Tourism

KARTINI BEACH

Kartini Beach is located at 2.5 km westward of the hall of Jepara Regency. This tourist object belongs to Bulu village, Jepara Sub-district. Various supporting facilities such as port, a part of Kura-kura aquarium, motel, and children playground (komedi putar, mandi bola, perahu arus) are available. Quite cool atmosphere around the beach gives different impression to the visitors, for this place is appropriate for family recreation or just for relax.
In jepara beach especially kartini beach, visitors are able to take a rest by sitting under the gazebo and the breathing the fresh air. Area with 3.5 ha large is strategic area, because it is functioned as sea transportation port toward Karimunjava National Sea Park and Panjang Island.Kartini beach can’t be separated from traditional event called “LOMBAN”. It is all day long Jepara’s people annually event held on 8 Syawal (a week after lebaran feast day).

LEGEND AND HISTORY
Actually, Kartini beach is more popular as “PEMANDIAN”. This nickname is common to most of Jeparanese. If someone mentions a word “Pemandian”, that he or she thinks Kartini Beach, not the other thinks Kartini Beach, not the other places.
Kartini Beach JeparaThe word “PEMANDIAN” means a place for taking a bath. The use of the word “Pemandian” is common, because there is a special bathing place for tourist while visiting the beach. The place is located on the western park of Kartini Beach. Visitors usually take bath at dosk and down. Until now this location is still used for taking a bath especially by people who have skin irritation with a hope that the irritation will recover soon.
Kartini Beach area was an island sprouted up with Kelor Plan, so it was know as Kelor Island. At that time, the island was separated from Jepara land. Because of the sedimentation, among the island was lived by Encik Lanang.
The Netherland Indies Government lent the island to Encik Lanang for his achievement on a war in Bali.
Kartini Beach also used as Encik Lanang graveyard, and always attended by the local fishermen before the Lomban Party.
Besides that, Kartini Beach can’t be separated from RA Kartini’s childhood. She and her parent and also her sisters spent their vacation in this beach. That’s name is purposed to respect and remind us to Kartini’s struggle.

Bandengan / Tirta Samudara Beach

Tirta Samudra Beach or more known by the public society with Bandengan beach placed about 7 km North side from city centre. The beach that has pure water and white sand is suitable for bathing place. There are many tourists come into this object to do intentional bathing frequently. Generally they are children, youngsters and foreign countries tourists. Usually, the most favourite moment is in the morning and in the evening toward twilight where there is mesmerizing sunset panorama.In this location, we can sit and relax on the shelter while enjoy the natural beach breezy wind (unpolluted). The tourism object location has large field and the whole of part the dence pandan trees are grown. It is suitable for youngsters activities such as camping, beach volley, relax bicycled for the same activities. Besides the mentioned above, in this area can be used the play motocross and kitten festival for the regional level, national level also international. The object can be reached easily by public transportation, because have provided the asphalt road infrastructure and the direct city transportation are a valuable to the location above. Meanwhile, roasted fish, small crab, boiled tortoise shell and pending sprain are a special foods that can be enjoyed by the visitors.

HISTORY AND LEGEND

Based on history record, Bandengan Beach has tight correlation with the life of National Hero and Woman Emancipation figure, RA Kartini. The mentioned beach was interesting place for the sons and daughters of Jepara Regency Regent, because there were may sweet memorizes there. The energetic girl who was usually calls TRINIL often made a tour to the Bandengan beach when she was child. She played with her family in the edge of beach that the white sand spread out. RA Kartini described her heart and soul as if she was one to the sea wave pounding when she wrote letters to Stella, her friend in Holland.

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Bandengan Beach Jepara
Netherlands Indies Aristricrate, Mrs. Ovink Soer (Assistance Residence wife) with her husband invited Kartini and her little sisters Roekmini and Kardinah to enjoy the beach beauty in the first vacation toward promotion of the class. Kartini and her two little sisters followed Mrs. Ovink Soer find shell and they chased each other to avoid the wafe. Mrs. Ovink Soer asked to Kartini what the beach name was. Kartini answered shortly “Bandengan Beach”. Then Mrs. Ovink Soer said that there was beach that almost the same with Bandengan Beach in Holland, but there was little different because it had cool water the name is SCHEVENINGEN. Spontaneously, after listening, Kartini intermitted “…so, we called It…” this Bandengan Beach with “KLEIN SCHEVENINGEN”.
Started the above mentioned, until now Bandengan Beach Has been known as KLEIN SCHEVENINGEN (in Dutch KLEIN means: beach and SCHEVENINGEN is the beach name in Holland).
Besides Bandengan beach was the place where had carved the history journey of RA Kartini idea. In this place RA Kartini and Mr. Abendanon also conducted four eyes conversation. The conversation connected her request to study in Holland, even finally her formal request to Netherlands Indies Government was reversed and the cost of her study was given to young man from Sumatera, Agus Salim (KH. Agus Salim).
While it was narrated that Bandengan beach tourism object had correlated with the legend of Karimunjawa name. In that legend had been stated that because it was motivated the sense concern about his son naughtiness, therefore Sunan Muria instructed his son Amir Hasan to go to the North for an island that appeared “Kremun-kremun” from the peak of Muria Mountain. The journey aim was too deep once to develop the religion. Latter the Island had been named Karimunjawa. That arrived to the beach in the journey and there were many swamps and milkfishes there. Until now this place had been named Bandengan village and the beach which place in the village had been called Bandengan Beach.

