Pacitan Regency Explained

Official Name:Pacitan Regency
Native Name:Kabupaten Pacitan
Translit Lang1:Other
Translit Lang1 Type1:Javanese
Translit Lang1 Info1:ꦏꦧꦸꦥꦠꦺꦤ꧀ꦥꦕꦶꦠꦤ꧀
Native Name Lang:id
Type:Regency
Motto: Tata Pramana Hargeng Praja
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:Indonesia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Indonesia
Coordinates:-8.2°N 118°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Indonesia
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:East Java
Seat Type:Capital
Leader Title:Regent
Leader Title1:Vice Regent
Established Title:Anniversary
Established Date:19 February 1745
Area Total Km2:1389.90
Population As Of:mid 2024 estimate
Population Total:588718
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Footnotes:[1]

Pacitan Regency (id|Kabupaten Pacitan;) is a regency located in the southwestern corner of East Java Province, with Central Java Province on its western border. Located between 7.55° - 8.17°S and 110.55° - 111.25°E. The borders of Pacitan Regency are with Wonogiri Regency (Central Java Province) in the west and north, Ponorogo Regency and Trenggalek Regency (both regencies of East Java) in the east, and the Indian Ocean in the south. It covers an area of 1,389.87 km2 and had a population of 540,881 at the 2010 census[2] and 586,110 at the 2020 census;[3] the official estimate as of mid 2024 was 588,718 (comprising 294,808 males and 293,910 females).[4] The capital of Pacitan Regency is the town of the same name. The majority of citizens in Pacitan speak Javanese as their first language, while speaking Indonesian as a second language.

Geography

Pacitan Regency covers an area about 1,389.90 km2. Approximately 88 percent of the regency consists of mountainous and rocky terrain, including several rocky canyons, as it lies within the Thousand Mountains region. The highest peaks in Pacitan Regency include Mount Lima in Kebonagung District and Mount Gembes in Bandar District, the latter forming the source of the Grindulu River.

Comparison of land types:

Generally, the land in Pacitan can be divided into two categories, calcium-rich in the south, and fertile land in the north. The land consists of lithosol association, red mediterranean lithosol, tuff and volcanic compound, reddish lithosol complex, and grey alluvial, clay sediments containing many potential minerals. The minerals are feldspar, ball clay, bentonite, pyrophyllite, calcite, gypsum, phosphate rock, quartz, coal, dolomite, gemstone, tin ore, and manganite.

Pacitan Regency includes 130.87 km2 of rice fields and 1,211.55 km2 of dry land. According to irrigation types, the rice fields can be grouped into: technical irrigation rice field (16.06 km2), half technical irrigation rice field (11.88 km2), simple irrigation rice field (40.63 km2), and rain-dependent rice field (62.3 km2).

Administrative districts

Pacitan Regency is divided into twelve districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and population totals at the 2010 census[2] and the 2020 census,[3] together with the official estimates as of mid 2024.[5] The table also includes the locations of the district headquarters, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 166 rural desa and 5 urban kelurahan - the latter all in Pacitan (town) District), and its postal codes.

Kode
Wilayah
Name of
District
(kecamatan)
Area
in km2
Pop'n
census
2010
Pop'n
census
2020
Pop'n
estimate
mid 2024
Admin
centre
No.
of
villages
Post
codes
35.01.01 Donorojo [6] 109.09 34,98637,66937,416Donorojo1263554
35.01.03 Punung [7] 108.81 33,91937,09436,637Punung1363553
35.01.02Pringkuku [8] 132.93 29,69432,61632,347Ngadirejan1363552
35.01.04 Pacitan [9]
(town)
77.11 73,08678,16177,694Sidoharjo25 (a) 63511
- 63518
35.01.05 Kebonagung [10] 124.85 42,66746,45946,297Kebonagung1963561
35.01.06 Arjosari [11] 117.06 38,64641,69341,504Arjosari1763581
35.01.07 Nawangan [12] 124.06 46,08451,24051,801Nawangan963584
35.01.08 Bandar [13] 117.34 41,78944,49344,625Bandar 863583
35.01.09 Tegalombo [14] 149.26 48,04951,62651,795Tegalombo1163582
35.01.10 Tulakan [15] 161.62 77,26683,90486,394Tulakan1663571
35.01.11 Ngadirojo [16] 99.91 44,70747,30647,791Ngadirojo1863572
35.01.12 Sudimoro [17] 71.86 29,98833,84934,417Sukorejo1063573
Totals 1,389.90 540,881586,110588,718Pacitan171
Note: (a) comprises 5 urban kelurahan (Baleharjo, Pacitan, Ploso, Pucangsewu and Sidoharjo) and 20 desa.

