TOURISM SPOTS IN PROBOLINGGO, EAST JAVA.

I was born and I grew up in Probolinggo, so no wonder if I know Probolinggo well, especially tourism in Probolinggo because I have ever attended speech contest about how to develope tourism in Probolinggo. probolinggobis a convenient stop for travellers between Bali and Surabaya, and the most popular of all of East Java’s travel destinations, Here are some wonderful tourism spots in Probolinggo:

1. Mount Bromo

The most popular tourism spot in java and Indonesia as well is Mount Bromo. Mount Bromo, is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in Probolinggo, Indonesia. At 2,329 metres (7,641 ft) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but is the most well known. The massif area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in East Java, Indonesia. The volcano belongs to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. The name of Bromo derived from Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hindu  creator God.

Mount Bromo sits in the middle of a vast plain called the “Sea of Sand” (Javanese: Segara Wedi or Indonesian: Lautan Pasir), a protected nature reserve since 1919. The typical way to visit Mount Bromo is from the nearby mountain village of Cemoro Lawang. From there it is possible to walk to the volcano in about 45 minutes, but it is also possible to take an organised jeep tour, which includes a stop at the viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan (2,770 m or 9,088 ft) (Indonesian: Gunung Penanjakan). The best views from Mount Bromo to the Sand Sea below and the surrounding volcanoes are at sunrise. The viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan can also be reached on foot in about two hours. From inside the caldera, sulfur is collected by workers.

On the fourteenth day of the Hindu festival of Yadnya Kasada, the Tenggerese  people of Probolinggo, East Java, travel up the mountain in order to make offerings of fruit, rice, vegetables, flowers and sacrifices of livestock to the mountain gods by throwing them into the caldera of the volcano. The origin of the ritual lies in the 15th century legend where a princess named Roro Anteng started the principality of Tengger with her husband, Joko Seger. The couple were childless and therefore beseeched the assistance of the mountain gods. The gods granted them 24 children but stipulated that the 25th child, named Kesuma, must be thrown into the volcano as human sacrifice. The gods’ request was implemented. The tradition of throwing sacrifices into the volcano to appease these ancient deities continues today and called Yadnya Kasada ceremony. Though fraught with danger, some locals risk climbing down into the crater in an attempt to recollect the sacrificed goods that believed could bring them good luck.

On the Segara Wedi sand plain sits a Hindu temple called Pura Luhur Poten. The temple holds a significant importance to the Tenggerese scatter across the mountainous villages such as Ngadisari, Wonokitri, Ngadas, Argosari, Ranu Prani, Ledok Ombo and Wonokerso. The temple organized annual Yadnya Kasada ceremony which lasts for about one month. On the 14th day, the Tenggerese will congregate at Pura Luhur Poten to ask for blessings from Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa and God of Mahameru (Mount Semeru). Then the mass will proceed along the crater edges of Mt Bromo where offerings will be thrown into the crater. The major difference between this temple with the Balinese ones are the type of stones and building materials. Pura Luhur Poten uses natural black stones from volcanoes nearby, while Balinese temples mostly made from red bricks. Inside this pura, there are several buildings and enclosures aligned in Mandala zone composition.

Mount Bromo is one of two volcanoes that were created following a massive eruption which created an enormous caldera in which are the active Mount Bromo and the non-active Mount Batok. The caldera has seen been filled with grey sands, and is called Laut Pasir or Sand Sea. Trekkers walk through this expanse on their way to Mount Bromo. The scenery is reminiscent of earth in its primeval age or a moonscape. This is more so when a layer of mist carpets the caldera floor.

Standing at a height of 2392 meters, Mount Bromo isn’t the tallest mountain in Java. That title goes to 3676 meter tall Mount Semeru, located to the south of Mount Bromo and within sight. Also called Mahameru, meaning “great mountain”, Mount Semeru is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia constantly belching steam from its peak.

An undulating plateau interrupted by valleys and lakes reaches right to the foot of Mount Semeru. They are all located within the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park.

Legend of Mount Bromo

There is legend related to Mount Bromo and the region of Tengger. According to this legend, there was a 15th century princess named Roro Anteng from Majapahit who started a principality with her husband Joko Seger. They named the principality Tengger, an amalgam of the last syllable of both their names.

Being childless for many years, the royal couple made a trip up Mount Bromo to seek the help of the mountain gods in granting them a child. The gods agreed to their request, telling them that they would have 25 children, but demanded that they sacrifice their final child. Together, the couple had 24 children.

