The Story Line of Kiskendo Cave

Kiskendo cave, which was named Guo Kiskendo by the local people, was found firstly by a hermit named Ki Gondorio in 1700‘s. The hermit was also the first cave keeper. According to the local story, one night the hermit had a dream of entering a cave that looked like a palace. In the dream, Ki Gondorio got a guidance to name the 15 rooms in the cave. After he woke up, Ki Gondorio followed the guidance that he saw from the dream.

Despite there is a story like above, the local people have their own versions. Some say that the cave came from the wayang world. The version tells that once upon a time, Kiskendo cave was a kingdom ruled by a king named Mahesosuro. Some other say that the cave is the duplicate of another cave in India.

Until now, the local people still think that Kiskendo cave is a sacred place. This relates to the myth or legend it brings, the places inside the cave that are often used for some ascetic activities or meditation, and the rules that forbid anyone to litter the cave, insult or damage it, and do immoral activities inside the cave.

Tourists can search the story line of Kiskendo cave that is being related to the wayang story (Ramayana epic) which is carved to the relief in front of the cave.

Kiskendo cave is a complex of tourism object which consists of a few places. Rumor has it, this relates to the legend that came with the cave, which is Kiskendo Kingdom. There are 15 areas in the cave, they are:

• Lidah Mahesosuro (Mahesosuro Tongue), is a rock that has a tongue. People say that this rock was King Mahesosuro‘s tongue which was cut by Subali to prevent him from being risen from the death.
• Pertapaan ledek (Ledek Retreat), is a place for artists to meditate for gaining success in their job.
• Pertapaan Santri Tani (Farmers Retreat), is a place for farmers to meditate and pray for good harvest. Farmers around the cave in the old times often lived in this place.
• Pertapaan Subali (Subali Retreat), is a place Subali meditated before fighting against Mahesosuro and Lembusuro (ox-headed man).
• Sumelong, is a hole that leads to the top of the cave. Myth has it that Subali used the hole (it is in the middle part of the cave) to get out from the cave since Sugriwo closed the way out of the cave.
• Lumbung Kampek, is a place to keep valuable things from the Kingdom of Kiskendo Cave.
• Selumbung, is a rice barn of the Kingdom of Kiskendo Cave.
• Gua Seterbang (Seterbang cave), is a cave that still becomes the part of Kiskendo cave. People say that this cave connects to the Indian Ocean (south of central java).
• Keraton Sekandang (Sekandang Palace), is the center of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom. In this place, Subali fought against Mahesosuro and Lembusuro.
• Kusuman Retreat, is a place of meditation to gain a higher status.
• Padasan, is the well at the time of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom.
• Sepranji, is the center of animal farming at the time of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom.
• Babat Kandel, is rocks that look like human‘s intestines. According to the local story, this babat was Mahesosuro‘s intestines that were thrown by Subali.
• Sawahan, is a place to plant rice.
• Selangsur, is a place where the soldiers of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom fought Subali.
• Besides the 15 places above, there are other objects near the complex of Kiskendo Cave, they are Sumitro Cave (about 50 meters), Grojogan Sewu (a waterfall with of 20 meters height), Watu Blencong  (around 250 m above Kiskendo cave), Mount Krengseng, Watu Gajah, and Mount Kelir (limestone mountain shaped like a sail, about 4,5 km from Kiskendo cave).

Kiskendo Cave Location

Kiskendo cave is located at the area of Menoreh mountain which is part of the administrative territory of Dusun Sukamaya, Jatimulyo Village, Girimulyo Sub-district, Kulon Progo District, D.I Yogyakarta Province. This cave is at the south western part Wates, the capital city of  Kulon Progo District, and is about  800 meters height above the sea level.

To get to the cave location which is about 35 km from the city of Yogyakarta, tourists can take the bus from the Center Terminal of Giwangan Yogyakarta. From the terminal, the tourists can choose the bus with Yogyakarta-Sentolo route or Yogyakarta - Wates route that costs IDR 10.000 (February 2008). Usually, the buses that operate in those routes have dark color and smaller in size compared to the city bus.

From Terminal of Giwangan, it takes 40 minutes. Do not forget to tell the conductor to put you down in the Ngeplang three-junction. From the junction, tourists have to take another bus with Samigaluh or Nanggulan route. This costs Rp. 15.000 and 50 minutes travel to get to the Kiskendo cave. In the tourism area, there are toilets, resting place (pendopo), and vast parking area (for buses, cars, and motorcycles).