Kepahiang adalah kabupaten di Provinsi Bengkulu, Indonesia. Kabupaten Kepahiang diresmikan pada 7 Januari 2004 yang sebelumnya merupakan wilayah Kabupaten Rejang Lebong. Ibu kota Kabupaten Kepahiang adalah Kecamatan Kepahiang.
Secara administratif, Kabupaten Kepahiang terbagi menjadi 8 kecamatan dan 91 desa. Pada tahun 2006, jumlah penduduknya mencapai 114.889 jiwa yang terdiri dari pria 57.835 jiwa dan wanita 57.054 jiwa dengan tingkat kepadatan penduduk mencapai 163 per km². Sementara pada pertengahan 2024, jumlah penduduk Kepahiang sebanyak 155.520 jiwa.
Bagian ini belum tersedia dalam bahasa Indonesia.
Kepahiang Regency's society is culturally, religiously and ethnically heterogeneous. The different religious groups and tribes coexist peacefully. The Rejang are the largest group in Kepahiang and dominate the local cultural life. Because the various groups have coexisted for a long time, cultural influences by others groups (Palembang, Serawai, Javanese, Sundanese, Padangnese, Batak, Acehnese or Chinese) can be identified as well. The heterogenous backgrounds of Kepahiang society caused the development of social aptitudes and manners within society, enabling peaceful coexistence.
Customs and traditions are maintained in Kepahiang. Cultural events take place regularly whereas it is not rare that foreign guest attend those events as well. The local cultural and heritage is closely bound the Malay culture. Due to this representatives of Malay culture, aristocrats and royalty not just from Indonesia but from Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines (Mindanao) for instance maintain good relations to Kepahiang and are regular guests there. They maintain the common cultural background and, at the same time, set an example of peaceful coexistence with groups of different cultural heritage.
There are several religious groups in Kepahiang. 88% of the population are Muslims. Further religions present in Kepahiang are Hinduism (7%), Catholicism (5%) and Buddhism (4%).
Music concerts take place regularly in Kepahiang whereas groups of nationwide popularity perform there along with local groups. The annual birthday of the Regency of Kepahiang is celebrated and often a cause for music groups and artists come to Kepahiang. There is a range of traditional, folkly songs such as the Gritan-, Mambak-, Nyerambeak- and the Merjung song. These popular songs are part of the Rejang cultural heritage dominating Kepahiang.
The largest group in Kepahiang are the Rejang Kepahiang; hence their customs are dominant as well. The Rejang do have various types of folk dances such as the Sekapur Sirih, Kejei, Semamea Cupik, Petik Kopi (Coffee Harvesting), Panen Padi (Rice Harvesting) and the Bujang Semulen dance.
Due to its unique natural environment Kepahiang offers a range of recreational activities and outdoor activities such as trekking, biking, walking and alike. The local government regularly invites to common bicycle tours in order to encourage an active way of life. The natural park covers an area of 8,515 ha and provides for further possible outdoor activities for all those enjoying nature. Other types of sports such as soccer, badminton and a range of martial arts are practised in Kepahiang as well.
The mayor's office in Kepahiang stands out in regards to dimensions and architectural design and attracts tourists as well as locals. The buildings cupola is of enormous size. It was damaged during a recent earthquake though all damages were of minor type and not irreparable. The restoration is done by non-local experts.
Cascade of Curug Embun in Kepahiang The hydro power plant on the MusiRiver, which is about 11 kilometres away from the city if Kepahiang, has a capacity of 3 × 70 MW. Furthermore, the hydro power plant is located in a natural scenery. It therefore became a place of excursions for locals and visitors. However, the facility primary function is of course to pave the way for economic development in Kepahiang.