Beaches

Pacitan Regency has 17 beaches; to the west of Pacitan town are: Banyu Tibo, Buyutan, Karang Bolong, Srau, Klayar, and Watu Karung; near Pacitan town are: Pantai Teleng Ria, Tamperan Gung, Kali Uluh, and Wawaran; to the east of Pacitan town are: Pidakan, Soge, Tawang, Taman, and Kunir. All beaches are near to the 70 kilometers of South Coast Road from Wonogiri Regency to Trenggalek Regency. Soge Beach can be accessed in 30 minutes drive or by bus public transport from Pacitan town, but all beaches are relatively far from big cities such as Surabaya (7 hours) and Surakarta (4 hours),[18] but it is closer from Yogyakarta.

Pacitan town

Pacitan town forms an administrative district (kecamatan) in the centre of the regency, and constitutes an urban area on Pacitan Bay (Teluk Pacitan). It is composed of 5 urban villages (kelurahan) and 20 rural villages (desa), listed below with their populations as at mid 2023:[9]

Tourism

Pacitan, often referred to as the "City of Tourism" (Kota Pariwisata) or "City of a Thousand Caves" (Kota Seribu Goa), is noted for its ecological diversity and natural attractions. Tourist attractions in Pacitan include cave explorations, surfing, hiking, visits to historical places, and bathing in natural springs. A multi-purpose sports arena is under construction.

Several limestone caves are notable. Gua Gong (Gong Cave) is frequently cited as a major tourist attraction.[19] Gua Kalak (Kalak Cave) is traditionally believed to have been a meditation site of former president Soeharto, and Gua Tabuhan (Tabuhan Cave) is associated with Alibasyha Sentot Prawirodirjo. Gua Luweng Jaran (Luweng Jaran Cave) contains stalactites and stalagmites said to produce sounds resembling gamelan music.

Pacitan's coastline features a variety of beaches. Watu Karung Beach, Klayar Beach, Srau Beach, and Kasap Beach are known for white sand and coral formations. Teleng Ria Beach is located near the city center. Soge Beach is notable for a prominent bridge. Taman Beach hosts a turtle-conservation program, and Sidomulyo Beach offers Indonesia's longest zip line attraction. Banyu Tibo beach contains a small waterfall that flows directly into the sea. Other beaches are less documented.

Notable people

Pacitan is the birthplace of the former army general and the former (and first directly elected) president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

See also

Notes and References

  1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025. Kabupaten Pacitan Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501)
  2. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
  3. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025. Kabupaten Pacitan Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501)
  5. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025. Kabupaten Pacitan Dalam Angka 2025 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501)
  6. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Donorojo Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501010
  7. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Punung Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501020
  8. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Pringkuku Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501030
  9. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Pacitan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501040
  10. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Kebonagung Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501050
  11. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Arjosari Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501060
  12. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Nawangan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501070
  13. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Bandar Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501080
  14. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Tegalombo Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501090
  15. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Tulakan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501100
  16. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Ngadirojo Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501110
  17. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 26 September 2024, Kecamatan Sudimoro Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3501120
  18. Web site: Pantai Soge, Keindahan Pesisir Pacitan . I Made Asdhiana . November 29, 2014.
  19. News: Media . Kompas Cyber . 2023-05-02 . Goa Gong Pacitan Terkini: Daya Tarik, Jam Buka, Harga Tiket, Fasilitas Halaman all - Kompas.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130102059/https://travel.kompas.com/read/2023/05/02/213100227/goa-gong-pacitan-terkini--daya-tarik-jam-buka-harga-tiket-fasilitas?page=all . 2023-11-30 . 2025-09-27 . KOMPAS.com . en.