 Tasikmalaya regency is well known for its handicrafts (), "salak" (zalacca), whilst "nasi tutug oncom" (hot steamed rice mixed with oncom) known as the Regency's famous dish.The Regency is also known as a major religious centre in West Java, which has more than 800 "pesantren" (traditional Islamic boarding schools).Whilst the single word of the name does not convey any apparent meaning in its local languages, many believed that the name "Tasikmalaya" means either "a large area of sand" or "a large area of mountains".