
Magelang is a pleasant medium sized city about 40 km. north of Yogya, surrounded by several mountains; Merapi and Merbabu in the east, Sumbing and Sindoro in the west. It is located on the road connecting Yogya and Semarang on the west side, whereas the other east site is Yogya - Solo - Semarang. The town is also the capital of Magelang municipality, which covers an area of 18,12 square kilometers. It consists of two districts and fourteen villages. It is known, besides for its pleasant climate and beautiful surroundings, for the fact that the Indonesia National Military Academy is located here. 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's pro-independence movement against the Dutch government during the resistance period.