Tasikmalaya Regency

The Ten Thousand Hills, hummocky deposits from the eruption of Mount Galunggung

Whilst the single word of the name does not convey any apparent meaning in its local languages, many believed that the name Tasikmalaya means either "a large area of sand" or "a large area of mountains".

It presumed to begin at Sukapura,[6] a place at earlier time called Tawang or Tawang-Galunggung. Tawang means paddy fields, or literary "a wide range of an open space". When Mount Galunggung erupted and left its volcanic deposits everywhere nearby, the open space of Sukapura became mountainous or hilly, by mounds of sand scattered over its land. These new contours of the land are believed to be the beginning of the naming Tasikmalaya. It is either derived from a conflation of Sundanese language tasik and (ma)layah, meaning, literary "an ocean of hills",[6] or from Sundanese language tasik, jeung, and laya, meaning "large tracts of sand" (Sundanese: keusik ngalayah, Indonesian: hamparan pasir). Other believes that the name is also defined as "an ocean of hills"[7] but with different theory, where Tasikmalaya is believed to be originated from Sundanese language tasik (lake, sea), and malaya (a chain of mountains or highlands). However, there is not such certain information of when the name was first originated.

a 1920–1935 photograph showing a landscape of Tasikmalaya Regency – Neglasari, Salawu Subdistrict.

As from the 7th century to the 8th, there was living in this Regency, a known realm with an unknown form of governance that had its central located nearby Mount Galunggung. This realm has a power of authority to officiate coronations for heads of particular kingdoms, namely for the sovereigns of Galuh Kingdom. The rulers of the realm who charged during those centuries were Batara Semplakwaja, Batara Kuncung Putih, Batara Kawindu, Batara Wastuhayu, and the last, to whom this governance later changed into monarchy, is Batari Hyang.[8]

This Kingdom was named Galunggung, taken from the name of the mountain where the kingdom resides. According to Geger Hanjuang inscription, this kingdom was established on 13th Bhadrapada 1033 Shaka or 21 August 1111, and Batari Hyang was the first Galunggung Kingdom's accession to the throne. The Queen owned a famous teaching, known as Sang Hyang Siksakanda ng Kareksian. This teaching of Batari Hyang was still used as an official doctrine in the era of Prabu Siliwangi who reigns Pakuan Pajajaran. The Kingdom of Galunggung was lasted to its next sixth ruler, each from its hereditary succession.[8]

A road towards Tasikmalaya with Mount Galunggung seen in the distance, 1920–1940.

Further events in the course of the Regency's history, are when the future governance of Tasikmalaya Regency, Sukakerta, was facing an opportunity to secede from its sovereign ruler, Pajajaran Kingdom. Prabu Surawisesa, the new succeeding king Sri Baduga Maharaja Prabu Siliwangi, was ruled Pajajaran Kingdom at that time. His Kingdom was encountered an expansive threat from Banten Sultanate and Demak. This expansion had initiated the lower region to secede from the Kingdom. However, Sukakerta, is believed, to had already been liberated itself from Pajajaran.[8]

Other focal events happened after a 10 years-long fight in the region of Priangan. It was when three major forces (Mataram, Banten, and VOC) having conflicts in the island of Java in the early 17th century. Wirawangsa as the head of Sukakerta, was assigned as the Regent of Sukapura and was honoured a nobility name of Wiradadaha I by Sultan Agung of Mataram. Upon the promotion of its leader, the regency changed its name to Sukapura and the capital of the regency, where earlier located at Dayeuh tengah, was moved to Leuwiloa, Sukaraja.[8]

A photograph of Raden Tumenggung Wirahadiningrat, 1870–1900

Years later, under the governance of Raden Tumenggung Surialaga (1813–14) the capital of the regency was brought to Tasikmalaya, but in 1832, under the governance of Wiradadaha VIII, its capital was moved to Manonjaya. Next, after some consideration, particularly economically, the capital of the regency was again switched back to Tasikmalaya. In 1913, the name of the Regency, Sukapura, was finally changed hereafter into Tasikmalaya by the government regent R.A.A Wiratanuningrat (1908–1937).[8]

The date of August 21 has been assigned to be the date of Tasikmalaya Regency's anniversary, following the fact revealed on the Geger Hanjuang inscription. The inscription, as it tells, had been made to mark the establishment of the Kingdom of Galunggung and as the mark of the inauguration of its first sovereign, Queen Batari Hyang. The inscription tells that the Kingdom was established on 21 August 1111, as well as the Queen's inauguration.[8]

• 1641–1674 : Raden Ngabehi Wirawangsa (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha I)
• 1674 : Raden Jayamanggala (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha II)
• 1674–1723 : Raden Anggadipa I (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha III)
• 1723–1745 : Raden Subamanggala (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha IV)
• 1745–1747 : Raden Secapati (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha V)
• 1747–1765 : Raden Jaya Anggadireja (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha VI)
• 1765–1807 : Raden Djayamanggala II (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha VII)
• 1807–1837 : Raden Anggadipa II (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha VIII)
• 1837–1844 : Raden Tumenggung Danudiningrat
• 1844–1855 : Raden Tumenggung Wiratanubaya
• 1855–1875 : Raden Tumenggung Wiraadegdana
• 1875–1901 : Raden Tumenggung Wirahadiningrat
• 1901–1908 : Raden Tumenggung Prawirahadingrat
• 1908–1937 : Raden Tumenggung Wiratanuningrat

Like the rest of Preanger's Regencies, the climate of Tasikmalaya Regency is normally a tropical rainforest climate.[16] It receives an average annual precipitation of 2.072 mm.[17] Although it experiences heavy rainfall[16] the Regency gets considerably an equable amount of heat. The average daily temperature of the regency are mildly varied, it ranges from 20° to 34 °C at lowland areas and 18° to 22 °C at the upland areas.[17]

Following the excision of Tasikmalaya City, the residual Tasikmalaya Regency comprises an area of 2,708.82 km².[18] It is bounded on the east by Garut Regency, marked by the Galunggung highlands, from southwest along to the northwest. Far to the north, the Regency borders on Majalengka Regency and continues to the east with Ciamis Regency and Tasikmalaya City, the latter which it surrounds on three sides. Finally, to the south, Tasikmalaya Regency is bounded by the Indian Ocean. Tasikmalaya Regency's greatest distance from north to the south is about 75 km, and about 56.25 km from east to the west.[19]

There are more than 70 spots of tourist destinations in Tasikmalaya Regency, some of them are listed below.[21]

Taraju, one of Tasikmalaya Regency's tourist destinations

Mount Galunggung's volcanic crater

At Pasirgintung village, Cibuniasih subdistrict, Pancatengah district there are a lot of Red Jasper rocks previously, but now only about 120 rocks. The administration will conserve it as Jasper Geopark. Jasper has class-7 hardness.[22]