Tasikmalaya Regency (pronounced [ˈtasɪʔməˈlaja]; Indonesian: Kabupaten Tasikmalaya, Sundanese: ᮊᮘᮥᮕᮒᮦᮔ᮪ ᮒᮞᮤᮊ᮪ᮙᮜᮚ) is a regency (Indonesian: kabupaten, sub-provincial region) in the province of West Java in Indonesia. With an area of 2,708.82 km (1,046 sq mi), it is the biggest and most important in the southeast region of East Preanger (Indonesian: Priangan Timur). Tasikmalaya Regency had a population of 1,687,776 at the 2010 census and 1,865,203 at the 2020 census; the mid-2023 official estimate was 1,907,045 (comprising 965,602 males and 941,443 females).

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), with more than 800 traditional Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). Tasikmalaya is known for handicrafts (Indonesian: kerajinan anyaman) and salak (zalacca). The regency's most famous food is hot steamed rice mixed with oncom (nasi tutug oncom).

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" (Sundanese: keusik ngalayah, Indonesian: hamparan pasir); (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". 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.

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.

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.

• 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

Tasikmalaya Regency is divided into 39 local districts (Indonesian: kecamatan, Sundanese: kacamatan), listed 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 (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

Districts of Taskimalaya Regency

Kode Wilayah	Name of District (kecamatan)	Area in km	Pop'n 2010 census	Pop'n 2020 census	Pop'n mid-2023 estimate	Admin centre	No. of Villages	Post code
32.06.01	Cipatujah	246.67	62,858	70,904	72,761	Cipatujah	15	46187
32.06.02	Karangnunggal	136.33	80,935	88,586	90,115	Karangnunggal	14	46186
32.06.03	Cikalong	139.66	61,181	67,803	69,223	Cikalong	13	46195
32.06.04	Pancatengah	201.85	44,618	49,375	50,387	Cibongas	11	46194
32.06.05	Cikatomas	132.68	47,729	52,513	53,500	Pakemitan	9	46193
32.06.06	Cibalong	58.58	30,483	32,826	33,235	Cibalong	6	46185
32.06.07	Parungponteng	47.27	33,472	36,792	37,473	Parungponteng	8	46189
32.06.08	Bantarkalong	59.83	34,245	37,803	38,551	Hegarwangi	8	46187 & 46188
32.06.09	Bojongasih	38.58	19,178	21,644	22,214	Bojongasih	6	46475
32.06.10	Culamega	68.32	22,913	26,684	27,638	Cintabodas	5	46188
32.06.11	Bojonggambir	169.29	38,341	43,766	45,068	Mangkonjaya	10	46476
32.06.12	Sodonghilir	93.11	62,580	70,249	71,987	Sodonghilir	12	46473
32.06.13	Taraju	55.85	37,357	41,505	42,405	Taraju	9	46474
32.06.14	Salawu	50.50	57,523	63,257	64,436	Salawu	12	46472
32.06.15	Puspahiang	34.90	32,675	35,060	35,460	Puspahiang	8	46471
32.06.16	Tanjungjaya	36.69	42,336	46,235	47,002	Tanjungjaya	7	46184
32.06.17	Sukaraja	43.08	48,792	53,785	54,826	Sukapura	8	46183
32.06.18	Salopa	121.76	48,335	51,349	51,785	Mandalahayu	9	46192
32.06.19	Jatiwaras	73.37	47,827	52,600	53,582	Jatiwaras	11	46180
32.06.20	Cineam	78.79	33,288	33,852	33,709	Cijulang	10	46198
32.06.21	Karangjaya	47.90	12,374	12,520	12,449	Karangjaya	4	46199
32.06.22	Manonjaya	39.41	60,254	64,115	64,689	Manonjaya	12	46197
32.06.23	Gunung Tanjung	36.31	27,567	31,225	32,081	Gunungtanjung	7	46418
32.06.24	Singaparna	24.82	65,582	72,161	73,519	Singasari	10	46411 - 46418
32.06.25	Mangunreja	29.64	38,957	42,143	42,725	Mangunreja	6	46462
32.06.26	Sukarame	19.92	36,758	40,604	41,415	Sukarame	6	46461
32.06.27	Cigalongtang	119.75	67,668	75,834	77,673	Jayapura	16	46463
32.06.28	Leuwisari	53.26	36,492	40,854	41,832	Arjasari	7	46464
32.06.29	Padakembang	37.71	35,581	41,021	41,832	Cisaruni	5	46466
32.06.30	Sariwangi	49.66	30,309	35,268	36,520	Jayaratu	8	46465
32.06.31	Sukaratu	57.13	43,875	51,663	53,681	Sukaratu	8	46415
32.06.32	Cisayong	59.40	52,728	60,324	62,158	Cisayong	13	46153
32.06.33	Sukahening	28.42	29,373	30,869	31,033	Calincing	7	46155
32.06.34	Rajapolah	21.45	44,479	50,201	51,524	Rajapolah	8	46155, 46183
32.06.35	Jamanis	21.28	32,251	36,955	38,096	Sindangraja	8	46175
32.06.36	Ciawi	45.32	57,593	65,538	67,426	Ciawi	11	46156
32.06.37	Kadipaten	45.79	32,761	39,454	41,264	Buniasih	6	46157
32.06.38	Pagerageung	66.74	51,223	58,514	60,267	Pagerageung	10	46158
32.06.39	Sukaresik	17.80	33,184	39,352	40,973	Sukaratu	8	46419
	Total	2,708.82	1,675,675	1,865,203	1,907,045	Singaparna	351

