Perfect Weekend Getaway, These Are 5 Places to Visit in Rengasdengklok

Rengasdengklok is a sub-district that is administratively a part of Karawang Regency. The place garnered its fame thanks to one of the historic events that happened during the time leading up to the proclamation of the independence of Indonesia, August 16, 1945. It was the time when the duumvirate, Soekarno and Hatta, then the two central figures in the struggle for Indonesian independence, stopped at this small township. Even though it was only for 1 day, this incident triumphantly put Rengasdengklok in Indonesia’s history books.

Not only it was a historical stopover, Rengasdengklok and surrounding areas are also a stomping ground for many travel and culinary destinations. Since Rengasdengklok is merely a small township, you can explore Rengasdengklok and its surroundings on a day trip, perfect for a weekend getaway.

5 Places to Visit in Rengasdengklok for a Weekend Getaway

1. Batujaya Temple Complex, remnants of glory in the north coast of West Java

Its location may be not at the heart of Rengasdengklok, rather it’s located at both Batujaya sub-district and Pakis district, around 23 km north west of Rengasdengklok or 44 km from Karawang square.

When you arrive, you can make a quick stop at the modest museum that stores numerous artifacts found in this location. You can also learn about the stories behind the discovery of the temples around this complex. There are two main temples that have been successfully excavated, Jiwa Temple and Blandongan Temple, both are allegedly older than Borobudur Temple. Unlike most temples that were built using stone arrangements, temples in this complex instead were built with ancient bricks.

Fun thing is, these temples are located in the middle of rice fields. So, not only do you get to visit a complex filled with beauties from the past, but you can also enjoy it while admiring the beautiful and serene surroundings. If you visit after the planting season, the red terracotta temple will look in contrast to the verdant rice field. Meanwhile, during the harvest season, you can walk in between the rice fields. Take care, though!

2. Cibuaya historical site and other destinations along the north coast 

Another option for you history geeks is the Cibuaya site, which is 15 km north of Rengasdengklok or about a 30-minute drive, within di Cibuaya sub-District. Excavations in this area began with the Vishnu Statue which was found in the 1950s. The two statues that were successfully excavated have now found a humble abode in the Indonesia National Museum.

Now, there are two main buildings in the Cibuaya site called Lemah Duhur Lanang and Lemah Duhur Wadon. Still in the form of ancient brick ruins, these buildings are unlike the one you find in the Batujaya Temple Complex. The two buildings are distinguished by the 1.11 m high phallus-like figure with a diameter of 40 cm.

After visiting the Cibuaya Site, you can head to the Karawang coast and stop by Pelangi Beach and Wisata Alam Baru Beach. If you come during the morning time, you can make a quick stop at the Sungai Buntu Fish Market to acquire some of the freshest seafood you can get.

3. Retracing the Rengasdengklok Event at the Tugu Kebulatan Tekad (Determination Monument)

After exploring the historical area at the Cibuaya Site and Batu Jaya Temple, it’s time to fast forward to a more recent event. Treading the history of the days before the Indonesian proclamation, it’s time to visit the Rengasdengklok square and visit the icon of the township, the Tugu Kebulatan Tekad (Determination Monument). You can witness various historical events in this area through the dioramas displayed around the monument.

Not far from the monument, there lies a house that the proclamator used as a stopover. Although not in the original location, you can still visit this historical place. Bouts of Flooding and widening of the Citarum River forced the historic house to be moved. Since this house is integrated with the residence of the descendants of the original owner, you should bring a souvenir when visiting.

4. A great place for fishing

Those of you who like fishing are likely to fall in love with this place. There are many fishing spots that you can try and get your fishing skills on in Rengasdengklok. Some spots even have restaurants and children rides and playgrounds. Several places you can try are Adimix Farm, Saung Beureum, and Saung Abah Food and Fishing Shop.

5. Come hungry, leave with a happy tummy!

Besides being laden with history, Rengasdengklok is also a potential culinary destination. Not far from the iconic monument, you can find a Beef Maranggi Satay stall that’s never quiet. The typical Rengasdengklok Maranggi is different from the ones you find in Purwakarta or Cianjur, which rose to fame earlier. Rengasdengklok Maranggi is somewhat smaller in size, and eaten with liquid chili sauce without the usual chopped tomatoes and cabbage. 

Another option is Maranggi entok. Entok is a type of duck with tender meat. The most recommended one is not far from Kutagandok irrigation. It’s located only 10 minutes away from the Rengasdengklok square. 

Besides Sate Maranggi, the surabi hijau (green pancake) from Raja Sorabi is no less famous. Located in Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan, this pandan flavored surabi has been around since 1995 and is still cooked in the traditional way. Don’t forget to enjoy the delicious durian sugar surabi variant.

For souvenirs, you can stop by the prawn cracker factory which is not far from the Rengasdengklok market. In addition to high-quality prawn crackers, you can also find bontot. Bontot is the remains and final pieces of shrimp cracker dough which when fried will resemble cireng, but better. Another souvenir option is a sesame semprong cracker that you can bring home for your family or colleagues.

Wow, you wouldn’t have guessed how many places you can visit in just Rengasdengklok, right? However, because there’s simply no conventional accommodation in Rengasdengklok, a day trip would be the perfect option. The closest ones are mainly found in the Cikarang area or in Karawang downtown. So, to make a more comfortable trip, why not rent a car with a driver from TRAC rental service?

Not only a car, you can also rent a bus, especially if planning to go with a big group. With TRAC’s bus rental service, you will not have to worry too much about transportation arrangements during your trip. Just sit down and relax.

For more information about TRAC’s car rental service, call the Customer Assistance Center at 1500009 or email rco.nasional@trac.astra.co.id. Don’t forget to download the TRACtoGo application on Google Playstore or Apple App Store and reserve a transport directly from your smartphone. You can also get the best deals and offers when booking with this application, so make sure that you don’t miss out!