When the last and final child was born, Roro Anteng refused to sacrifice it. The mountain gods sent fire and brimstone until she finally relented. After the child was thrown into the crater of the volcano, his voice was heard asking that an annual ceremony be performed to appease the gods. The ceremony was still being performed to this day. It takes place on the 14th day of the full moon Kesodo, according to the Tenggerese calendar. Rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers and livestock are offered to the mountain gods.

 

The Story of Offering Kasada Ceremony

Hundreds years ago, during the reign of the last king of Majapahit, Brawijaya, the situation was so uncertain due to the expanding new religion, Islam. At the time, the queen gave birth a baby girl and named her Roro Anteng, later the princess married Joko Seger, a Brahma Caste.

Since the influences of the new religion was so strong that it created chaos. The king and his followers were forced to back off to the east, some of them reached Bali and some of them reached a volcano.

The new married couple, Roro Anteng and Joko Seger were also found among the fugitives who went to the volcano. Later they ruled the volcano area and named it Tengger. The word Tengger was derived from Roro Anteng and Joko Seger. Then he surnamed himself the riffle of Purba Wasesa Mangkurat Ing Tengger which means the righteous ruler of Tengger.

Years after year as the region flourished in prosperity, the King and Queen felt unhappy for they had no children to succeed their throne. On their desperation, they decided to climb the top of the volcano to pray and beseech before God, the Almighty. Deeply, impressed by the faith of their meditation affected the murmuring sound of the crater lifted up miraculously followed by a golden lightning that made the surrounding locked so scintillating. Their prayer were heard the God and would give them children, but they should sacrifice their last child as return. It was a promising future that could not be denied.

Not long after, the first baby boy was born and Roro Anteng named him Tumenggung Klewung. Child after child was born during the years and it reached 25 in number to whom she gave the named Kesuma for the last child.

Roro Anteng and Joko Seger were very happy ever since, love and affection were imparted among their children. Happiness lingered on years after years, but a dull and sad feeling still haunted them for their promise would be claimed one day. They realized that they could not run from the fact, a bitter disappointment of losing a child shot through their brains. The day came, the God reminded them of their promise which could not be avoided.

As they felt how cruel it was to sacrifice their beloved child, they decided to break their promise by not offering him to the God. They brought away their children in order to save their last child from the offering. They tried to find a place to hide, however, they could not find away.

All of by sudden, the dreadful eruption of the volcano followed to where they went and miraculously Kesuma, the last beloved child was swallowed into the crater. At the same time when Kesuma disappeared from their sight, turbulent brawl diminished and strange silence for a while but a sudden voice echoed: Hi, my beloved brothers and sisters. It was sacrificed to appear before God Hyang Widi Wasa to save all of you. And what I expect be in a peace and live prosperously. Don’t forget to set mutual assistance among you and to worship God constantly to arrange an offering ceremony annually on 14th of Kasada (the twelfth month of Tenggerese calendar) by full moon. For the sake of your God. Hyang Widi Wasa.

Kesuma’s Brothers and sisters held the offering ceremony annually just like what Kesuma advised and it was held from generation to generation up to now.

 

 

 

Going to Mount Bromo

The nearest airport to Mount Bromo is Surabaya, about 3 hours away by bus. Most visitors to Mount Bromo access it from Cemoro Lawang, at the foot of the mountain. To go there from Surabaya’s Juanda International Airport, take the Damri shuttle bus to the Bungurasih Bus Terminal. From there, take the Patas air-conditioned bus to Probolinggo. The journey takes about 2-3 hours.

At Probolinggo, it is another one hour to Ngadisari, a town about 6km northeast of Mount Bromo and the base camp for Mount Bromo trips.

Another base camp is Cemoro Lawang, about half an hour from Ngadisari. You can get accommodation at Ngadisari so that you start off a little after midnight for the trip to Mount Bromo.

Be sure to bring along warm clothing, and the temperature can drop to between zero and five degrees Celcius. From there, it is about half an hour to Cemoro Lawang.

The foot of Mount Bromo is a 3-km hike from Cemoro Lawang. You can hire a pony for 50,000 Rupiah or a seat in a jeep for 40,000 Rupiah to take you to Mount Bromo. Private cars are not allowed.

 

What to see

The main sight is of course Mount Bromo. It is always bubbling, and its edges are tinged with sulphur. From Cemoro Lawang, take the path on the left fork. It leads to the Hindu temple at the foot of the mountain. From there, a steep 250-step path leads to the crater from which you can view the volcano.

Be forewarned that Mount Bromo is an active volcano. As recently as 2004, two tourists were killed when the volcano spit out molten lava, reaching as far as the Hindu temple. If the mountain appears to be acting up, stay away from it for your own safety.

Mount Batok (2440m) is a dormant volcano at the northern centre of the huge caldera. It is now growing with vegetation, mostly cemara trees that can thrive in the volcanic ash.

