Ujung Kulon National Park

A. Brief Information
Ujung Kulon National Park is situated in the province of Banten, formerly under the provincial government of West Java. This site lies exactly in the westernmost of Java Island; thus people call it “ujung kulon” that literally means the westernmost. The site has been developed into a nature preserve upon suggestion from Dutch academics who arrived in Java Island in 1820 A.D. Most of them were the members of an organization for scientific research in Netherlands Indies. This was appropriate place to undertake advanced scientific research considering the number of floras and faunas habituating in the areas. Those researchers then began to collect and make records on the objects found there. Further, they decided to set this site as a center for science development in Asia-Africa. The areas of Ujung Kulon National Park encompass Krakatoa, Panaitan, and Peucang islands.

It was once the Dutch colonial government restricted a programme to establish Ujung Kulon National Park as accused of damaging ecosystem in the surrounding. Further progress on the establishment of a science museum in this site, indeed, showed that the founders of Ujung Kulon National Park deliberately killed floras and faunas around in terms of enriching scientific data for their own country. This activity happened from 1853 A.D. up to 1910 A.D. Therefore the Dutch government issued a policy of protecting the ecosystem in Ujung Kulon in 1910 A.D. The implementation of the policy did not run well however; and the ecosystem in Ujung Kulon got worse. The damaging of ecosystem just continued until 1939, before the second Europe War blew up.

Since the Indonesian Independence in 1945, Ujung Kulon, which was formerly neglected, began catching enthusiastic attention from the Indonesian government. The government then set Ujung Kulon into national park in 1958. The Ministry of Forestry then registered Ujung Kulon National Park as the World Heritage Site in the category of tropical rain forest situated in Java Island to UNESCO. Finally, Ujung Kulon National Park was officially listed as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992. Now, this site is under the supervision of directorate general of forest protection and nature conservation.

B. Distinctive Feature
According to the above historical record, Ujung Kulon National Park is said as the oldest national park in Indonesia. This site is the pioneer for the other national parks in Indonesia like Bunaken National Park (in North Sulawesi Province) and Mount Leuseur National Park (in the border of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam Province and North Sumatra Province).

The entire width of Ujung Kulon National Park is approximately 120.551 ha. It consists of 76.214 ha land and 44.337 ha water area as well as a coral reef area. The diverse creatures both in the sea and in the forest are the distinguishing features that can be found in this national park.

Here, if you`re lucky, you will find the icon of Ujung Kulon National Park, the Javan Rhinoceros. This is the critically endangered species that can be found in Ujung Kulon National Park. Now the population of Javan Rhinoceros is about 50 – 60. In other places, the Javan Rhinoceros population is just less than 10 such as those in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam.

Likewise, you will be amazed with some wild animals such as deer, mancak, Javanese bull (Bos Javanicus), primates, forest pig, rase lemur, silvered leaf monkey (Presbytis cristata), Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch), Asiatic Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus), leopard cat (Felis bengalensis), tiger (Panthera trigis), and suruli monkey (Presbity aygula), as well as 270 other types of bird.

Numerous tropical vegetations are easily found here. Of about 700 species of flora, 57 species of them are critically endangered can be found here as well. In the further progress, the effort to preserve the flora in Ujung Kulon also broadens to nature preservation.

The coverage of nature preservation in Ujung Kulon National Park does not only in the land but also in the sea. Conservation of underwater life has been established there remembering its distinguishing diversity. Conservation of coral reef, however, is the focus. To protect coral reef as home of various fishes is the main purpose of this site establishment, indeed.

Finally, here you can learn how to live together with the nature while enjoying the beauty of Uiung Kulon National Park. Likewise, you can try to explore this site by trekking.

C. Location
Ujung Kulon National Park area is administratively located in Sumur Sub-district, Pandeglang District, Banten, Indonesia.

D. Access
To reach the destination, you can take bus or private transport in ease. Departing from Serang, the capital of Banten Province, the trip takes about two to three hours to Sumur Sub-district, Pandenglang District. If you depart from Tangerang City, the trip will spend about four hours. For you who want to visit Peucang Island, Handeuleum Island, and Panaitan Island, speedboats are available for rent.

