Grobogan is a regency in Central Java. Its main draw for visitors is Bledug Kuwu, a mud volcano that erupts salty mud at regular intervals.

Understand

Orientation

Grobogan is located in the northeastern part of the Central Java province in Indonesia. It's a flat valley lying between two mountains, Pegunungan Kendeng to the south and Pegunungan Kapur Utara to the north. Its capital is the town of Purwodadi. Most people are Javanese.

Get in

By train

• 1 Ngrombo Railway Station (Stasiun Ngrombo), Depok, Toroh. Follow the train schedule. Class I train station at a height of +38 meters; included in the Operational Area IV Semarang. The name of this station is taken from the hamlet where this station is located. This station is the largest and busiest active station in Grobogan Regency. Some trains which stop in here, KA. Sembrani and KA. Gumarang from Jakarta and Surabaya, KA. Ambarawa Ekspres from Semarang also KA. Harina from Bandung. (updated Sep 2022)

By intercity bus

• 2 Terminal Bus Purwodadi, Jl. Gajah Mada, Kuripan. Reputable intercity buses with AC and food service from Jakarta to Grobogan such as Garuda Mas and Zentrum. (updated Sep 2022)

Get around

There is some angkot (public minivan) in Terminal Bus Purwodadi with various routes.

See

Bledug Kuwu mud volcano

• 1 Bledug Kuwu, Kuwu, Kradenan. 06:00-18:00. A mud volcano. It continuously eruptions of salty mud at regular intervals, about every 2 or 3 minutes. (updated Sep 2022)
• 2 Api Abadi Mrapen, Manggarmas, Godong. An eternal flame monument. A constantly burning flame is used to light torches for religious & sporting ceremonies. (updated Sep 2022)
• 3 Lawa & Macan Cave (Goa Lawa dan Macan), Ngajaran, Sedayu. 08:00-17:00. (updated Sep 2022)
• 4 Nganyongan Waterfall (Air Terjun Nganyongan), Karangasem, Wirosari. (updated Sep 2022)
• 5 Urang Cave (Goa Urang), Kemaduhbatur, Tawangharjo. There is an underground river. (updated Sep 2022)
• 6 Gedung Papak, Geyer (In the Perhutani KPH Gundih near Gundih Railway Station). Gedung Papak is a building that was built in 1919 as the headquarters of the Dutch army. (updated Oct 2022)
• 7 Kedung Ombo Reservoir (Waduk Kedung Ombo), Geyer. Kedung Ombo Reservoir is one of the major reservoirs in Indonesia. It is on the border of three regencies in Central Java Province, namely Grobogan Regency, Sragen Regency, and Boyolali Regency. (updated Oct 2022)

Do

• 1 Ayodya Blombang Waterpark, Jl. A. Yani No.1, Porong, Kuripan, Purwodadi. T-Su 07:00-17:00. Kids playground and swimming pool. (updated Sep 2022)
• 2 Hutan Kota Purwodadi, Jl. Yudistira. A city park. (updated Sep 2022)

Buy

As a jagung (corn)-producing area in Central Java, Grobogan has corn-based souvenirs including:

• Emping jagung, corn cracker.
• Marning jagung, corn snack.
• Nasi jagung instan, mashed maize, rice substitute carb.

Eat

Gambringan Railway Station

Pecel Gambringan is a specialty of Grobogan pecel (Javanese salad in peanut sauce). The typical veggies of this dish include papaya leaf, kecipir (winged bean), and kembang turi (the flower of Sesbania grandiflora). It is served on a banana leaf plate called pincuk. In the past, the food was offered in the Gambringan Railway Station, with some women carrying the ingredient on their backs, walking from coach to coach when the train stopped. But now, this food can be easily found outside the station.

• 1 Pecel Gambringan Mbak Yayuk, Pucang Kidul, Tambirejo, Toroh. 08:00-17:00. Serves pecel Gambringan. Also, some side dishes like peyek (Indonesian cracker) and gorengan (fritter). From Rp5,000. (updated Sep 2022)

Another special food in Grobogan is garang asem, processed chicken dishes cooked using banana leaves and dominated by sour and spicy flavors.

• 2 RM Raharjo, Jl. Jendral Sudirman, Purwodadi, ☏ +62 292 424287. 07:00-18:00. Serves garang asem using ayam kampung (free-range chicken). From Rp25,000. (updated Sep 2022)

Becek kerbau, water buffalo soup is also a must try with the freshly sour taste because of using daun dayakan and daun kedondong (June plum leaves).

• 3 Waroeng Sedep Yanto Ganjar, Jalan Purwodadi Blora KM. 02 Getasrejo, ☏ +62 812 281 74744. 08:30-21:00. Serves becek kerbau. From Rp30,000. (updated Oct 2022)

For vegetarian, you may eat sego pager for breakfast in Godong District. The dish is rice with vegetables like papaya leaves, cassava leaves, bean sprouts, and others doused with peanut sauce and sprinkled with uyah goreng (fried salty grated coconut).

• 4 Sego Pager Parjiah, Jalan Pemuda, Godong, ☏ +62 857 0223 1292. 05:30-09:00. Serves sego pager. Around Rp10,000. (updated Oct 2022)

Drink

Try the local drink wedang blung, a herbal drink made from lemon grass, ginger, pepper, pandan leaves, brown sugar, sugar, and coconut.

• 1 Kantin Wedang Blung, Jl. Semarang - Purwodadi No.117, Gubug, ☏ +62 852 251 68795. 15:00-23:00. Wedang blung drink. (updated Sep 2022)

Sleep

Campground

• 1 Puncak Pelangi Gunung Ulo, Dokoro, Wirosari. Camping on a hill. Entry: Rp3,000, Camping (3D2N): Rp70,000 (free once meal). (updated Sep 2022)

Hotel

• 2 Front One Hotel Purwodadi, Jl. Gajah Mada No.89, Majenang, Kuripan, ☏ +62 292 5140888. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. On a bustling road, this hip, music-themed hotel in a funky, colorful building is 2 km from shops and restaurants in Purwodadi, and 3 km from Ayodya Bloombang Waterpark. Featuring music-inspired artwork and wallpaper, the relaxed rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars, as well as minifridges and safes. Room service is available. Amenities include an informal restaurant, an outdoor pool, and a terrace, plus a photo booth and a lounge. From Rp261,608. (updated Sep 2022)
• 3 Grand Master Hotel Purwodadi, Jl. Gajah Mada No.10, Majenang, Kuripan, ☏ +62 292 4273335. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. A 3-star hotel. Free WiFi and breakfast. From Rp310,200. (updated Sep 2022)

Connect

The dialing code for Grobogan is 0292.

Go next

• Blora
• Cepu