The city is noted as the location of the grave of Sukarno, the first President of Indonesia, five kilometers from the city plaza. The very active Kelud volcano is located just over 20 kilometers north of Blitar.
The current Vice President of Indonesia, Dr. Boediono, and the commander-in-chief of the Indonesian military, Admiral Agus Suhartono, were born in Blitar. Both of them are the alumni of SMP Negeri 1 Blitar and SMA Negeri 1 Blitar