Malang — Histories

Timeline

1. 760 CE (682 Saka)
   Kanjuruhan

   The Dinoyo inscription records Kanjuruhan

   Found at Dinoyo in today's Lowokwaru, this inscription tells how King Gajayana of Kanjuruhan dedicated a shrine to the sage Agastya, the oldest written record of a kingdom in the Malang basin.

2. 1198 CE (1120 Saka)
   Early kingdoms

   The name 'Malang' appears in writing

   The Pamotoh (Ukirnegara) copper-plate inscription, dated 1120 Saka, is the first known record to use the name Malang. It was found near Wlingi in Blitar in the 1970s.

3. 1222
   Singhasari

   Ken Arok founds Tumapel (Singhasari)

   After defeating Kediri at the Battle of Ganter, Ken Arok becomes the first king of Tumapel, later called Singhasari. The kingdom's heartland lay in the Malang highlands, just north of today's city.

4. 1825
   Colonial

   Eng An Kiong temple is founded

   Lieutenant Kwee Sam Hway founds Klenteng Eng An Kiong in the Kotalama area. Its central hall dates from 1825, and the other buildings were added between 1895 and 1934.

   See: Klenteng Eng An Kiong
5. 1882
   Colonial

   The town square is laid out

   The colonial government lays out Malang's alun-alun, today's Alun-alun Merdeka. Masjid Agung Jami' rose on its west side between 1890 and 1903.

   See: Alun-alun Merdeka · Masjid Agung Jami' Malang
6. 1 Apr 1914
   Colonial

   Malang becomes a municipality

   Malang, until then run by an assistant resident under Pasuruan, is made a gemeente (municipality). The date is still the city's official birthday; its first full mayor, H.I. Bussemaker, took office in 1919.

7. Sep 1929
   Colonial

   The new town hall opens on the round square

   Designed by H.F. Horn for 287,000 guilders, Balai Kota Malang is finished on the round J.P. Coenplein, today's Alun-alun Tugu, moving civic life away from the old alun-alun.

   See: Tugu Malang & Balai Kota
8. 28 Oct 1934
   Colonial

   The Ijen church is consecrated

   After eight months of building, the Art Deco church on Jalan Ijen is blessed as the Church of St Theresia. It became the cathedral of the new Diocese of Malang in 1961, under its present Carmelite name.

   See: Ijen Cathedral
9. 25 Feb – 6 Mar 1947
   Revolution

   The republic's parliament meets in Malang

   The fifth plenary session of the Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP), the young republic's provisional parliament, is held in Malang.

10. 31 Jul 1947
    Revolution

    Malang Bumi Hangus

    During the first Dutch military aggression, Republicans burn buildings and facilities to slow the advance, an episode remembered as 'Malang Bumi Hangus'. Dutch troops with tanks take the city on 31 July 1947.

11. 20 May 1953
    Independence

    Sukarno inaugurates Tugu Malang

    The independence monument in the middle of the round square, begun in 1945 and destroyed by the Dutch, is rebuilt and inaugurated by President Sukarno.

    See: Tugu Malang & Balai Kota
12. 5 Jan 1963
    Independence

    Universitas Brawijaya becomes a state university

    Grown from a municipal college that held its first classes in the Balai Kota in 1957, UB becomes a state university with a name chosen by Sukarno, anchoring Malang's role as a student city.

13. 4 May 1968
    Independence

    Museum Brawijaya opens on Jalan Ijen

    The East Java army command opens a museum on Jalan Ijen to record the struggle of soldiers and people against the Dutch military aggressions of 1947–1949.

    See: Museum Brawijaya
14. 4 Sep 2016
    Modern

    Kampung Warna-Warni Jodipan opens

    A riverside kampung on the Brantas, repainted at the idea of eight UMM communication students with a paint company's help, is opened by the mayor and becomes Malang's first themed tourist kampung.

    See: Kampung Warna-Warni Jodipan

Heritage sites