Purwokerto is a city on the island of Java in Indonesia. It is the capital of Banyumas Regency, Central Java region. The estimated population of the city in 2005 was 249,705.[1]
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[edit]Geography
Purwokerto is located near the base of Mount Slamet, the highest volcano in Central Java. The city is bisected by the Kali Kranji (Kranji River), and lies near two major east-west roads, Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Gatot Subroto. Its geographic location is 7°26′S 109°14′E.
[edit]Places of interest
Purwokerto's central public square (Indonesian: alun-alun) has six banyan trees: a tree at each corner, and two in the center. The Purwokertonians often spend their free time in the square, and it is a common place for children to play. Vendors in the square sell children's toys and local foods. To one side is the regional government building, Kabupaten. Just east of the Alun-alun is the old cemetery on Ragasemangsang Road.
One tourist destination near Purwokerto is Baturaden, located 15 km north of the city. Baturaden is classical highland country at the foot of Gunung Slamet volcano. Baturaden is a popular site for local tourism, with a children's playground, hot springs, trekking and camping. There are two natural hot springs in Baturaden, Pancuran Telu and Pancuran Pitu. The campground is called Wana Wisata and Baturraden Adventure Forest. There are also some hotels, villas and budget hotels available in Baturaden.
[edit]Food
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Purwokerto is renowned for its local cuisine, particularly , mendoan (fermented soy bean covered in wheat flour dough and deep fried), ranjem, nopia and mino (small nopia), Tempeh keripik and many different kinds of chips. Another famous food is gethuk goreng, made of cassava and a lot of Javanese sugar, which is sold by different shops under various names. In the morning, one may find a serabi seller on almost every corner of town.
Another Purwokerto delicacy is 'Soto'. The conventional soto seller is gathered in Sokaraja, located to the east of Purwokerto, known for its soto Sokaraja. Soto from Purwokerto is different from soto Sokaraja; Soto Purwokerto is usually made from chicken while soto Sokaraja is usually made from beef. Both are different from other sotos in Indonesia, because it is mixed by spicious nut sambal. The most famous soto sokaraja seller is Soto Kecik which is located near the budha's vihara at sokaraja.
[edit]Medical facilities
On the eastern edge of town is the main state hospital, Margono Soekarjo Hospital. This name is commonly shortened to "RS Margono Soekarjo" and was named after the first surgeon in Indonesia, who was born in Purwokerto. His resting place is in Pesarean Kebutuh, Sokaraja Kulon.
[edit]Education
The major university in town is Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, located on the northern outskirts of Purwokerto. Jalan Gatot Subroto is parallel and located north of Jalan Sudirman, where the SMA Negeri 1 and SMA Negeri 2 (high school) are located. Both schools were built by the Dutch government during the colonial period. SMA 1 Purwokerto is the outstanding high school in this town. With its graduate spreads around Indonesia, even around the world. Several of its brilliant students can achieve gold medal for international physics and mathematics olympics.
