Kota Tasikmalaya – The City of Woven Bamboo and Embroidered Cloth
In the highlands of West Java about 115 kilometres east of Bandung, Kota Tasikmalaya is celebrated across Indonesia for its traditional crafts. Mendong grass woven mats and storage baskets, bamboo handicrafts, batik Tasikmalaya (with distinctive lighter backgrounds and natural floral motifs), and kerajinan bordir (intricate hand embroidery on cloth and prayer caps) have made the city a byword for Sundanese artisanship. The city sits in a fertile basin below the Galunggung and Sawal mountains, giving it a cool and pleasant climate.
What to See and Do
Pasar Cikurubuk is the best place to browse and buy Tasikmalaya's famous crafts and textiles, from rolled mendong mats to embroidered tablecloths and batik lengths. Gunung Galunggung (25 kilometres south-west), an active volcano with a large crater lake and natural hot springs, is the region's most dramatic natural attraction and a manageable day hike. Situ Gede (a peaceful lake park on the western edge of the city) and Masjid Agung Tasikmalaya are worthwhile stops within the city itself.
Local Cuisine
Nasi tutug oncom is Tasikmalaya's signature dish — warm rice folded together with oncom (fermented black soybean cake), shallots, and chilli, wrapped in banana leaf and typically eaten with fried tempeh and sambal. Kupat tahu Tasikmalaya (rice cakes and tofu in a light peanut-sweet soy sauce) and serabi (thick, slightly crispy rice pancakes drizzled with coconut cream and palm sugar) are the most popular street-food offerings. Soto mi (chicken broth with rice noodles and potato fritters) is a beloved morning breakfast.
Real Estate Market
Tasikmalaya is an affordable, mid-sized city with a kost market anchored by students at Universitas Siliwangi, STIKES Tasikmalaya, and several Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in the surrounding area. Residential rentals concentrate in the Cihideung, Tawang, and Indihiang subdistricts. The growing craft and small-trade economy draws entrepreneurs seeking longer-term house rentals. Prices are substantially below Bandung and Bogor, making it an accessible option for those tied to the broader West Java region.