Mantingan Mosque

Mantingan Mosque and grave are located in Mantingan village, Tahunan sub-district, 5 km Southward Jepara town centre. This village is well known as a village where Sultan Hadlirin and his wife, queen Kalinyamat was buried. Sultan Hadlirin was a Moslem leader who spread Islamic knowledge in the North coast. The Mantingan Mosque was the second Mosque after great Mosque of Demak.Reaching this Mosque and grave is quite easy, because public transportation is available. The people of Mantingan are mostly Moslem and work in furniture industry. HISTORY AND LEGENDS Stated above that the Mantingan Mosque was the second Mosque. The Mosque was built in 1481 S until 1559 C. according to statement stated inside the Mosque “ RUPA BRAHMANA WANASARI” written by son of R. Muhayat, his name R. Toyib. In the beginning R. Toyib studied Islamic knowledge in Mecca and China. After finishing his study, he then moved to Jepara. R. Toyib married Ratu Kalinyamat (Retno Kencono), a daughter of Sultan Trenggono from Demak kingdom. He then was called “Sultan Hadlirin” and throned as ‘Adipati Jepara’ until he passed away and finally was buried beside the Mosque that he had built. In the graveyard area, his wife and his Chinese relative, named CIE GWI GWAN were also buried. The graveyard fully crowded at “Khol” (the day where people commemorate the death of Sultan Hadlirin’s death) also at ceremonial moment to change banner covered the Sultan’s tomb. This ceremonial moment is held once a year at 17 Robiul Awal (month of Moslem calendar), same with the date of Jepara anniversary. The grave is believed by many people that has magical power. Husband and wife who haven’t got any child yet supposed to visit the grave yard and pick some fallen pace fruits. The ‘Pace’ fruit then has to be eaten by the husband and wife, if god may permit, the husband and wife will get baby. Another magical power in this grave is the holy water, local people believe that the water used to get the truth of someone. Jeparanase people use this water when they are facing a problem by drinking the water, but it’s just a belief, you may believe or not.

Portuguese Fortress

One of the mainstay tourism object in Jepara is Portuguese fortress which is located at Banyumanis village, Keling Sub-district or 45 km North of Jepara city, and to reach it is not too difficult because the road is paved and has regular transportation.

LOCATION
Geographically this fortress seems strategic for military importance specially in the past which the canon’s range of shooting is only 2 to 3 km. This fortress is built on the top of the rocky hill, besides the beach and right in front of it lies Mondoliko Island, so practically the straits in front of this fortress is under the control of fortress canon and will influence ship’s cruise from Jepara to East Indonesia or the other way.

HISTORY

In 1619, Jayakarta / Sunda Kelapa City was invaded by the Dutch’s VOC, and now Sunda Kelapa which was renamed Batavia was considered at the beginning of colonialism by the Dutch Imperialism in Indonesia. The king of Mataram Sultan Agung has felt the danger threatening the drop of Jayakarta city to the hand of the Dutch. That’s why the king prepared his soldiers to drive out the Dutch.This Mataram king’s strong will was executed successively in 1628 to 1629 which was ended by the lost of Mataram soldiers.The lost made Sultan Agung thought that VOC can be defeated only through ground and sea attack together, on contrary Mataram did not have a strong sea armada, so they need help from the 3rd party who also against VOC, Portuguese. The deal between Mataram and Portuguese held and for the first step, Portuguese placed his troops in the fortress which was built by Mataram in 1632. This fortress is clearly very effective to watch the sea cruise from Jepara which became Mataram’s main harbor for export and import. But the cooperation between Mataram and Portuguese could not be realized to drive the Dutch out in Batavia, even in 1642 the Portuguese left this fortress because Malacca as Portuguese’s main city East Asia has been snatched away by the Dutch in 1641.

Songgolangit Waterfall

This plot located at Bucu village sub-district Kembang 30 km north from Jepara city. This waterfall has the height 80 m and width 2 m. According to yhe strong that spread among local villagers that enemy body will be stay young after taking a bath or washing their face there.The nature scenery around the plot is so beautiful and the air is also relaxing, and makes this place comfortable to visit as recreation area. You can meet various kinds of butterflies with many beautiful colours. To reach the plot you may use 2 wheel vehicle or 4 wheels vehicle with asphalt road.

