Demak

Demak is regency in Central Java. The capital city has the same name. It was the center of the once-mighty Demak Sultanate.

Understand
Demak was the capital of the Demak Sultanate, the first Islamic kingdom in Java. The sultanate was founded in 1475 by Raden Patah and it played an important role in the spread of Islam in Java. It reached its peak during the reign of Trenggana when it expanded to East Java and conquered the last remnants of the Majapahit Empire. It declined because of succession conflicts and the capital was moved by Hadiwijaya to Pajang in 1568.

By car
The main road from Semarang to Kudus and Surabaya, which is part of the Great Post Road, passes through the capital city.

By ride hailing services
Served by Gojek.

Food souvenirs

 * Kerupuk catak, a cracker made from fish lungs.

Handicraft

 * Kerajinan Kaligrafi Demak, Arabic calligraphy craft.

Demak cuisine

 * Asem-asem daging, a Demak sour clear beef soup.
 * Botok/bothok telur asin, a steamed spiced salted egg wrapped in a banana leaf.
 * Caos dahar lorogendhing, a chicken and airbreathing catfish in a peanut sauce served with lorogendhing (young noni leaves with grated coconut).
 * Ingkung bandeng, a milkfish dish.
 * Nasi kropokhan, rice with processed buffalo meat, young jackfruit, and June plum leaves in a coconut milk soup.
 * Nasi ndoreng, rice with veggies such as kembang turi (the flower of Sesbania grandiflora), jenthut (banana blossom), pethet & lamtoro (Leucaena leucocephala), young cassava leaves, and glandir (sweet potato leaves) sprinkled with uyah goreng (roasted grated coconut with salt).
 * Semur ikan kuthuk, a snakehead fish soup.
 * Sop balungan Demak, a beef bone soup.

Drink
Try local drink called wedang pekak, a drink made from ginger, cinnamon, lemongrass, palm sugar, sugar and pekak (star anise).

Connect
The dialing code for Demak is 0291.

Go next

 * Semarang, capital of Central Java province
 * Kudus, center of kretek cigarette production and home to Sunan Kudus, another Wali Songo
 * Jepara, center of furniture production and gateway to Karimunjawa islands