Stunning Seplawan attracts few tourists
Singgir Kartana, Contributor, Purworejo, Central Java
Seplawan cave is located on a hill and one has to pass through a badly damaged road to get there.
The cave is a stunning tourist attraction situated 1,600 meters above sea level in Seplawan hamlet of Donorejo village in Kaligesing, Purworejo, Central Java, about 20 kilometers north- east of the town of Purworejo.
Pine forests flank the road, breathing some cool air on to the road. One can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the hill and traditional Javanese limasan houses along the way.
The cave was discovered by chance by a local man, Cokrotinoyo when he was hunting for bats for some traditional medicine, on Aug. 28, 1979, according to the cave keeper, Cokrowarsidi, 52.
Two years later, the Purworejo administration allocated funds to maintain the cave and build a road in the area.
Magnificent stalactites and stalagmites are found in cave, which is 750 centimeters long and about six meters deep. To help viewers enjoy the magnificent view, small bulbs were installed, hidden from view, behind the stalactites and stalagmites about 10 years ago.
Besides its beauty, the cave also has a history which remains a mystery until today. A number of artifacts were found there following the discovery of the cave. Among them were a 15- centimeter gold statue of Buddha, a linggam and white stones of temple ruins.
The 1.5 kilogram gold statue is kept at the National Museum in Jakarta, but visitors can take a look at other archeological items on display in the compound.
"The government gave Rp 10 million as compensation for those who discovered the statue. The money was then divided between all of the 53 people who took part in the excavation project in the area," said Cokrowarsidi, who has been the cave keeper since 1980. He receives a Rp 50,000 monthly salary.
Some people also found ruins of a temple when dug the foundation to build a house for the cave keeper. One of the workers hit a stone and as he, along with the others, dug deeper, they found the foundation of a temple and the temple ruins. Locals call the temple Candi Gondo Arum.
Tourists can see not only the temple ruins but also a huge statue in the area. The five-meter statue was erected to mark the place where the gold statue was found. Unfortunately, it is covered in graffiti. In fact, graffiti has also ruined some parts of the cave.
"There is a sign telling people not to deface the cave. But you know, some visitors are delinquent," Cokrowarsidi said.
The tourist area also has a park with a number of benches and a toilet. Those who climb up the hill can see the city of Yogyakarta, Purworejo, Wates and the Sermo Dam. Once in a while, tourists are entertained by traditional performances held by locals.
The entrance fee to the area is only Rp 500 (5 US cents). Food and beverages are also available at low prices. Hot, sweet tea served in a glass, for example, costs Rp 250 while various traditional snacks like banana fritters and fried cassava are only Rp 150 a piece.
Despite its magnificence, the cave records a small number of visitors. It attracts an average of 800 tourists a month. They mostly come on the weekends and about one fourth of them are foreigners.
"More tourists used to come here when the road leading to the cave was good. Now, it is badly damaged and there are fewer tourists," Sunardi, a local, said.
It seems that public transportation drivers are reluctant to enter the area due to the poor condition of the 15-kilometer road which has many big potholes and sharp stones.
"The local authorities should do something. If things were better, they would get more revenue," another villager, 67-year- old Kayat, said.
Indeed, without improvement, it is hard to attract more tourists.