E. Ticket Price
In confirmation process.

F. Accommodation and Other Facilities
Some facilities are available in Ujung Kulon National Park for a comfortable visit. Telecommunication network, electricity network, and clean water have been provided by the site management. Hotels, motels, homestays, and cottages located in Tamanjaya, Peucang Island, and Handeuleum Island are offered for you with reasonable prices. Restaurants and cafés offer both local cuisine and international cuisine. Likewise, this site provides tourism information center, guides and speedboats to take you around the area. Assurance service is automatically given to you only after you buy the entrance ticket.

info: www.wisatamelayu.com

Grojogan Sewu Waterfall

A. Brief Information
Grojogan Sewu Waterfall is the model of worth visiting tourism destination in Central Java Province for its panoramic view of the nature. Situated on the area of 20 ha, Grojogan Sewu Waterfall is a combination of forest tourism and waterfall. The waterfall is under the management of Lembaga Konservasi SDA – KSDA (Natural Resources Conservation Institution) Bogor.

You will see the beauty of the waterfall which is 81 meters high. The water splashing down from the crag spreads out to every corner of the area. May be, that is the beauty of Grojogan Sewu Waterfall.

B. Distinctive Features
May be, you will be shocked with the number of monkeys that are intentionally bred outside the cage. Almost all the monkeys hanging around the location are tame. Just keep your meals during the visit to the location. No matter how you bring some food as your stock during the visit, feeding the monkeys are allowed.

Hundreds of ladderstep leading to the waterfall must be accessed when you are going to reach the bottom of the waterfall. Along the ladder, you can find some gazebos as the right places for you getting tired. You must be careful as there are many big stones when you are about to get close to the bottom of the waterfall. Considering the fast stream of the waterfall, you must avoid taking a bath directly under the waterfall. It is too risk for you, especially for your health. It is just enough for you taking a bath around the bottom of the waterfall that is safer.

Some supporting facilities can also be found there such as two separated pools for adults and children. Around the location, you will see splendid view of hilly land of Tawangmangu Sub-district.

C. Location
Grojogan Sewu Waterfall is located on the slope of Mount Sewu, Tawangmangu Sub-district, Karanganyar District, Central Java Province, Indonesia.

D. Access
You can take either public or private transportation. The cost for taking public transportation is about IDR 7000 (per March 2008) passing by Solo-Tawangmangu route from Tirtonadi bus station in Solo City. It is around 1,5 hours for accessing the location from Solo City.

Having arrived at the location, you need to walk to the location about one km away. Moreover, you can also take public transportation, type L300, with IDR 1000 for its cost. There are two gateways to enter the location, through the first gateway, on the peak of the area, and on the slope of the area.

E. Ticket Price
The entrance ticket to the location is IDR 6000 (per March 2008).

F. Accommodation and other Facilities
Some supporting facilities such as pool, mini zoo, and playground for children are available there. You can also find some food tent, souvenir shop, mosque, toilet, and fruit stall. Around the gateway, you can find some peddlers offering edelweiss, strawberry, handicraft and horse rentals likewise.

info: www.wisatamelayu.com

Jatijajar Cave

A. Brief Information
Jatijajar cave was naturally shaped out of limestone. It was discovered by a farmer namely Jayamenawi in 1802 A.D., when he was grassing then suddenly sunk into a hole. Some people lent a hand for him to come out of the hole by uncovering the thick grass covering the hole. Finally, they realized that the hole led to a cave which was assumed for having three ventilations on the wall.

The entire length of the cave is 250 meters, scattering from the entrance door to the way out. Not only that, the cave is 12 meters high, 15 meters square of width,10 meters of the canopy and situated at an altitude of 50 meters.

It was Suparjo Rustam – the Governor of Central Java - who had an idea to develop Jatijajar Cave as a valuable tourism destination in 1975. The building process was conducted by CV. AIS, Yogyakarta, headed by Saptoto, a famous dioramic expert coming from Yogyakarta. After that, the further management was taken over by the local government of Kebumen.

B. Distinctive Features
A spurting-water dinosaur statue, in front of the cave, symbolizes the urgency of the cave. People entering the location will pass by the mouth of the statue. The spurting-water from the statue‘s mouth comes from the Kantil River and the Mawar River. It is believed that the water never dries up even in drought season. Often, the water is utilized for irrigating the people‘s farms.

Exploring into the cave, you will see the wondrous scenery of surrounding area. Flickering lamps lightening the entrance door to the way out, enhance the comfort of your visit. Thus you are not necessary to be afraid of the illumination inside the cave. Some holes on the wall of the cave function as ventilation so that the air circulation within the cave keep on stable. In the center of the cave, there is a circle stone for your seat when you are tired, so you can keep enjoying the beauty of the cave.

