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Pacitan

Indonesia · Asia

Pacitan, Indonesia
Pacitan, Indonesia. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

About Pacitan

Pacitan is a regency in the southwest of East Java. It is known for its caves and beaches.

Pacitan travel guide

Understand

History The name Pacitan comes from the word "Pace" or noni fruit in Javanese which can give health and strength as written in the book Babad Tanah Pacitan. Based on the legend of the Mangkubumen war or the Palihan Nagari War (1746–1755), when Prince Mangkubumi (son of Amangkurat IV; king of Kasunanan Kartasura) fought against the VOC and fled to the Pacitan area. During his escape into the forest, Prince Mangkubumi's body was very weak, and thanks to the help of his servant named Setraketipa who gave him ripe noni fruit, Mangkubumi's strength was able to recover. So that after being healthy Mangkubumi succeeded in seizing and gaining power in the western part of Kartasura and later became the first king in the Yogyakarta Sultanate with the title Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana I in 1755 (based on the Giyanti agreement). Because of his services, Setraketipa was later appointed Tumenggung or regent in Pacitan in 1757 with the title Raden Tumenggung Setrowidjojo I.

Getting there

By bus 1 Terminal Pacitan, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Purwoharjo, Baleharjo. Intercity buses from Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, as well as some cities in Sumatra. (updated Dec 2022)

Getting around

It is more flexible to use a rented motorbike or car to go to tourist attractions.

See

Caves 1 Gong Cave. A cave with unique formations and colorful stalagmites and stalactites. 2 Tabuhan Cave. A cave with stalactites and stalagmites that produce musical tones if struck. 3 Putri Cave. A cave with unique formations and colorful stalagmites and stalactites. 4 Song Gupuh Cave. A cave with unique formations and colorful stalagmites and stalactites. 5 Song Terus Cave. A cave with unique formations and colorful stalagmites and stalactites.

Monuments 6 Monument of General Sudirman Pakis Baru, Nawangan. 07:00-17:00. There is a replica of the house when the national hero General Sudirman did a guerrilla war.

Do

Beaches

1 Banyu Tibo Beach, Widoro, Donorojo. A waterfall on the beach. (updated Oct 2022) 2 Klayar Beach. A white sand beach, with raised coral formations, and a blowhole up to 10 meters high. 3 Pancer Beach (In the Pacitan Bay). One of the surf spots near downtown Pacitan. 4 Pidakan Beach, Ploso Pacitan. 07:00-17:00. 5 Soge Beach, Sidomulyo, Ngadirojo. A white sand beach by the main road to Trenggalek. (updated Dec 2022) 6 Teleng Ria Beach, Ploso Pacitan. 07:00-17:00. 7 Srau Beach. Offers three spots for intermediate surfers, and a white sand beach. 8 Watu Karung Beach. Two world-class waves. There once held the World Surf League competition.

Buy

Food souvenirs As a regency by the Indian Ocean, tuna processed food has become food souvenirs from Pacitan such as:

Lumpia tuna, a tuna spring roll. Nugget tuna, a tuna nugget. Sosis tuna, a tuna sausage. Tahu tuna, a tofu filled with tuna inside.

Eat

Pacitan food Soto Pacitan, chicken soto soup, served with beansprouts, rice vermicelli, cabbages, and fried peanuts.

Places to eat 1 Soto Marem Bu Maryati, Salamrejo, Kebonagung, ☏ +62 813 289 80098. 07:00-16:30. Serves soto Pacitan. (updated Dec 2022) 2 Warung Makan Sego Gobyos, Krajan, Pacitan, ☏ +62 877 568 24051. 16:00-04:00. Serves rice with various super spicy side dishes. The special menu is usus kuah santan (chicken intestine cooked in coconut milk soup). (updated Dec 2022)

Drink & nightlife

Ice cream parlours 1 Amanti Del Gelato, Jl. P. Diponegoro No.17, Krajan (Close to the city park). 11:00-21:00. (updated Dec 2022)

Sleep

1 Hotel Permata, Jalan Gatot Subroto 26 Pacitan, ☏ +62 357 883 306. From Rp220,801. Hotel Pacitan, Jalan Ahmad Yani 37 Pacitan, ☏ +62 357 881244. Around Rp100,000. 2 Hotel Remaja, Jalan Ahmad Yani 67 Pacitan, ☏ +62 357 881088. 3 IstanaOmbak Eco Resort, Jl. Kerapu No.151, Ketro, Watukarung, Pringkuku, ☏ +62 823 247 74545. (updated Dec 2022) 4 Desa Limasan Resort, Ketro, Watukarung, Pringkuku, ☏ +62 813 323 16459. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Traditional Javanese room. (updated Dec 2022)

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.

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