Sidoarjo — Histories
How Sidoarjo came to be, in a short timeline, plus the buildings and monuments where you can still see it.
Timeline
- Late Nov 1042Early kingdoms
Airlangga splits his realm and Janggala is born
On the advice of his teacher Mpu Bharada, King Airlangga divides his kingdom in two. Janggala keeps the capital Kahuripan, thought to have stood around today's Porong.
- 1135Early kingdoms
Janggala falls to Kadiri
According to the Ngantang inscription, Sri Jayabhaya of Kadiri conquers Janggala, and the delta between the Brantas branches becomes part of the Kadiri kingdom.
- 1293 Saka (1371)Majapahit
Candi Pari is built
A stone over the gate of this brick temple in Porong carries the year 1293 Saka (1371 CE), during the reign of Majapahit's King Hayam Wuruk. Candi Sumur rises a short walk away.
See: Candi Pari · Candi Sumur - 31 Jan 1859Colonial
Sidokare splits from Surabaya
A Dutch colonial decree divides Kabupaten Surabaya in two, creating the regency of Sidokare. The date is celebrated every year as Hari Jadi, Sidoarjo's anniversary.
- 28 May 1859Colonial
Sidokare is renamed Sidoarjo
Because the name Sidokare was thought to carry bad connotations, the new regency is renamed Sidho-Ardjo, soon simplified to Sidoarjo.
- c. 1859–1862Colonial
The regency mosque is built
Masjid Jami' Sidoarjo goes up during the first regent's time in office. After improvements completed on 19 July 1895 it takes its present name, Masjid Agung Sidoarjo.
- 24 Dec 1946Revolution
Sidoarjo falls to returning Dutch forces
After the Dutch take Gedangan, the regency government retreats to Porong. Sidoarjo falls on 24 December 1946 and the seat moves to Jombang until the 1949 transfer of sovereignty.
- 14 May 2004Modern
East Java's provincial museum moves to Buduran
Museum Mpu Tantular, which began in 1933 as Surabaya's city history museum, moves to its permanent home on Jalan Raya Buduran beside the Buduran flyover.
See: Museum Mpu Tantular - 29 May 2006Modern
The Porong mudflow begins
Hot mud erupts near the Banjar Panji-1 gas well in Porong. The flow buries villages, displaces thousands of families and has been held behind levees since late 2008.
- Dec 2020Modern
Candi Dermo's restoration is completed
After work that began in 2015, the 14th-century brick gateway at Wonoayu loses its bamboo scaffolding and is reopened by East Java's heritage preservation office.
See: Candi Dermo
Heritage sites
Museum Mpu Tantular
East Java's provincial museum: about 15,600 objects from fossils and Hindu-Buddhist statues to coins and old manuscripts, for a few thousand rupiah.
Majapahit temple2Candi Pari
A Majapahit brick temple in Porong dated 1371 by its gate inscription, with a roof that recalls temples of Champa and the Khmer.
Historic mosque3Masjid Agung Sidoarjo
The regency's great mosque, built around 1859–1862, with a tiered Javanese joglo roof, a 15 m marble minaret and room for about 4,000.
Majapahit gateway4Candi Dermo
A 13.5 m brick split-roof gateway from the 14th century in Wonoayu, cousin to Trowulan's Bajang Ratu, fully restored in 2020.
Temple ruin5Candi Sumur
The ruined 'well temple' a few steps from Candi Pari: a 14th-century brick shrine of which only part of two walls still stands.