MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, BANJARNEGARA – Muhammad Faizin, a senior member of the Muhammadiyah Branch of Batur, Banjarnegara, shared a remarkable story about Nyai Siti Walidah’s journey to Batur on horseback.
He recounted this history during an episode of Podcastmu, hosted by the Pemuda Muhammadiyah Branch of Batur, which aired on Sunday, February 16.
According to Faizin, Nyai Siti Walidah traveled to Batur around 1929. At that time, the roads were in poor condition and inaccessible to vehicles. She made her way from Yogyakarta to Kejajar, Wonosobo, where she was met and escorted to Batur on horseback.
“She was picked up in Kejajar with two horses—one was a reddish sandalwood pony, owned by my uncle Wak Dahlan, and the other was a black Sabu horse,” Faizin recalled.
It took about five hours from Kejajar to Batur. The long travel time was not only due to the rough terrain but also because she was accompanied by a welcoming entourage.
Faizin explained that he did not have details about who traveled with Nyai Walidah from Yogyakarta, as his account was based on oral tradition passed down through generations.
Although his version differs from the records documented by Yunus Anis, who served as Chairperson of Muhammadiyah 1959-1962, Faizin remained committed to preserving this piece of history for the younger generation in Batur.
Nyai Siti Walidah was not the only historical figure to visit Batur. In 1936, General Sudirman also came to the area to participate in a scouting camp organized by Hizbul Wathan (HW) at Batur Field.
“At that time, Pak Dirman was still an HW scout. It was an HW camping program in Batur. We walked together from either Pekalongan or Batang to Batur,” said Faizin.
