a special flavor. The entrance fee for a single person is 5,000 IDR (0.37 USD).

Sirah Kencong Tea Plantation

Address: Ngadirenggo, Wlingi, Blitar

Price: from 0.37 USD / ~5,000 IDR

Opening Hours: 8 am to 5 pm

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9. Pick fresh star fruit in Karangsari Village

Picking fresh starfruit at the site.
Source: rofiq

Blitar is a real heaven for tropical fruits. Pineapples, durian, dragon fruit, star fruit, and rambutans are the best fruits you should taste. One of the biggest fruit plantations you must drop by is Karangsari Village Star Fruit Plantation. The feature of the star-shaped fruit is its fleshy, juicy, sweet part. You can pick the star fruit freshly from the trees but you have to pay 0.75 USD / ~9,985 IDR for an entrance ticket first.

Perkebunan Karangsari Blitar

Address: Jalan Cemara No. 303, Karangsari, Sukorejo, Karangsari, Sukorejo, Kota Blitar, Jawa Timur 67125

Opening Hours: 8 am to 4 pm. Closed on public holidays.

Access: 5 min drive from Alun-Alun

Contact: +62-852-3452-3445

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10. Explore the black sand beach of Jolosutro

The black sand beach is the leading attraction of Jolosutro beach.
Source: rofiq

If you are getting bored with the white sand beach, take a lovely trip to Jolosutro beach to enjoy its black sand. The beach is situated in the southeast of Blitar. You can do some activities here, such as sunbathing, making sand castles, enjoying the sea view, except swimming. The beach has been sacred to the Hindu community, and this is where the Melasti ceremony is held annually.

Jolo Sutro Beach

Address: Wates, Blitar

Price: from 0.3 USD / ~3,994 IDR

Opening Hours: 24 hours

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Schedule your time for a visit to Blitar!

Blitar has a lot of attractions that are fitting for any type of traveler lusting after both cultural and natural exploration. Never say it’s not worth it to visit unless you’ve experienced it yourself. A smile and warm welcome is the best way to address Blitar people who are willing to show you the best places during your visit in Bumi Bung Karno (the other name of Blitar).

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Rofiq, hailing from East Java, Indonesia, is a passionate explorer who thrives on discovering new places, encountering diverse people, and immersing himself in various languages and cultures. His...Read more

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