Banjarnegara, Administrative regency in Central Java, Indonesia.
Banjarnegara is an administrative area in Central Java made up of twenty districts with almost three hundred villages, spread across forested hills and farming valleys. The area sits east of the Dieng Plateau and includes flat sections in the north as well as steeper slopes in the south, leading to different agricultural practices across its landscape.
The area was part of kingdoms blending Javanese and Sundanese influences for centuries, with some temple ruins surviving from that period. The current administrative structure was formalized during Dutch colonial rule in the 19th century and later adapted after independence.
Each district within Banjarnegara contributes to regional traditions through regular festivals featuring local music performances and culinary presentations from 266 rural and 12 urban communities.
The area is best explored with your own vehicle, as public transport between districts is limited and mostly serves the central terminal station in Mandiraja. Visitors planning to reach more remote villages should allow several days, as roads in the southern hills become winding and narrower.
The area is known for its special sheep farming, with Batur sheep kept on higher pastures and their wool used for local craft work. Outside market days, you can watch herders guiding their flocks along mountain roads, part of the everyday rhythm of the rural landscape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
