Kendal (Javanese: ꦏꦼꦤ꧀ꦣꦭ꧀, romanized: Kendhal) is a regency in the northern part of Central Java province in Indonesia, west of Semarang. The regency is bordered by the Java Sea in the north, Semarang City and Semarang Regency in the east, Temanggung Regency in the south, and Batang Regency in the west. Kendal Regency was established on 28 July 1605. Its capital is the town of Kendal, which is also known as the City of Santri because there are thousands of Ponpes, especially in Kaliwungu District and it is also known as the City of Arts and Culture. The regency covers an area of 1,002.23 km and had a population of 900,313 at the 2010 census and 1,018,505 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 1,052,830, consisting of 530,940 (50.43%) males and 521,890 (49.57%) females.

The name Kendal is taken from the name of a tree, the Kendal Tree. No one at first knew his name, but when Pakuwojo hid in the tree in the tree it was brightly lit, finally the tree was called the Qondhali tree, which means lighting, and finally the area where the tree was called Qondhali was because Javanese were not fluent in Arabic and became Kendal. The lush leafy tree has been known since the time of the Demak Kingdom in 1500-1546 AD that was during the reign of Sultan Trenggono. At the beginning of his reign in 1521, Sultan Trenggono once ruled Sunan Katong to order heirlooms to Pakuwojo. The events that caused the conflict and resulted in the death were recorded in the Inscription. Even now, the tomb of the two figures in Kendal's history in Protomulyo Village, Kaliwungu District, is still widely sacred to the community. According to the story, Sunan Katong was stunned by the beauty and longing of Kendal trees that grew in the surrounding environment. While enjoying the view of the Kendal tree that looks "sari", He mentioned that in the area later it would be called "Kendalsari". The big tree that the people mentioned was located on the edge of Kendal Youth Street was also known as Kendal Growing because the stem was hollow or growing.

A young man named Joko Bahu is a court servant of the Mataram kingdom. Joko Bahu is known as someone who loves others and is a hard worker until Joko Bahu succeeded in advancing his area. For this success, Sultan Agung Adi Prabu Hanyokrokusumo finally appointed him as the Kendal Regent, entitled Tumenggung Bahurekso. In addition Tumenggung Bahurekso was also appointed as Commander of the Mataram War on August 26, 1628, to lead tens of thousands of soldiers to invade the VOC in Batavia. In the battle on 21 October 1628 in Batavia Tumenggung Bahurekso and his two sons died as Kusuma Bangsa. From the journey of Sang Tumenggung Bahurekso led the VOC attack in Batavia on August 26, 1628, which was then used as a benchmark for the history of the birth of Kendal Regency. Further development with the momentum of the death of Tumenggung Bahurekso as the determination of the anniversary was considered by some to be inappropriate. Because the momentum is a dark history for a character named Bahurekso. So if the date is taken as the momentum of the anniversary is feared it will bring psychological effects. The emergence of the term "fail and fall" in Javanese mythology is feared to form psychological biases that influence the behavior of the pattern of taste, creativity and intentions of the people of Kendal Regency, so that it feels inappropriate if used as a sign of the beginning of the emergence of Kendal Regency. From the results of the Seminar held on August 15, 2006, by inviting experts and historical actors, such as Prof. Dr. Djuliati Suroyo (professor of the Undip Semarang Faculty of Literature), Dr. Wasino, M.Hum (Unnes Postgraduate lecturer) H. Moenadi (Kendal Community Leader with moderator Dr. Singgih Tri Sulistiyono. And after a comprehensive study and assessment agreed and concluded that the momentum of Bahurekso's appointment as Kendal Regent was used as the starting point for the day so the appointment coincides on 12 Rabiul Awal 1014 H or 28 July 1605. The date is exactly Thursday Legi Friday night pahing 1527 Saka. Determination of the anniversary is then determined through the Kendal Regency Regional Regulation (PERDA) Number 20 of 2006, concerning the Determination of the Day So Kendal Regency (Local Gazette number 20 of 2006 Series E number 15) Kendal history is also found in the library of Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.

Kaliwungu has triumphed as the center of government since the inception of Kendal Regency. However, due to the political conditions in the center of Mataram at that time and the consideration of the development of the government, the center of government moved to Kendal City until now. So that finally Kaliwungu is only used for the residence of the father of the Regent, who is often referred to as Kasepuhan. Whereas the government was made an administrative area namely Kaliwungu District.

During the New Order era, the regency was the site of the Plantungan concentration camp, where former Communist Party and Gerwani members were imprisoned from 1971 to 1979.

Kendal Regency consists of twenty districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census, and the 2020 census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 266 rural desa and 20 urban keluraham - the latter all in Kendal town District), and its post code.

