TIMES HONGKONG, MALANG – Kepanjen is a district as well as the capital of Malang Regency. Famous for its remains of Dutch Colonial history, Kepanjen has a great potential for heritage tourism. There are many buildings and historical sites remaining until these days. 

Some of the historical sites and buildings are still functioning well in Kepanjen. Here are the top remains of Dutch Colonial history that are technically taking a vital role in Kepanjen. Some of them are used for irrigating rice fields in some regions in Kepanjen, while the rest of them are meant to be explored further as they have a great potential for heritage tourism. 

Historical or heritage tourism refers to traveling with the main purpose of exploring the heritage and history of a certain place. It can be a simple sightseeing of the historical architecture or visiting historical sites, such as historical buildings and museums. 

1. Syphon Metro in Talangagung Village, Kepanjen

Syphon Metro, one of the Dutch colonial remains. (Photo: Nico Channel)

Cited from Dinas Sumbermanjing Data Air Kabupaten Malang, Syphon Metro Talangagung consists of two gigantic water pipes with the diameter of 1800 mm each. These water pipes were built in 1903 and have been used up to now. 

These water pipes stretch above Metro River that connects Kepanjen and Talangagung. They are mainly used for irrigating the fields around Kepanjen and other districts nearby. 

2. Kepanjen Aqueduct Bridge

Kepanjen Aqueduct Bridge is located in two different districts, namely Kepanjen and Cepokomulyo. This aqueduct is in the south of Sukun Bridge, which is behind the Office of Public Works and Water Resources in Malang Regency. 

According to the data from Kekunaan, Kepanjen Aqueduct Bridge is one of the remains of Dutch Colonial history. Based on the writing on the main pillar of the aqueduct, this aqueduct bridge was built in 1903. 

Kepanjen Aqueduct Bridge was built in the same period as Syphon Metro, which is located around 600 meters to the west. Historically, the construction of Kepanjen Aqueduct Bridge was the part of Molek Irrigation project that stretched up to 20 kilometers. 

Kepanjen Aqueduct Bridge, which stretches through valleys and rivers, mainly functions as the water channel for irrigating the rice fields.

3. Kepanjen Station

Kepanjen Station is also one of the Dutch Colonial historical buildings that was built in the same period as the 19-kilometer railway from Malang to Kepanjen. 

According to the data from the Tourism Directory, the railway was built by Staatsspoorwegen (SS), a train company owned by the Dutch Government in 1896. 

Malang-Kepanjen railway construction project was the part of the bigger railway construction project, Oosterlijnen-2, which stretches from Blitar - Wlingi - Kepanjen - Malang. The railway construction was done from two starting points. The west side was started from Kediri - Tulungagung - Blitar, and it was finished in 1884.  

4. Cepokomulyo Dutch Houses in Kepanjen

Dutch Colonial historical buildings in Kepanjen. (PHOTO: Street View)

In Cepokomulyo, there are some historical Dutch houses that are still in a very good condition. These houses have a distinctive and authentic Dutch architecture. They spread in some other regions in Kepanjen. Some of them are located near Kepanjen Market. 

Those are the top four remains of Dutch Colonial history in Malang regency that has a great potential for heritage tourism. (*)