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Priangan


Parahyangan or Priangan or Preanger is the mountainous region in West Java province on the island of Java in Indonesia. It covers the regencies (kabupaten) of:

together with the independent cities of Bandung and Cimahi, which are geographically within these regencies although administratively independent.

The total surface area of this area is approximately a little less than 1/6 of Java. Parahyangan is bordered in the West by the kabupaten of Cianjur, in the North by those of Karawang and Indramayu, in the North-East by those of Majalengka and Kuningan, in the East by the Tasikmalaya.

Other than Parahyangan, there is also the area known as Priangan Timur (East Priangan) which cover the regencies of:

together with the independent cities of Tasikmalaya and Banjar, which are geographically within these regencies although administratively independent.

The name "Parahyangan" is originated from Sundanese words which means "the abode of hyangs (gods)". Parahyangan is a mountainous region, and ancient Indonesians believed that the gods resided in the mountain tops. The "hyang" derivation in other placenames on the island of Java, as in the Dieng Plateau in the centre, or the Hyang Plateau in the east.

A Sundanese legend of Sangkuriang contain the memory of the prehistoric ancient lake in Bandung basin highland, which suggest that Sundanese already inhabit the region since stone age era. Another popular Sundanese proverb and legend mentioned about the creation of Parahyangan highlands, the heartland of Sundanese realm; "When the hyangs (gods) were smiling, the land of Parahyangan was created". This legend suggested the Parahyangan highland as the playland or the abode of gods, as well as suggesting its natural beauty.


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