The Beauty of Mangirejo Village Ambiance
Mangirejo Village is a village located in Madiun regency. This village is situated amidst teak forests managed by Perhutani (a state-owned enterprise managing national forest resources). The majority of the population in this village are employees of Perhutani or work for Perhutani. Many of the writer’s relatives work for Perhutani, including the writer’s grandfather, who is a former Forest Police officer, uncles who work as Forest Police officers, and Perhutani employees working in the Production Forest.
The surrounding forest is categorized as a Homogeneous forest because it is dedicated solely to teak trees. This Production Forest yields a significant amount of teak wood annually.
Not Far from the City
The village is not far from the National Road connecting Yogyakarta and Surabaya. Nearby, there is Saradan Railway Station, one of the small stations on the south line of the railway (Yogyakarta - Surabaya). Saradan Station is designated for local train stops. Near the station, there is also a market named Pasar Saradan (Saradan Traditional Market), which sells various necessities for the village residents and those around the Saradan Station.
Surrounded by forests, the village experiences cool temperatures at night until the morning. The villagers are known for their friendliness. Moreover, the village is a silent witness to the childhood of the famous Indonesian singer, Ari Lasso. His father, a high-ranking employee of Perhutani who managed the production forest at that time, led Ari Lasso to experience his early life in Mangirejo before the family moved to Surabaya.
Distinctive Local Cuisine
The nearest city to this village is Caruban, which is the birthplace of the famous Brem culinary. Being approximately 10 km away from the city ensures that all commodities are readily available, and every item is easily found. While in Jakarta and surrounding areas, typical morning foods include porridge, vegetable-stuffed rice cake (Ketupat Sayur), rice cake in soup (Lontong Sayur), and Uduk rice (Nasi Uduk). In this village, the typical morning food is wrapped Pecel Rice in Teak Leaves. Pecel Rice can be purchased from villagers who sell it. In the past, the writer’s grandmother was a famous Pecel Rice seller in the village, but since her passing, the art of making Pecel has been passed down to her children, including the writer’s father and aunt, and is only made for special occasions.
The village has a serene and peaceful atmosphere with houses featuring joglo architecture and several Dutch colonial-style buildings, giving the village its own unique characteristics. Despite being in the midst of teak forests, the village has comprehensive public facilities, including a sports hall, mosque, school, and more. It’s worth stopping by this village when traveling along the south route connecting Yogyakarta-Surabaya, using it as a spot for interesting photos for readers passing through the Saradan sub-district.
We come from nature, our lives depend on nature, and we will return to nature. Save nature, save life, save the future.