About eight dioramas with 32 effigies depicting the story of Raden Kamandaka (commonly known as the story of Lutung Kasarung) – the son of Padjajaran King – who lived as an ascetic in the cave looking for divine inspiration, can be watch therein. He lived as an ascetic in Jatijajar Cave because the location, at the time, included into the territory of Padjajaran Kingdom (now West Java) with Bogor (cited in Batutulis inscription) as the capital.

While the entrace door to the cave is the mouth of dinosaur statue, the way out of the cave is the tail of the statue. The distinction of the cave from other caves in Indonesia is the existence of four underground rivers (seven in other sources) listed below: the Mawar River, the kantil River, the Jombor River, and the Puser Bumi River. The Mawar River and the Kantil River flow through narrow fissures penetrating the wall to the way out. By washing our face by the water of the Mawat River, it is assumed for being able to make us stay young. And, washing our face by the water of the Kantil River can make our dreams come true. The last two underground rivers, the Puser Bumi River and the Jombor River are intentionally considered as sacred by the management of the cave. People who want ot explore those two underground rivers must have permission from the management first.

C. Location
Jatijajar Cave lies in Jatijajar Village, Ayah Sub-district, Kebumen District, Central Java Province, Indonesia. It is about 21 km away southwetern direction of Gombong Sub-district.

D. Access
You can take either public or private transportation remembering the location of Jatijajar Cave can be easily accessed. For you taking public transportation, you need to take bus passing by Gombong – Jatijajar route from Gombong bus station.
E. Ticket Price
In the confirmation process

F. Accommodation and other Facilities
Around the location, you can easily find some guesthouses and restaurants with resonable prices. Moreover, some souvenir shops peddling various keepsakes, typical of Kebumen District. A park named Pulau Kera (literally means Monkey Island) is located in the complex of the cave that can be a right place for spending your holidays. It was named Pulau Kera because a monkey statue is located within.

info: www.wisatamelayu.com

Bledug Kuwu

A. Brief Information
Since the reign of old Mataram Kingdom (732 – 928 A.D.), bledug kuwu has been shaped out naturally from the volcanic mud in the district of Grobogan, Central Java, Indonesia. Over and above the existence of eternal fire resources of Mrapen and Kedungombo dam, Bledug Kuwu is the worth visiting tourism destination in Grobogan District, Central Java Province. Bledug Kuwu is derived from Javanese language, bledug means explotion/ to explode and kuwu/ kuwur means run or scattered about.

The early history of bledug kuwu was started when a man namely Joko Linglung was going home from the Pacific Ocean to Medang Kamulan Kingdom through a hole – that is now bledug kuwu – after defeating Prabu Dewata Cengkar. Joko Linglung made the hole himself as he was able to transform into a snake. Such ability was a requirement to be admitted as the son of Aji Saka, the roler of Medang Kamulan Kingdom.

B. Distinctive Features
Along the journey to bledug kuwu, you will see the natural view of thick forest, green farms, and beautiful hilly areas. In the location, you will see frequent small explotions of the mud every two to three minutes. The wallow mud area is 650 meters in diameter. Sometimes, the mud`s explotions can be as high as local inhabitants` houses.

The existence of bledug kuwu is utilized by local inhabitants for livehood resources by producing salt. The activity of local people in producing salt in the location is a distinction which is rarely found in the mainland. The expertise of local people in producing salt was recorded on the history of Surakarta Kingdom.

C. Location
Bledug Kuwu lies in Kuwu Village, Kradenan Sub-district, Grobogan District, Central Java Province, Indonesia.

D. Access
Taking public transportation like bus from Semarang bus station to the location requires IDR 10000 for the costs. Then, you must continue the trip to the location by taking minibus with IDR 5000 in charge.

E. Ticket Price
The entrance ticket to the location for observing the natural phenomenon of vulcanic mud in bledug kuwu is IDR 500 (per April 2008).

F. Accommodation and other Facilities
Some food stalls, guesthouses and other supporting facilities can be easily found around the location. Of course, the shops selling local salt can be found as well.

info: www.wisatamelayu.com

Isala Nusa Penda

Isala Nusa Penda, is Muslim. The rocks are over 200 mtrs high and have spectacular sheer drops to the sea. The water is crystal clear and populated by many species of fish. There’s a high chance you will meet sharks, Manta and turtles here.