Garut

History

History of Garut Regency: From Mountain Land to the Diamond City

Origins and Naming of Garut

The history of Garut Regency began with the dissolution of Limbangan Regency in 1811 by Daendels for economic reasons. However, on February 16, 1813, Lieutenant Governor Thomas Stamford Raffles issued a decree from the Governor-General to re-establish Limbangan Regency. The process of finding a new administrative center led officials to the slopes of Mount Cikuray. Local legend states that during land clearing, an official was scratched by thorny bushes (kakarut). A complaint in Sundanese, "Gagarut!", was then heard by a Dutch person who pronounced it as "Garut". On May 7, 1813, the first stone was laid for the construction of administrative facilities on the land that is now the city center.

Colonial Era: The Second "Paris van Java"

Under the leadership of R.A.A. Adiwijaya (1813-1831), Garut began to be organized with the concept of an alun-alun (town square) and a Grand Mosque. In the mid-19th century, Garut developed into a prime destination for European elites. Its natural beauty, surrounded by mountains, earned Garut the nickname "Switzerland van Java". The presence of a railway line connecting Cibatu-Garut-Cikajang in the 1920s accelerated economic growth through the tea, coffee, and quinine plantation sectors. The world-renowned legendary comedian, Charlie Chaplin, visited Garut twice in 1927 and 1932 via Garut Station, proving the international appeal of the region during the colonial period.

Era of Independence Struggle

Garut's role in the national struggle was very significant. During the physical revolution, this region served as a defense base for the Indonesian army. One of the heroic events was the battle in Ciwidey and Wanaraja. Garut also produced great figures such as K.H. Anwar Musaddad, a scholar-fighter who contributed to education and the military. During the DI/TII rebellion led by Kartosuwiryo, the mountainous region of Garut became the center of a long conflict before it was finally suppressed by TNI military operations (Operation Pagar Betis) in the early 1960s. President Soekarno later bestowed the nickname "Kota Intan" (Indah, Tertib, Aman, Nyaman - Beautiful, Orderly, Safe, Comfortable) upon Garut in 1960 as a symbol of the city's cleanliness and beauty after a period of turmoil.

Cultural Heritage and Modern Development

This regency, covering an area of 3,114.55 km², possesses rich traditions that remain preserved, such as the Ram Fighting Attraction (Atraksi Adu Domba), rooted in the past nobility's fondness for it, and the extreme Lais art. Administratively, Garut borders five regions: Bandung and Sumedang Regencies to the north, Tasikmalaya to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south (although its administrative center is inland/central), and Cianjur to the west.

Historical sites like Cangkuang Temple in Leles, rediscovered in 1966, are evidence of ancient religious tolerance where a Hindu temple stands alongside the tomb of the Islamic propagator, Embah Dalem Arief Muhammad. Today, Garut is developing into a world-renowned center for the Sukaregang leather industry and a producer of legendary dodol, while continuing to revitalize its historic railway line to support modern tourism.