To the north of the caldera is Mount Penanjakan (2770m). As it has a paved road, it can be reached by jeeps and even tour buses. It is crowded with tourists at around 5:00am. If you are here at a later time, you probably get the place all to yourself.

What to eat

There are no tourist-quality restaurants outside of the hotels; it is strongly recommended that you arrange your food and drink for your trek at your hotel.

Where to stay

One of the best places to stay is Cemoro Lawang because it is situated at the crater rim, there are four places to stay in the region and they are:

Hotel Raya Bromo is a slightly more upmarket place than those listed above and is located 2km south of Sukapura some 18Km from the crater rim at Cemoro Lawang.

 

What obstacles that makes tourism in Bromo can hardly develope

As a vulcanic mountain, no wonder some eruption can happaen anytime, here are such case that has occured:

2004 eruptions

Mount Bromo erupted in 2004, that eruptive episode led to the death of two people.

2010 eruptions

On Tuesday, 23 November 2010, 16.30 WIB (Western Indonesian Time), the Indonesian Centre of Vulcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation (CVGHM) confirmed the activity status of Mount Bromo at “alert” due to increasing tremor activity and shallow volcanic earthquakes at the mountain. Concerns were raised that a volcanic eruption may be likely to occur. As a precaution local residents and tourists were instructed to remain clear of an area within radius three kilometres from the caldera and refugee encampments were erected. The area surrounding the Teggera caldera of Bromo remained off limits for visitors throughout the remaining part of 2010.

Bromo started to erupt ash on Friday 26 November 2010.

On 29 November 2010 Transport Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan announced that Malang’s domestic airport, would be closed until 4 December 2010. Malang a city of about 800,000 people is about 25 km (16 mi) west of Mount Bromo. Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport IATA:MLG normally handles 10 daily domestic flights from the capital Jakarta. Government volcanologist Surono reported that the volcano was spitting columns of ash some 700 metres (2,300 feet) into the sky.

2011 eruptions

The Tengger Caldera was still active in late January 2011, the activity being characterised by fluctuating ongoing eruptions. On 23 January 2011 the Indonesian Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) (Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi) reported that since 19 December, 2010 volcanic ash and incandescent material had been thrown up by eruptive activity resulting in a heavy rain of material that fell around the crater. Continuous eruptions on 21 January caused a thin ash fall mainly in the village areas of Ngadirejo and Sukapura Wonokerto in Probolinggo district. The impact of a heavy rain of volcanic ash from eruptions since 19 December 2010 resulted in disruption of normal activities. By early 2011 concerns were being raised concerning the effect upon the local economy and the potential for long term environmental and health problems amongst the residents in the locality surrounding Mount Bromo. Due to high seasonal rainfall in January 2011 the potential for lahar and lava flow was raised due to the deposits of volcanic ash, sand and other ejected material that had built up. Seismic activity was dominated by tremor vibration and reports of visual intensity and sounds of eruption continued to be reported from the mountain monitoring facility, Bromo Observation Post. People living on the banks of the Perahu Ravine, Nganten Ravine and Sukapura River were alerted to the possibility of lava flows, especially when it was raining heavily in the area around Cemorolawang, Ngadisari and Ngadirejo. Eruptions and volcanic tremors were reported on 21 January and 22 January with activity subsiding on 23 January 2011. On 23 January, 2011 at 06:00 am the alert status at Mount Bromo remained at (Level III).

 

 

2. Madakaripura Waterfall

Madakaripura waterfall located in Sapih village, Lombang district, Probolinggo, Indonesia. not far from Mount Bromo area. Madakaripura is a sacred visiting area comprising lines of waterfalls. its reaches a height of 200 meters from the bottom. This waterfall have a related history with a great Prime Ministry, Gajah Mada, who strongly struggled to unify the whole territory of Indonesia  under span of control of Majapahit, and said as “the last residence for Gajah Mada”. This spectacular waterfall lies hidden at the end of a deep valley in the foothills of the Tengger range. The water has cascades from the dense forest above. The primary attraction is its natural environment that is encircled by 7 waterfalls and caves. The available facilities are include: parking lot, food stalls, resting place and security post. The fatigue and exhaustion one undergoes from climbing the peak of Bromo, would immediately gone after getting a bathe with the holy Tirta Sewana so to continue the travel to other visiting points in Probolinggo  area.

 

3. Bentar beach

Bentar Indah beach located at Gending district, in the side road of Surabaya – Banyuwangi, 7 km from the east to Probolinggo. Bentar Indah beach is the way to Bali – Surabaya – Yogyakarta – Jakarta, so that it is a potential tourism object.

