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Malang

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Malang is a large, inland city located in the East Java province of Indonesia.

It sits away from the coast, nestled in a region surrounded by many mountains. These include Mount Kawi, Mount Butak, and the Arjuno-Welirang complex.

Mount Arjuna
Mount Arjuna

The city is very famous for having a mild climate. This cool weather made it a favorite place for European residents during the Dutch colonial period. Today, people from all over the world still visit Malang as tourists. It is a busy place that serves as a major center for many different activities.

Long ago, the land around Malang was a deep basin filled with lava.

Over a very long time, water from the mountains filled the area to create ancient lakes and swamps. As these lakes dried up, the land became a plateau where people could live and farm. Early humans lived in caves on the mountain slopes nearby. They eventually moved down to the river areas to build settlements. Archaeologists have found old stone tools and axes in this region. They even found stone pieces that look like the foundations of stilt houses.

Malang has a history that reaches back many centuries. It was once part of the Singhasari Kingdom and the Kanjuruhan Kingdom. One important record, the Dinoyo inscription, dates back to the year 760. This record mentions a king named Gajayana who ruled a Hindu kingdom. Later, the area was part of the Mataram Kingdom. You can still see many historical relics from these different times. Some are ancient temples like Jago Temple.

Candi Jago C
Candi Jago C

Others are beautiful old buildings from the Dutch era, like the Ijen Cathedral.

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Kerk van het Heilig Hart te Malang. TMnr 60005904
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Kerk van het Heilig Hart te Malang. TMnr 60005904

Many people live in this growing city. In mid-2024, the population was about 889,359 people. Most of these people are Javanese, but there are also Madurese and Chinese groups. The city is a big part of the economy in East Java. It is the third largest city in the province for business. The wider Malang Metropolitan area is even bigger, with over 3 million people. This large area includes the city of Batu and many other districts. It is the second largest urban area in all of East Java.

Malang is also known as a great place for education. It is home to two of the best universities in Indonesia. These are Brawijaya University and Malang State University.

MonumenTuguUB
MonumenTuguUB
Muhammadiyah University of Malang, 2019
Muhammadiyah University of Malang, 2019

Because of these schools, many students come to live and learn there. The city also celebrates its past through special events. One example is the Malang Tempo Doeloe Festival. This helps people remember and protect their local culture. Malang remains a lively place where history and modern life meet.

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🖼️ Images & Media (19)
File:Miniatur Dataran Tinggi Malang.jpg
Miniatur Dataran Tinggi Malang.jpg
File:Kediri Kingdom id.svg
Kediri Kingdom id.svg
File:Candi Jago C.JPG
Candi Jago C.JPG
File:Majapahit Core and Provinces.svg
Majapahit Core and Provinces.svg
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Kerk van het Heilig Hart te Malang. TMnr 60005904.jpg
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Kerk van het...
File:Coat of Arms of Malang (1921).svg
Coat of Arms of Malang (1921).svg
File:Malang._(Reproductie_van_een_foto,_genomen_onder_de_Japanse_bezetting.)_De_Japan,_Bestanddeelnr_344-5-4.jpg
Malang._(Reproductie_van_een_foto,_genomen...
File:Mount Arjuna.jpg
Mount Arjuna.jpg
File:Seorang Pemotor Melintasi Jembatan Suhat, Kota Malang. April 2021.jpg
Seorang Pemotor Melintasi Jembatan Suhat,...
File:Idjen Street, Malang, 2019.jpg
Idjen Street, Malang, 2019.jpg
File:Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport.jpg
Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport.jpg
File:MonumenTuguUB.jpg
MonumenTuguUB.jpg

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