Kode Wilayah	Name of District (kecamatan)	Area in km	Pop'n census 2010	Pop'n census 2020	Pop'n estimate mid 2023	Admin centre	No. of villages	Post code
33.24.01	Plantungan	48.82	28,826	32,586	33,671	Tirtomulyo	12	51362
33.24.03	Sukorejo	76.01	57,080	60,399	61,224	Sukorejo	18	51363
33.24.02	Pageruyung	51.43	31,487	35,671	36,882	Pageruyung	14	51361
33.24.04	Patean	92.94	46,892	52,105	53,572	Curugsewu	14	51364
33.24.05	Singorojo	119.32	46,757	52,854	54,613	Ngareanak	13	51382
33.24.06	Limbangan	71.72	30,722	34,937	36,163	Limbangan	16	51383
33.24.07	Boja	64.09	69,417	82,443	86,418	Boja	18	51381
33.24.08	Kaliwungu	47.73	58,514	66,157	68,363	Sarirejo	9	51372
33.24.20	Kaliwungu Selatan (South Kaliwungu)	65.19	44,495	54,251	51,795	Magelung	8	51372 -51382
33.24.09	Brangsong	34.54	44,662	50,611	52,333	Brangsong	12	51371
33.24.10	Pegandon	31.12	33,418	37,954	39,271	Tegorejo	12	51358
33.24.19	Ngampel	33.88	31,100	35,855	37,261	Ngampel Wetan	12	51357
33.24.11	Gemuh	38.17	45,360	52,409	54,498	Gemuh Blanten	16	51356
33.24.18	Ringinarum	23.50	31,866	36,620	38,020	Ringinarum	12	51359
33.24.12	Weleri	30.28	55,770	59,885	60,962	Penyangkringan	16	51355
33.24.16	Rowosari	32.64	46,151	53,566	55,775	Rowosari	16	51319
33.24.17	Kangkung	38.98	42,143	49,883	52,237	Kangkung	15	51353
33.24.13	Cepiring	30.08	46,932	52,654	54,288	Karangayu	15	51352
33.24.14	Patebon	44.30	54,612	60,085	61,599	Jambearum	18	51351
33.24.15	Kendal (town)	27.49	54,109	59,832	61,429	Karangsari	20	51311 - 51319
	Totals	1,002.23	900,313	1,018,505	1,052,830	Kendal	286

Note: (a) except one desa (Karangsari) for which the post code is 51354. (b) comprising the 20 kelurahan of Balok, Bandengan, Banyutowo, Bugangin, Candiroto, Jetis, Jotang, Kalibuntu Wetan, Karang Sari, Kebondalem, Ketapang, Langenharjo, Ngilir, Pakauman, Patukangan, Pegulon, Sijeruk, Sukodono, Trompo and Tunggulrejo.

Kendal town is the administrative headquarters. Besides Kendal, other significant district centres are Kaliwungu, Boja and Weleri. Kendal Regency has a coastline with a length of 41.0 kilometres.

In general, the Kendal Regency region is divided into two distinct areas, namely lowland areas (beaches) and highland areas (mountains). The northern region of Kendal Regency is a low-lying area with an altitude between 0–10 metres above sea level, which includes the districts of Weleri, Rowosari, Kale, Cepiring, Gemuh, Ringinarum, Pegandon, Sampling, Patebon, Kendal, Brangsong, and Kaliwungu.

The southern part of Kendal Regency is a highland area consisting of mountainous land with an altitude between 10 and 2,579 metres above sea level, covering the districts of Plantungan, Pageruyung, Sukorejo, Patean, Boja, Singorojo, Limbangan and Kaliwungu Selatan.

Regent of Kendal
Incumbent Dico Mahtado Ganinduto, B.Sc since 26 February 2021
Residence	Kendal Regency Hall
Term length	5 years

#	Regents	Length of Service
1	Tumenggung Bahurekso	1605-1629 (24 Years)
2	Raden Ngabehi Wiroseco	1629-1641 (12 Years)
3	Raden Ngabehi Mertoyudo	1641-1649 (8 Years)
4	Raden Ngabehi Wongsodiprojo	1649-1650 (1 Years)
5	Raden Ngabehi Wongsowiroprojo	1650-1661 (11 Years)
6	Raden Ngabehi Wongsowirosroyo	1661-1663 (2 Years)
7	Tumenggung Singowijoyo	1663-1668 (5 Years)
8	Tumenggung Mertowijoyo 1	1668-1700 (2 Years)
9	Tumenggung Mertowijoyo 2	1700-1725 (25 Years)
10	Tumenggung Mertowijoyo 3	1725-1739 (14 Years)
11	Tumenggung Singowijoyo 2	1739-1754 (15 Years)
12	Tumenggung Soemonegoro 1	1755-1780 (25 Years)
13	Tumenggung Soemonegoro 2	1780-1785 (5 Years)
14	Tumenggung Soerohadinegoro 1	1785-1796 (11 Years)
15	Pangeran Ario Prawirodiningrat 1	1796-1813 (16 Years)
16	Pangeran Ario Prawirodiningrat 2	1813-1830 (17 Years)
17	Raden Tumenggung Purbodiningrat	1830-1850 (20 Years)
18	Kyai Tumenggung Purbodiningrat	1850-1855 (5 Years)
19	Pangeran Ario Notohamiprojo	1857-1891 (34 Years)
20	Raden Mas Kamal Notonegoro	1891-1911 (20 Years)
21	Patih Raden cokro Hadisastro	1911-1914 (3 Years)
22	Raden Mas Adipati Notohamijoyo	1914-1938 (24 Years)
23	Raden Patih Notomudigdo	1938 (0 Years)
24	Raden Mas Saddin Purbonegoro	1938-1942 (4 Years)
25	Patih Raden Mas Kusuma Hudoyo	1942-1945 (3 Years)
26	Soekarmo	1945-1949 (4 Years)
27	Raden Ruslan	1949 (0 Years)
28	Raden Prayitno Partodijoyo	1950-1956 (6 Years)
29	Raden Sujono	1957-1960 (3 Years)
30	Raden Salatun	1960-1966 (6 Years)
31	Mayor Sunardi	1966-1967 (1 Years)
32	Letkol Suryo Suseno	1967-1972 (5 Years)
33	Abdus Saleh Ronowijoyo	1972-1979 (7 Years)
34	Drs. Herman Sumarmo	1979-1984 (5 Years)
35	Sudono Yusuf BA	1984-1989 (5 Years)
36	Sumoyo Hadiwinoto	1989-1998 (9 Years)
37	Drs. Djumadi	1999-2000 (1 Years)
38	Hendy Boedoro	2000-2008 (8 Years)
39	Dra. Siti Nurmarkesi	2008-2010 (2 Years)
40	Hj. Widya Kandi Susanti	2010-2015 (5 Years)
41	dr. Mirna Annisa	2016-2021 (5 Years)
42	Dico Mahtado Ganinduto, B.Sc	2021-Incumbent (5 Years)

