JP\/18\/GARUT1<\/p>\n
checked -- JSR
\nHidden delights of Garut now within easy reach of Jakarta<\/p>\n
James Boyd
\nContributor\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The new Cipularang expressway linking Jakarta to Bandung has
\nopened up a whole new universe of weekend getaways to the south
\nand east of Bandung that were previously beyond the reach of all
\nbut the most determined of weekend vacationers.<\/p>\n
One of my favorite destinations to the southeast of Bandung is
\nGarut, a hidden gem of a destination replete with volcanoes, hot
\nsprings, pine forests, lush countryside, and, if you've a bit
\nmore time, some fine, deserted beaches further down on the south
\ncoast.<\/p>\n
Best of all, it's now only a three-and-a-half-hour drive from
\nJakarta!<\/p>\n
In fact, during the Dutch days, Garut was one of the
\npreeminent hill stations in all Java, and once you pay a visit
\nyou'll quickly understand why!<\/p>\n
The regency of Garut lies about 63 kilometers southwest of
\nBandung on the southern branch of the main highway to the coast,
\nwith the northern, and busier branch going through Tasikmalaya,
\nbypassing Garut entirely.<\/p>\n
The roads in this part of West Java are well-paved, thus
\nmaking it a great place for motoring. But, given the mountainous
\ntopography, needless to say there are plenty of twists and turns.
\nSo take your time!<\/p>\n
Located in a hollow between a ring of towering volcanoes, the
\ncity of Garut itself is pretty nondescript, but, like most
\nsmaller cities in West and Central Java, it's tidy and well-kept.<\/p>\n
It's also a memorable sight as you come down from the
\nhighlands early in the morning and see it laid out before you,
\nwith its towering volcanic sentinels standing guard all around in
\nthe shimmering haze.<\/p>\n
At night, the scene is transformed into a flickering sea of
\nyellow light spread out as far as the eye can see.<\/p>\n
Pleasant scenery, energetic pursuits<\/p>\n
The countryside is verdant, and, with its temperate climate
\nand incredibly fertile volcanic soil, is a veritable Garden of
\nEden, producing everything from potatoes and carrots to beef and
\ndairy cattle, which no doubt explains the evident prosperity of
\nthe region and its people.<\/p>\n
Most tourists come to Garut to visit the Cipanas spa resort,
\njust to the northwest of the city at the foot of Mt. Guntur, and
\na great favorite of the Dutch.<\/p>\n
While most vestiges of the colonial era have disappeared, this
\nis still a truly beautiful area, and offers a selection of four-
\nand five-star hotels, all with swimming pools filled with
\nsteaming water from the springs.<\/p>\n
For those who have had enough of wallowing in the baths,
\nthere's plenty of more energetic pursuits available around
\nCipanas, including hiking up Mt. Guntur, a 10-hour round trip
\npassing the Curug Citiis waterfall.<\/p>\n
The slopes of the mountain are unforested, however, and the
\nsun is pretty fierce at these elevations, so definitely not for
\nthe faint-hearted.<\/p>\n
If Mt. Curug doesn't sate your appetite for hiking up large
\nimmovable objects, then Mt. Papandayan (2,662 meters) should
\ndefinitely do so. This is one of the most active volcanoes in
\nWest Java and regularly puts on displays of fireworks.<\/p>\n
If not off-limits, the massive yellow devil's cauldron of
\nsteaming, bubbling mud and the surrounding lunar landscapes are
\nonly a 30-minute trek up from the parking lot half way up the
\nmountainside.<\/p>\n
The trek is well worth it for a vision of what hell is most
\nprobably like and puts everything written by Dante to shame. From
\nthe crater, its a roughly two-hour walk up to Papandayan's
\nsummit. Once again, there's no shade and the sun is merciless, so
\ndo yourself a favor and bring a good, wide-brimmed hat.<\/p>\n
Now, after all that mountain trekking, how about something a
\nlittle more cultural? About half-way on the main road from Garut
\nto Tasikmalaya, roughly 30 kilometers east of Garut, is the
\nmemorable village of Kampung Naga, one of the few truly
\ntraditional thatched Sundanese villages left in West Java, and a
\ntreat to behold nestled down in the spectacularly green river
\nvalley between the towering peaks.<\/p>\n
It's a fairly steep, 350-step climb down to the village from
\nthe parking lot near the highway, and you'll be told that its
\nmandatory to accept the services of a guide, although we saw
\nplenty of visitors wandering around on their own.<\/p>\n
Another cultural attraction in the vicinity of Garut is the
\nCandi Cangkuang Hindu temple, which was first mapped and recorded
\nby the Dutch in 1893, when it was in ruins. However, it was not
\nuntil 1976 that it was finally restored.<\/p>\n
The temple itself is small but nevertheless impressive in a
\nprimeval, lost-city sort of way. But the real treat is the fact
\nthat you have to cross a small lake on a bamboo raft to get to
\nit. The area is also an Islamic place of pilgrimage as Arif
\nMuhammad, a Muslim holy man, is buried right next to the temple,
\nso the place can get quite crowded with pilgrims.<\/p>\n
If you've had your fill of climbing volcanoes, visiting
\ntemples and turning pink in the baths, then head into Garut city
\nto sample dodol, a local, exceedingly sweet treat made from
\ncoconut milk, palm sugar and sticky rice.<\/p>\n
Shopping in the city<\/p>\n
You either love this or hate it but, whatever the case, it's
\nubiquitous and cheap. There are plenty of places to stock up on
\nthe main road out of Garut to Bandung.<\/p>\n
Garut is also famous for its leather goods -- made from cow,
\ngoat and sheep skins. The quality is good and all the stuff is
\ndirt cheap.<\/p>\n
You can pick up a spanking new leather jacket for Rp 700,000
\ncompared with Rp 3 million or more in Jakarta. The styles are
\npretty stodgy, but download your own design from the Internet or
\ntake the latest copy of Biker magazine down with you. They can
\nknock a smashing jacket together in only two days.<\/p>\n
For those for whom a vacation is not worth the time or effort
\nwithout a trip to the beach, then a visit to the wild south coast
\nat Pameunpeuk will be just the ticket.<\/p>\n
About four hours from Garut along a twisting road winding its
\nway through some of the most impressive scenery in Java, you'll
\nneed more than a weekend to do this area justice.<\/p>\n
Among the beaches down here are Pantai Sayang Heulang, Pantai
\nSantolo and Pantai Cijayana. There's not much in the way of
\naccommodation, though, so be prepared to rough it.<\/p>\n
And for golf enthusiasts, Garut also has a little gem of a
\nnine-hole course nestling on the slopes five kilometers to the
\nsouth of the city.<\/p>\n
This was first established by the Dutch, but the original
\nhotel and clubhouse have long disappeared, replaced by ugly
\nconcrete structures. Just ignore these and concentrate on the
\ngolf, and the wonderful views looking down on Garut.<\/p>\n
So there you have it: Garut, a place with something for
\neveryone and now not much more than a stone's throw from Jakarta!<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp18garut1-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}