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'Magelang' is the capital of the 1,130 km² Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia and also the largest town in the Kedu Plain between Mount Merbabu and Mount Sumbing in Central Java, Indonesia. It is in a fertile agricultural area and one of the most densely populated regions on Java. The town, is divided into two region, Magelang Utara (North Magelang), and Magelang Selatan (South Magelang).
The city has historically been a military post, dating back to the Dutch East Indies colonial era. It subsequently acted as an army stronghold for Indonesia pro-independence movement against the Dutch government during the resistance period. Currently, it is host to two military landmarks: The National Military Academy, and the only military-associated school, Taruna Nusantara.
It is the closest major town to Borobudur, a seventh-century Buddhist monument. It is located about 40 km (25 miles) north west of Yogyakarta, on the main highway connecting that city with Java's northern coast at Semarang.
Magelang City has two borders. Its western border is Progo river; its eastern border is Elo river.
Many of the town's colonial-era buildings have become heritage landmarks, such as the Karesidenan Kedu building. History records this is the place where Prince Diponegoro was trickily arrested by the Dutch colonial government in order to end the Java War (1825-1830). The chair that Prince Diponegoro sat on, still exist in that place, which has now become a museum. A fingernail, which is believed to be Diponegoro's, still can be seen on the arm of the chair. A statue was erected in his honour in "Alun-Alun" (town square)of Magelang.
The Magelang Regency includes Borobudur, Pawon, and Mendut temples. Another less well known temple is the Canggal Temple (a monument of the first Mataram king, Sanjaya), both archaeologically or historically significant.
Magelang houses a Roman Catholic seminary. Nearly all Roman Catholic priests in Java (and possibly the whole of Indonesia), is a graduate from the seminary.