Vice Regents of Kendal
Incumbent H. Windu Suko Basuki, SH since 26 February 2021

#	Vice Regents	Length of Service
1	Masduki Yusak	2000-2005
2	Dra. Siti Nurmarkesi	2005-2008
3	KH. Mustamsikin	2010-2015
4	Drs. Masrur Masykur	2016-2021
5	H. Windu Suko Basuki, SH	2021-Incumbent

Kendal has a soccer club. That is Persik Kendal. Kendal Stadium is the Bahurekso Stadium. The Stadium is located in Kebondalem Village Kendal City. And some Volleyball clubs at the Krida Bahurekso Gym.

One of the Industries in Kendal is Kendal Industrial Estate in Kaliwungu District and Sugar Factory in Cepiring District. The Sugar Factory in Cepiring has existed since the Dutch era.

• Ngebum Beach. Located In Kaliwungu
• Curug Sewu / Sewu Waterfall. Located in Patean
• Jeglong Waterfall. Located in Plantungan
• Cacaban Tourism Village. Located in Singorojo
• Sekatul Agrotourism. Located in Limbangan
• Muara Kencan beach. Located in Patebon
• Ngebruk Fruit Garden in Patean.
• Sendang Sikucing. Located in Rowosari
• Semawur Waterfall. Located in Plantungan
• Kiskendo Cave. Located in Singorojo
• Penglebur Gongso Waterfall. Located in Limbangan
• Selo Arjuno Hill. Located in Limbangan
• Tiban Island Tourism in Patebon.
• Gonoharjo Hot Spring. Located in Limbangan
• Medini Tea Plantation. Located in Limbangan

Sewu Waterfall/ Curug Sewu

• Wali Joko's Grave. Located in Kendal Mosque Complex
• Wali Hadi's Grave. Located in Kendal Mosque Complex
• The Tomb of Prince Djoeminah. Located in Kaliwungu
• Tomb of Sunan Bromo. Located in Boja
• Kyai Asyari's Grave. Located in Kaliwungu
• Wali Gembyang's Grave. Located in Kendal City
• The Tomb of Habib Mansyur Al Munawar. Located in Kendal City

• Kendal Expo in Kebondalem Village. Kendal City
• Nyadran. In Kendal Coast
• Syawalan. In Kaliwungu and Boja

• dr. Mirna Annisa ( Regent of Kendal 2016 - 2021 )
• dr. Widya Kandi Susanti ( Regent of Kendal 2010 - 2015 )
• Don Murdono ( Regent of Sumedang 2003 - 2013 )
• H Tino Indra Wardono ( Chairperson of Central Java KNPI )
• Alamuddin Dimyati Rois ( Member of the House of Representatives )
• KH Ahmad Rifai ( Heroes of Struggle and Kyai ).
• Tumenggung Bahurekso ( First Regent of Kendal 1605 - 1629 )
• Bambang Irawan ( Actor and Director Film )

• Mangut Lele
• Telur Ikan Mimi (Mimi Fish Eggs)
• Soto Kendal
• Momoh
• Sate Bumbon (Bumbon Satay)
• Brongkos
• Bebek Ijo (Green Fried Duck)
• Rica Rica Menthog
• Pecel Kembang Turi
• Krupuk Petis (Crackers)
• Rambak (Crackers)

Rambak

• Kopi Cacaban (Cacaban Coffee)
• Bir Jawa (Java Beer)
• Dawet Sukun Ireng

• 
  Former emblem of Kendal Regency replaced in 2011.

7°01′32″S 110°10′07″E / 7.0256°S 110.1685°E / -7.0256; 110.1685