Cimahi is a city in the Parahyangan region of Western Java, Indonesia. The city is a suburb on the western side of the provincial capital Bandung.
Cimahi’s streets still echo the cadence of its long‑standing role as a training hub for the Indonesian armed forces. While the city’s skyline is modest, the presence of defence academies and related facilities has shaped a uniquely orderly public space. Early‑morning joggers often share sidewalks with recruits in crisp uniforms, and the scent of fresh coffee mingles with the faint perfume of military discipline. This blend creates a civic atmosphere that feels both civilian and ceremonial, offering visitors a glimpse of how Indonesia balances national service with daily life. Observers note that the punctuality of local markets and the neatness of public transport routes subtly mirror the city’s institutional roots.
Venturing a few blocks from the main alun‑alun, travellers discover a network of family‑run cafés tucked behind unassuming shop fronts. Here, the menu is a study in Sundanese flavour—fermented soybean desserts, lightly spiced rice cakes, and a surprisingly mellow kopi tubruk. The owners often display locally woven ikat fabrics, each pattern narrating a historic village tale. These micro‑hubs serve as informal galleries where artisans demonstrate batik dyeing on the spot, inviting patrons to try their hand at the craft. The experience is less a tourist checkpoint and more an invitation to engage with the everyday creativity that sustains Cimahi’s cultural identity.
Strategically perched on the fringe of the Bandung basin, Cimahi functions as a low‑key staging post for excursions into the cooler highlands beyond. Early‑hour train departures from the city’s modest station connect seamlessly with the famed tea plantations and volcanic vistas of the surrounding range. Because the city lacks the overt tourist infrastructure of neighbouring Bandung, accommodation prices remain modest, and local transport operators are accustomed to tailoring routes for hikers and cyclists. Savvy travellers often use Cimahi’s quieter terminals to avoid peak crowds, securing a more relaxed launch point for trekking the nearby craters or exploring the tea‑laden valleys that define West Java’s rugged charm.
City in West Java, Indonesia City in West Java, IndonesiaCimahiCityCity of CimahiKota CimahiOther transcription(s) • Sundaneseᮊᮧᮒ ᮎᮤᮙᮠᮤFrom clockwise top: Alun-alun Cimahi, St. Ignatius catholic church, Pusdikarmed Water well, Sudirman building` FlagCoat of armsMotto:  Saluyu Ngawangun Jati Mandiri (Sundanese) ᮞᮜᮥᮚᮥ ᮍᮝᮍᮥᮔ᮪ ᮏᮒᮤ ᮙᮔ᮪ᮓᮤᮛᮤ "Harmoniously walking together towards independent identity"Location within West JavaCimahi CityLocation in Java and IndonesiaShow map of JavaCimahi CityCimahi City (Indonesia)Show map of IndonesiaCoordinates: 6°52′16″S 107°33′17″E / 6.8712°S 107.5548°E / -6.8712; 107.5548Country IndonesiaProvince West JavaMetropolitan areaBandung BasinEstablished18 October 2001Government • MayorNgatiyana • Vice MayorAdhitia Yudisthira [id]Area • Total42.42 km2 (16.38 sq mi)Elevation685 m (2,247 ft)Population (mid 2024 estimate) • Total581,994 • Density13,720/km2 (35,530/sq mi) Time zoneUTC+7 (Indonesia Western Time)Area code+(62) 22Websitecimahikota.go.id Cimahi (Indonesian pronunciation: [t͡ʃimahi] ⓘ) is a landlocked city located immediately west of the larger city of Bandung, in West Java Province, Indonesia and within the Bandung Metropolitan Area. Note that the prefix "Ci" means "river" in Sundanese. It covers an area of 42.42 km2 and had a population at the 2010 Census of 541,177 and at the 2020 Census of 568,400; the official estimate as of mid-2024 was 581,994. The city is a major textile producer, and is home to several military training centres.
[edit] Tangkuban Perahu and Burangrang seen from Citeureup Cimahi, located 180 km south east of Jakarta, is situated between Bandung and West Bandung Regency. Cimahi comprises three administrative districts (kecamatan), which in turn are sub-divided into fifteen urban villages (kelurahan). Its lowest elevation is 685 metres (2,247 ft) above sea level and directs to the Tarum River (or "CiTarum"). Its highest elevation is 1,040 metres (3,410 ft) above sea level, which is part of the slope of mount Tangkuban Perahu and Burangrang. The Cimahi River flows through the city and Cimahi also has two Springs, named Cikuda and Cisontok.
[edit] The name Cimahi was taken from the Cimahi river that flows through the city. The word originated from the Sundanese language and literally means "enough water". Residents of Cimahi get their water supply from the river. Cimahi's prominence increased in 1811, when Governor-General Herman Willem Daendels constructed the Great Post Road. A checkpoint, known as Loji, was built in Cimahi Square. Between 1874 and 1893, the Cimahi rail station and a railroad connecting Bandung and Cianjur was built. The building of military training centers and other military buildings was started in 1886. Cimahi was granted district status in 1935. In 1975, Cimahi became the first administrative city in West Java and the third in Indonesia. Cimahi was then granted full city status in 2001.