HISTORY

A long time ago there was a young man came from Tunahan village made a love relationship with a beautiful young lady from Dukuh Sumanding Bucu village sub-district Kembang. Their relationship continued until marriage. It was hold that between Tunahan village and Bucu village there was a river (now the river become waterfall).
In the old days a young man who wanted to propose a young lady had to bring kitchen set such as frying pan, plate, glass, etc. and also brought live short such as buffalo, cow, sheep, etc. At dawn the wife was having initiative to prepare break fast for the beloved husband, while she was preparing the breakfast, because a little bit careless, she made noises from the kitchen set.Because of the noise, her mother warned her “Don’t get noisy, because it will make your husband awake”. Her husband heard that and miss inter-plated what his mother in law said as “Why you make some noise, when you work, do you think it is husband’s stuff?”
Right at the time the husband felt so annoyed with his mother in law’s words, so in the middle of the night the couple left from the house to move to her husband origin by riding a cart which was pull by cow. It was so dark that they went to the wrong road (got lost), and they felt that the car fell to the cliff (known as Songgolangit waterfall) and they were missing in action.
This legend is so wide spread among local villagers, so that become a prohibition between people from Tunahan village and Bucu Village to be husband and wife, as they will meet too many obstacles in their relationship. Songgolangit waterfall, that is why people call it, because if you look the waterfall from the bottom, the waterfall looks supporting the sky. It was tall that the waterfall was guarded by a couple husband and wife that were participating in guarding the tourists comfort ability who were enjoying the beauty of the plot, because they felt that the tourists were their guests to be respected and guarded their security and comfort ability.

Welahan Temple

Welahan Pagoda is called “Hian Thiam Siang Tee”. It is located 24 km south of Jepara city center, exactly at Welahan village, Welahan Sub-district, Jepara District, a village with ancient Chinese heirloom and becoming one of the historic tourism assets in Jepara, where strongly standing two pagodas built by a Chinese traditional healer named Tan Siang Boe together with his elder brother named Tan siang Djie. Visiting for this tourism historic object, some asphalted road or infrastructure through which tourists can pass by and get on 2-wheeled or 4-wheeled vehicles or many other public transports, as the location is nearby Welahan traditional market.

HISTORY AND LEGEND

In 1830 the Dutch General Governor, Johanes Graaf Bosch reigning Indonesia, which was called as the Netherlands Indies Colonization at that time coming a Chinese from China called Tan Siang Boe. His leaving from China to Southeat Asia was to find his elder brother named Tan Siang Djie in Indonesia. Leaving from China together in one boat was a Tasugagu who had meditated from Pho To San at Cinese land, as a meditative place of his excellency minister / emperor Hian Thiam Siang Tee during his trip and falling in sick, than with his solidarity and sympathy among people, Tan Siang Boe treated him with his medicines brought with from China, than he could cure Tasugagu’s sickness.
Gratefully for his treatment, while landing at Singapore, Tasu provided a gift in his express of thanks to Tan Siang Boe in the form of a bag with Tionggoan heirloom consisting of : a piece of Sien Tjhiang (smooth paper painted with His Excellency Hian Siang Tee), a stick of pokian (a Chinese sword), a Hio Lauw (place for dust from cremation), and a Tjioe Hwat (a book of medicine / forecast). After Tan Siang Boe arrived at Semarang, overnight staying in Kong Kwan’s group house where he got an information that his elder brother was in Welahan Jepara, so he left for meeting Tan Siang Djie, his elder brother living together in a house with Liem Tjoe Tien’s family.This house is located at a gangway along side Welahan and now used for keeping the heirloom called Pagoda as a place for praying and respected by each Chinese believing in. After some time ago, Tian Siang Boe staying with his elder brother in Welahan, once upon a time, he went to work for another place.
In that case, the heirloom were entrustede to his elder brother considering that it was necessary to save the heirloom, so Tan Tjoe Tien entrusted the heirloom to the house owner, Liem Tjoe Tien, who always kept the heirloom up the balcony of his house. At that time, in general, he did not know what heirloomit was kept up the balcony.
During the storage up the balcony, every 3rd of Sha Gwa’s birth, i.e., Imlek of Seng Tan Djiet from Hian Thiam Siang Tee, the heirloom sparked a magic power like sparkling-out fire, sometime like a very marvelous fire-dragon and turtle that made the house settlers gor surprised. This event made him to call back Tan Siang Boe, the entrustee of the heirloom to Welahan to open the heirloom kept in the bag up the balcony. Opening and showing the heirloom to the members of the house settlers, he said that the heirloom were the relic from His Excellency Hian Thiam Siang Tee, so since then, the heirloom were praised according to the ancestor’s custom and tradition.
One day, Liem Tjoe Tian fallen in hard sickand it could be recovered by the magic power of the heirloom. With this event, mouth-to-mouth talk by people made the power famous, respected and praised among people believing in till now.Accordingly, the only heirloom of ancient Chinese for the first time coming into Indonesia as brought by Tan Siang Boe is that kept at Welahan, so it is believed that the existence of Welahan pagoda is the oldest one in Indonesia.With this existence of pagoda in Welahan, not only dominated by Chinese ethnic, but alsonatives coming frommany cities or peovinces asking for treatment, destiny, partners, planting and advancement in bussines, etc.