The waterfalls in Kepahiang, especially the one in Curug Embun, which is approximately 100 metres high, are popular recreational places. The waterfall in Curug Embun is surrounded by forest and coffee fields of local peasants. It provides an exotic panorama view and is properly accessible by car or even public means of transportation. Its location is about 6 kilometres from the town of Kepahiang. The place is also popular with locals for its fresh climate and therefore became one of the primary place of excursions in the Regency of Kepahiang. Besides the waterfall in Curug Embun there are several more waterfalls such as those in Merindu, which are of similar characteristics but not that popular. Eight more cascades suitable to serve as natural recreational spots are counted in Kepahiang.
Rafflesia arnoldii Titan arum The largest flower in the world, Rafflesia arnoldii, has its natural habitat in Kepahiang and the Province of Bengkulu in south Sumatra. Its blossoḿs can be up to 1 meter in diameter and weigh up to 11 kg. Sporadic occurrence of this flower are reported from Aceh and parts of Malaysia. Furthermore, Kepahiang is also home to the Bangkai flower, a member of the genus Amorphophallus. The flower is of different types such as the Bangkai raksasa, Suweg raksasa or titan arum (Amorphophallus gigas), more commonly known as Sumatra giant amorphophallus. Amorphophallus titanum can reach a height of up to 6 meters and therefore is the highest flower in the world, followed by Amorphophallus gigas. These flowers give an impression of the unique natural environment found in the Regency of Kepahiang.
The tea plantations in the district of Kabawetan offer fresh climate and a unique panorama view and therefore are a local attraction already suitable for visitors and tourists as well. The plantations are located approximately 9 kilometers from the city of Kepahiang.
A variety of agricultural products such as coffee, tea, corn, dragon fruits, manioc, pepper, oil- and coconut palms, pecan nuts, taro (talas), cloves and range of fruits for instance are cultivated in Kepahiang. Sengon is the primary forest product. This is a partial list of locally available products.
Growing sengon (Falcataria moluccana) is an important part of Kepahiang strategy to diversify income structures in the Regency. Whereas oilpalms and natural rubber plantations need a rather long time until income is generated, sengon is of rapidly growing type serving farmers and investors with short and medium time horizon. Furthermore, the cultivation of sengon requires affordable investment volumes allowing local investors to participate in the sector. The SELUNA programs encourages farmers to grow sengon and provides certain types of support. The local governments approach to use the sustainable cultivation method of sengon to generate additional income and mitigate the risk of depending too much on single agricultural products gained recognition on a national scale and was eventually adopted by central government institutions as well.
Sengon can be grown in two major ways. First, it can be grown as a complementary plant at coffee plantations. The sengon trees, as a side effect, have protective functions for coffee plants. This strategy allows to plant 400 sengon trees per ha. Second, it can be grown as primary plant whereas this approach is divided into further subcategories: Category A: 1000–2000 trees / ha. This approach allows the growing of secondary plants such as Taro. Category B: 4000 trees / ha. This approach is called the High Density Population (HDP). Category C: 10,000 trees / ha. This approach is called the Very High Density Population (VHDP).
Pada 7 Januari 2004, Kepahiang diresmikan sebagai kabupaten otonom oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri Repubik Indonesia, Jenderal TNI (purn) Hari Sabarno. Peresmian dikukuhkan berdasarkan Undang-undang Nomor 39 Tahun 2003 tentang Pembentukan Kabupaten Lebong dan Kabupaten Kepahiang di Provinsi Bengkulu. Hidayattullah Sjahid pun ditunjuk sebagai penjabat Bupati Kepahiang. Pelantikan dilakukan oleh Gubernur Bengkulu atas nama Menteri Dalam Negeri pada 14 Januari 2004.
Nama kabupaten Kepahiang karena di daerah ini dulunya terdapat banyak keluak yang dalam bahasa Rejang disebut kepayang. Kepayang berubah menjadi Kepahiang setelah penamaannya disahkan secara legalitas hukum yang ada di Indonesia.
Berikut merupakan batas wilayah Kabupaten Kepahiang: