Tasikmalaya Regency (pronounced ; , Sundanese: ) is a regency (, sub-provincial region) in the Indonesian province of West Java. With an area of , it is the biggest and most important in the southeast region of East Preanger (). Tasikmalaya Regency had a population of 1,687,776 at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 1,865,203 at the 2020 census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the mid 2025 official estimate was 1,946,197 (comprising 983,509 males and 962,688 females).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Tasikmalaya Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3206) The regency was previously administered from Tasikmalaya City; however, Tasikmalaya City and Tasikmalaya Regency now are administratively independent of each other, and the area and population listed above exclude the city. The administrative centre of the regency is now at Singaparna, west of the city.

Agricultural fields and forestry are the regency's dominant land uses. Most residents are farmers. Tasikmalaya is a major religious centre for West Java. The regency is known as the city of Muslim students (kota santri),Mencari Kota Santri. Times Indonesia. Retrieved April 2, 2021. with more than 800 traditional Islamic boarding schools (pesantren).Christomy 1959, p. 22. Tasikmalaya is known for handicrafts () and salak (zalacca). The regency's most famous food is hot steamed rice mixed with oncom (nasi tutug oncom).

History

Toponymy

The origin of the name Tasikmalaya is uncertain. The word has no apparent meaning in local languages. Three possibilities have been proposed, all of which are combinations of Sundanese words: (1) the name may be a conflation of tasik and (ma)layah, literally "an ocean of hills"; (2) the source words may be tasik, jeung, and laya, meaning "large tracts of sand" (, ); (3) the name's original words may be Tasik (lake, sea), and Malaya (a chain of mountains or highlands), also meaning "an ocean of hills".Permadi 1975, p. 3. The "ocean" or large area is presumed to begin at Sukapura, formerly called Tawang or Tawang-Galunggung. Tawang means paddy fields or literary "a wide range of an open space". The eruption of Mount Galunggung created mountains, hills, and mounds of scattered sand in the formerly open region of Sukapura.

Ancient origins

In the 7th to 8th centuries, a realm with an unknown form of governance was centered near Mount Galunggung. The realm had the authority to designate the sovereigns of the Galuh Kingdom. Its rulers were Batara Semplakwaja, Batara Kuncung Putih, Batara Kawindu, Batara Wastuhayu, and finally Batari Hyang, who changed the form of governance into a monarchy (kingdom).

According to the Geger Hanjuang inscription, the Kingdom of Galunggung was established on 13th Bhadrapada 1033 Shaka (21 August 1111), and Queen Batari Hyang was its first ruler. Her famous teachings, known as Sang Hyang Siksakanda ng Kareksian, were still used as an official doctrine in the era of Prabu Siliwangi (1482–1521), the monarch of Pakuan Pajajaran. The Kingdom of Galunggung lasted for six more rulers, each in hereditary succession.

Modern

At the start of the 16th century, a government in Sukakerta faced an opportunity to secede from its sovereign ruler, the Pajajaran Kingdom, which was ruled by Prabu Surawisesa (successor to Sri Baduga Maharaja Prabu Siliwangi). His kingdom faced a threat of expansion from the Banten Sultanate and Demak with the spread of Islam. As this expansion weakened the kingdom, its territories tried to break away.

In the early 17th century, three major forces (Mataram, Banten, and the VOC) were in conflict on the island of Java. After ten years of upheaval in the region of Priangan, the head of Sukakerta, Wirawangsa, was assigned as the Regent of Sukapura and honoured with a nobility name of Wiradadaha I by Sultan Agung of Mataram. Upon the promotion of its leader, the regency changed its name to Sukapura and the capital of the regency was moved from Dayeuh Tengah to Leuwiloa, Sukaraja.

Years later, under the governance of Raden Tumenggung Surialaga (1813–14), the capital of the regency was brought to Tasikmalaya. In 1832, under the governance of Wiradadaha VIII, the capital was moved to Manonjaya, but after some consideration, particularly economically, it was switched back to Tasikmalaya. In 1913, the name of the regency, Sukapura, was changed to Tasikmalaya by the government regent R.A.A. Wiratanuningrat (1908–1937).

Based on the Geger Hanjuang inscription, the date of August 21 has been assigned as the date of Tasikmalaya regency's anniversary. The inscription, as it tells, was made to mark the establishment of the Kingdom of Galunggung and the inauguration of its first sovereign, Queen Batari Hyang, on 21 August 1111.

Government Regent history (1641 to 1937) 1641–1674: Raden Ngabehi Wirawangsa (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha I) 1674: Raden Jayamanggala (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha II) 1674–1723: Raden Anggadipa I (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha III) 1723–1745: Raden Subamanggala (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha IV) 1745–1747: Raden Secapati (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha V) 1747–1765: Raden Jaya Anggadireja (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha VI) 1765–1807: Raden Djayamanggala II (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha VII) 1807–1837: Raden Anggadipa II (Raden Tumenggung Wiradadaha VIII) 1837–1844: Raden Tumenggung Danudiningrat 1844–1855: Raden Tumenggung Wiratanubaya 1855–1875: Raden Tumenggung Wiraadegdana 1875–1901: Raden Tumenggung Wirahadiningrat 1901–1908: Raden Tumenggung Prawirahadingrat 1908–1937: Raden Tumenggung Wiratanuningrat

Administrative districts Tasikmalaya Regency is divided into 39 administrative districts (, ), listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Tasikmalaya Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3206) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (all 351 classed as rural desa), and their postcodes. The town of Singaparna (on the west side of Tasikmalaya City) is the administrative centre of the regency. + Districts of Tasikmalaya Regency Kadipaten Pagerageung Ciawi Sukaresik Jamanis Sukahening Rajapolah Cisayong Cigalontang Sariwangi Leuwisari Padakembang Sukaratu Singaparna Salawu Mangunreja Sukarame Manonjaya Cineam Taraju Puspahiang Tanjungjaya Sukaraja Gunungtanjung Karangjaya Bojonggambir Sodonghilir Parungponteng Jatiwaras Salopa Culamega Bantarkalong Bojongasih Cibalong Cikatomas Cipatujah Karangnunggal Cikalong Pancatengah