Pasuruan — Histories
How Pasuruan came to be, in a short timeline, plus the buildings and monuments where you can still see it.
Timeline
- Airlangga era, 11th centuryEarly kingdoms
Paravan, a busy port under Airlangga
In King Airlangga's time the town was already known as Paravan. Its busy harbour, later remembered as Tanjung Tembikar, made it a trading hub on Java's north-east coast.
- 1545Early Islam
Demak conquers Pasuruan
Sultan Trenggono of Demak takes Pasuruan, long ruled by East Java's Hindu kings under the old name Gembong, and it grows into an important Islamic power on the east coast.
- 8 Feb 1686Untung Suropati
Untung Suropati becomes ruler of Pasuruan
Untung Suropati, a rebel leader at war with the Dutch, is installed as ruler of Pasuruan as Raden Adipati Wironegoro and holds it until his death in 1706. The date became the city's Hari Jadi.
- 1751–1799Regency
Regent Nitiadiningrat I and the Al-Anwar mosque
Adipati Nitiadiningrat I rules Pasuruan for 48 years and, together with Kyai Hasan (Mbah Slagah), founds the Masjid Agung Al-Anwar beside the town square.
- 9 Jul 1887Colonial
Sugar research station founded
Proefstation Oost-Java opens in Pasuruan to fight the sereh disease hitting Java's cane. In 1921 it released the POJ 2878 variety that helped save the sugar industry; it is now P3GI.
- 1896Colonial
Steam trams for the cane country
The Pasoeroean Stoomtram Maatschappij starts steam tram services carrying passengers and cargo such as sugarcane, tea and tobacco. The company ran until 1969.
- 20 Jun 1918Colonial
Pasuruan becomes a municipality
The colonial government makes Pasuruan a municipality, the Stads Gemeente van Pasoeroean, seventeen years after the Pasuruan Residency was formed on 1 January 1901.
- 25 Dec 1982Modern
Death of Kiai Hamid
KH Abdul Hamid, who led Pesantren Salafiyah from 1951 and preached across the city's kampung, dies. His grave behind Masjid Agung Al-Anwar draws pilgrims and a yearly haul.
- 2022–2023Modern
Payung Madinah rises on the alun-alun
Six giant Madinah-style umbrellas go up in front of Masjid Agung Al-Anwar, with six more in 2023, giving the 'Kota Santri' a new landmark.
- 2024Modern
Gedung Harmonie revitalised
The city restores the colonial Sociëteit Harmonie on Jalan Pahlawan, once a club for Dutch and European residents, and turns it into a heritage attraction.
See: Gedung Harmonie
Heritage sites
Masjid Agung Al-Anwar
The great mosque on the west side of the alun-alun, founded by regent Nitiadiningrat I, with the revered grave of Kiai Hamid in the cemetery behind it.
Colonial clubhouse2Gedung Harmonie
A colonial Sociëteit clubhouse on Jalan Pahlawan, revitalised by the city and now one of Pasuruan's favourite history stops.
Chinese temple3Klenteng Tjoe Tik Kiong
Pasuruan's old Chinese temple on Jalan Lombok, with dragon-and-phoenix gates, a potehi puppet stage and wall paintings of Chinese legends.
Colonial research institute4P3GI Sugar Research Centre
Founded in 1887 as Proefstation Oost-Java to save Java's sugar cane from disease, and still Indonesia's sugar research institute today.
Chinese-Indische mansion5Gedung Pancasila
A 19th-century Indische Empire mansion with Chinese roof ornaments, built for the wealthy Han family and used as a school since 1958.