Notes: (a) Cikalong District includes two small offshore islands - Pulau Batukolotok and Pulau Nusamanuk.

The land of the regency is predominantly hilly, especially in the south. Some areas are mountainous, such as in the northwesternGalunggung highlands. Only 13% of the region is low-lying areas with an elevation between 0 and 200 metres. The average elevation is 200 to 500 metres. The highest point is Mount Galunggung, at 2,168 metres.

Like much of Java, Tasikmalaya Regency is traversed by volcanic chains, and the soil is naturally fertile. Water resources are abundant, as the region experiences heavy rainfall. The regency is also situated on a low-cavity mountainside, which increases the rainfall catchment area and water absorption area.

The area is known for producing silk goods printed with batik, paper umbrellas, and handbags woven by hand from bamboo and pandanus leaves. The production of handicrafts for domestic and international consumption is an important local industry; in 1998 and 1999, the export of handicrafts earned 2.6 billion rupiah for the region.

The regency was a major centre of early support and organization for Darul Islam, an Islamist group formed in 1948 to resist Dutch attempts to retake Java after World War II. After the Dutch were defeated, Darul Islam worked to establish a state in Indonesia governed by Islamic law.

Like the rest of Preanger's regencies, the climate of Tasikmalaya Regency is normally a tropical rainforest climate. It receives an average annual precipitation of 2.072 m. Although it experiences heavy rainfall the regency gets a considerable amount of heat. The average daily temperature of the regency is mildly varied, ranging from 20–34 °C (68–93 °F) in lowland areas and 18–22 °C (64–72 °F) in the upland areas.

Following the excision of Tasikmalaya City, the residual Tasikmalaya Regency comprises an area of 2,708.82 km. It is bounded on the east by Garut Regency, marked by the Galunggung highlands, from southwest along to the northwest. Far to the north, the regency borders on Majalengka Regency and continues to the east with Ciamis Regency and Tasikmalaya City, the latter which it surrounds on three sides. Finally, to the south, Tasikmalaya Regency is bounded by the Indian Ocean. Tasikmalaya Regency's greatest distance from north to south is about 75 km, and about 56.25 km from east to west.

Tasikmalaya Regency is one of Indonesia's foremost tourist destinations. It has a number of accessible tourist attractions, even though many are located deep in the rural area of the regency. In the southern area, where the regency borders the Indian Ocean, tourist destinations are primarily along the coastline of the regency, which features caves and beaches. To the interior—where the land is mostly hilly and characterised by tropical rainforests—waterfalls, natural hot springs, and archaeological sites are the most visited attractions.

Among Tasikmalaya Regency's tourist destinations is Kampung Naga (Dragon Village), an idyllic traditional village where inhabitants have a strong ancient Sundanese tradition. Mount Galunggung's volcanic crater is scenic, featuring a lake surrounded by rainforests. A number of natural hot springs are issued nearby the mountain, adding to the regency's tourist destinations.

There are more than 70 spots of tourist destinations in Tasikmalaya Regency, some of them are listed below.

Pasirgintung village (in Cibuniasih subdistrict, Pancatengah district) is known for its numerous red jasper rocks; however, now only about 120 rocks remain. The administration will conserve it as Jasper Geopark.

• Largest cities in Indonesia
• Sundanese cuisine
• Districts of West Java
• Tasikmalaya City

• Christomy, Tommy (1959), "Signs of the Wali: Narratives at the sacred sites in Pamijahan, West Java", 201, (Canberra, AU), 2008, ISBN 978-1-921313-69-1. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
• Permadi, Agus (September 1975), "Prasasti Geger Hanjuang; Ngahanjuang-siangkeun Hari Jadi Tasikmalaya", Mangle, 495, (Bandung, ID), 2009, cited in Miftahul Falah (August 21, 2009), "Etimologi Tasikmalaya", (in Indonesia). Retrieved 6 January 2011.

• Tasikmalaya Regency Government official site
• West Java Government official site
• Tasikmalaya travel guide from Wikivoyage