[edit] The city of Cimahi is divided into three administrative districts (Indonesian: kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as of mid-2024. An elected mayor leads the city administration. The table also includes the names of the administrative villages (all classed as urban kelurahan) in each district. Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area inkm2 Pop'nCensus2010 Pop'nCensus2020 Pop'nEstimatemid 2024 VillagesKelurahan 32.77.01 Cimahi Selatan(South Cimahi) 17.41 230,623 240,990 242,420 Cibeber, Leuwigajah, Utama, Melong and Cibeureum 32.77.02 Cimahi Tengah(Central Cimahi) 10.89 163,070 161,758 165,969 Baros, Cigugur Tengah, Karangmekar, Setiamanah, Cimahi and Padasuka 32.77.03 Cimahi Utara(North Cimahi) 14.12 147,484 165,652 173,605 Cipageran, Citeureup, Cibabat and Pasirkaliki Total city 42.42 541,177 568,400 581,994 Details of the 15 urban villages (kelurahan) are as follows: Kode Wilayah Name ofkelurahan Area inkm2 Pop'nEstimatemid 2024 Postcode 32.77.01.1001 Melong 3.14 65,864 40534 32.77.01.1002 Cibeureum 2.57 62,337 40535 32.77.01.1003 Utama 4.00 35,161 40533 32.77.01.1004 Leuwigajah 4.05 48,178 40532 32.77.01.1005 Cibeber 3.65 30,880 40531 32.77.02.1001 Baros 2.825 20,822 40521 32.77.02.1002 Cigugur Tengah 2.362 47,685 40522 32.77.02.1003 Karangmekar 1.333 16,699 40523 32.77.02.1004 Setiamanah 1.179 24,151 40524 32.77.02.1005 Padasuka 2.620 42,677 40526 32.77.02.1006 Cimahi 0.575 13,935 40525 32.77.03.1001 Pasirkaliki 1.53 19,113 40514 32.77.03.1002 Cibabat 3.01 56,758 40513 32.77.03.1003 Citeureup 3.41 43,524 40512 32.77.03.1004 Cipageran 6.17 54,210 40511
[edit] Cimahi has an elevation moderated tropical rainforest climate (Af) with moderate rainfall from June to September and heavy rainfall from October to May. Climate data for Cimahi Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 26.7(80.1) 26.9(80.4) 27.5(81.5) 27.9(82.2) 28.0(82.4) 27.6(81.7) 27.6(81.7) 28.2(82.8) 28.9(84.0) 28.9(84.0) 28.0(82.4) 27.4(81.3) 27.8(82.0) Daily mean °C (°F) 22.8(73.0) 22.8(73.0) 23.1(73.6) 23.3(73.9) 23.2(73.8) 23.3(73.9) 21.9(71.4) 22.2(72.0) 22.9(73.2) 23.3(73.9) 23.1(73.6) 23.0(73.4) 22.9(73.2) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 18.9(66.0) 18.7(65.7) 18.7(65.7) 18.7(65.7) 18.4(65.1) 17.0(62.6) 16.3(61.3) 16.3(61.3) 16.9(62.4) 17.7(63.9) 18.2(64.8) 18.6(65.5) 17.9(64.2) Average rainfall mm (inches) 259(10.2) 236(9.3) 269(10.6) 271(10.7) 188(7.4) 87(3.4) 77(3.0) 83(3.3) 96(3.8) 189(7.4) 292(11.5) 309(12.2) 2,356(92.8) Source: Climate-Data.org
[edit] Cimahi Railway Station Cimahi has various tourist hotspots, such as Alam Wisata Cimahi, Pandiga Recreation Sport, Rumah Pajang, Lembur Batik and Kampung Adat Cirendeu. According to the local tourist office, these offer distinctive experiences in nature, cuisine, handicrafts and traditional community. Additionally, there are some buildings of historical interest, such as Dustira Hospital, Ereveld Cemetery, Military Prison and Sudirman Building.
[edit] Ariffien (1902–1976), Indonesian nationalist and film director Jacoba van Tongeren (1903–1967), social worker and Dutch resistance member Suardi Tasrif (1922–1991), journalist, author, and political advocate Bep Stenger (1922–2016), aid worker and resistance member Amir Machmud (1923–1995), former military general and politician Dries Holten (1936–2020), singer and songwriter Maria Hertogh (1937–2009), born in Tjimahi and the person at the centre of the 1950 Maria Hertogh riots in Singapore Jack Jersey (1941–1997), singer, composer, arranger, lyricist and record producer Siwi Sukma Adji (born 1962), former admiral and Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Doni Monardo (born 1963), former military general and National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure chairman Sule (born 1976), comedian Widya Saputra (born 1985), television presenter Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (born 1996), badminton player Zalnando (born 1996), football player