There is a hill beside the Bentar Indah beach, because it’s located on the main road curve. So that, the tourist can climbs the hill and enjoy the beautiful of sea scenery. There is white sand that spread along the beach and watch the interesting of sea waves in Bentar beach.

The tourists can also fishing, because in the east mangroves forest will be made for traditional dam, which will have fishes and shrimps seed. Beside that, the visitor can do the other holiday activities, such as; swimming, boating, sun bathing, volley beach, etc.

The visitors of Bentar beach, Probolinggo,m on Last Sunday, Februari, 28th 2010, get full of special entertainment. Putri Family, an old story theater appereance grup from Tamansari village, Dringu appears on that vacation stage.

It shows their legendary theater story under the tittle ‘ The Causes of beach and mount of Bentar had been created’. There are some unque things a long the shows. Most of the traditional music players –called ‘pengrawit;- that produces and guides the legend show are women.

Although, it is a hot day of the weekend, but the ludruk goup still run its appereances by the soul. We can find many fresh jokes from the ludruk actrist which make a whole audience being laugh.

Unfortunately, Putri Family, as the Ludruk Group, only brings the stories by Madurese.

Tutug Edi, says that ‘Ludruk’ is one of tradition belongs to Probolinggo District. We will do much more effort to keep and save this local culture. And built a team work to regenerate the legendary theater show such as “Putri Family, The Ludruk Group”.

 

The Legend od Bentar Beach

Once upon a time, it was started when Susoko found a lttle baby in Mount of Bentar. Susoko was a widow who had not any child, and she had a big hope to be a mother.

So, she though that she the baby was a grace for her that given by the God. Susoko picked the baby home and named him, Joko Ulung.

Year after year, Joko Ulung grew up being a teen. But, as Joko Ulung had become a teenager, he knew the fact that Susoko was not his real mother.

Afterward, Joko Ulung asked a permit from Susoko to find his own mother. His blood mother. Then, Joko Ulung leaved Pandak Village, the homy places where he and his step mother settled.

On the way, Joko Ulung met with a beautiful woman, named Nilamsari. By the first sight, Nilamsari drove him to fall in love and she did too.

Nilamsari got her steps to her home and met the parent. She told her parents about something that had just happened. She though she felt in love to Joko Ulung, and she wanted her parent to apply for the man she had met.

At the same time, Joko Ulung’s real mother, Dewi Ratna was still looking for her son when her baby was just a little-cute. Badly to her, she met Arya Kamandaka, a cruel pirate, when she tried ti find his son.

So, Dewi Ratna run away to avoid from Arya Kamandaka who had a very bad mood to Dewi Ratna and wanted her to be his play girl.

Luckily, Joko Ulung came and tried to save Dewi Ratna, but at that time he did not know if the women he saved for was his blood mother.

Finally, Joko Ulung won the fight to Arya Kamandaka by stole his special weapon, called ‘keris kencono, arya Kamandaka flet down under the hill on the north side of Mount of Bromo. Far-down away to the abyss. And suddenly, the abyss became a beach, named Bentar Beach.

 

4. Ranu Segaran Lake & Hot Spring

Another beautiful tourism object in Probolinggo is Segaran Lake. This natural lake gives its beautiful impressions for the visitors. The clean and fresh lake with beautiful panorama are ideal for canoeing, fishing, etc. This lake is become one of Probolingo main tourism. There are many visitor who had been visit this lake to enjoy its nature scenery with their family or friends.

Segaran Lake is worth visited and give nice impression to the visitors.

About 100 meters of Ranu Segaran location, there is a natural hot spring, which surrounded by natural scenery and fresh air. Visit also this hot spring that near to Ranu Segaran tourism and enjoy its natural hot spring with natural environment.

 

5. Others tourism spots

There are many more tuorism spots in Probolinggo besides what I have explained above. If you go to the eastern of Probolinggo, you can find PLTU Paiton, you can see it from the top of a hill in your bus. It is getting more interesting if you visit it  at nigth, a lot of lights move, just like a random moving objects.

Not so far from PLTU Paiton, you can find a wonderful waterfall, people around call it Antokan waterfall. If you go to this tourism spot, you will need more struggle because to get to that waterfall you have to get into jungle then walk between two mountain along a river. But what you have struggled is equal to the satisfaction anytime you get to the waterfall.

You can also find callenging tourism spot in Probolinggo, they are Songa and Pekalen river. People visit these place for rafting. These spots are the alternative spots to be visited as a family tourism spots.

====== I hope my elaboratons above can give you some good informations ========

~thanks~

 

Aang Kunaefi

Kamar Kumuh 3x3meter

Pondok Aren, Tangerang Selatan

02/04/2011