From Gadog to Rajamandala: Traversing the Southern Route to Bandung
The journey of homecoming is not always just about reaching one’s destination. For many people, the journey itself becomes part of an experience filled with stories.
The ANTARA team had the opportunity to traverse the southern route from Jakarta to Bandung, a week before Lebaran, to witness firsthand the atmosphere of mudik travel whilst experiencing once again the essence of travelling on a route that has long been part of the mudik narrative for many in the community.
The journey began from the office at approximately 05:30 Western Indonesia Time using a four-wheeled vehicle. That morning, the Jakarta sky was still dim as the vehicle entered the Jagorawi Toll Road, which is one of the main access points towards the Bogor and Puncak areas.
Along the Jagorawi Toll Road, there are several rest areas available for drivers to take breaks, such as at KM 10, KM 34, and KM 45. During this journey, the team stopped at the KM 45 rest area for a brief respite.
The rest area is equipped with various complete facilities for mudik travellers, ranging from prayer rooms, public electric vehicle charging stations, mini markets, restaurants, coffee shops, petrol stations, to toilets.
After resting briefly, the journey continued towards Gadog Junction, which is one of the gateways to the Puncak area.
In that area, the team stopped for approximately one and a half hours to conduct interviews with officials from the Bogor Police Resort regarding monitoring of traffic flow on the second day of the Lebaran mudik period.
Throughout the journey from Jakarta to Gadog Junction, traffic conditions were relatively quiet, allowing the journey to be completed fairly smoothly.
At the Gadog Junction Integrated Post, the team also utilised several facilities provided for mudik travellers. One of these is a free health examination service available at the post. The team tried blood pressure and blood sugar level checks before continuing the journey.
Besides health services, the integrated post is also equipped with various other facilities such as public electric vehicle charging stations, free workshops for vehicles that face problems during the journey, massage chairs for drivers wanting to relieve fatigue, lactation rooms, and rest areas.
Interestingly, the integrated post is designed with an “Aladdin Palace” theme. The dome ornaments, distinctive Middle Eastern decorations, and sufficiently spacious rest areas make the post feel more welcoming for mudik travellers who stop by.
The journey then continued towards the Puncak area via Puncak-Cianjur Road, which is known for its mountain views and cool air.
Along that route, one thing that caught attention was the local public transport or angkot (minibuses) passing by with different colours in each area. In the Bogor area, green-coloured angkot dominated the streets. Entering the Cianjur area, the vehicle colour changed to light blue. This colour difference serves as a distinctive marker of local transportation in West Java whilst giving the impression that the journey had entered a different region.