Liang Bua Cave

Liang Bua Cave

There is an assumption that Liang Bua Cave was shaped about 190.000 years ago. It is based on the result of laboratory research on the sediment at the south corner of the cave. It was shaped since the water stream from a river penetrating the surrounding hills. At the end, after a long run, those rocks shaped the formation of sedimentary rocks.

An archaeological excavation had ever been conducted by National Archaeological Research Centre in cooperation with University of New England in 2001. The result of the excavation was announced on October 28th, 2004 stating that hobbit fossil was discovered in the location. Such discovery then increases the visitors to Liang Bua cave.

Liang Bua Cave is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. A fossil of Homo Floresiensis, which is 100 cm tall and 25 kg weight was discovered. It is assumed that the fossil is not taller than a five-years old boy. This fossil, whose the skull is just the same as a lemon fruit, is believed that such species lived about 13.000 years ago, together with giant lizards/ komodo and pigmi elephants.

Liang Bua Cave Location

Liang Boa Cave is located in Flores Island, Liang Bua Village, Ruteng Sub-district, in the district of Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. You can take air transports to reach the destination from Kupang City to Ende City, in Flores Island for about 1,5 hours. Then you must continue the trip to Ruteng City by public transportations for approximately 4 hours. From Ruteng Sub-district to Rampassa Village, the travel can be accessed by public transports or approximately 13 km away. Around the location, you can find restaurants or inns intended to offer you comfortable visit.

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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).

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Jatijajar Cave

Welcome to Jatijajar Cave

Jatijajar cave was naturally shaped out of limestone. It was discovered by a farmer namely Jayamenawi in 1802 A.D., when he was grassing then suddenly sunk into a hole. Some people lent a hand for him to come out of the hole by uncovering the thick grass covering the hole. Finally, they realized that the hole led to a cave which was assumed for having three ventilations on the wall.

The entire length of the cave is 250 meters, scattering from the entrance door to the way out. Not only that, the cave is 12 meters high, 15 meters square of width,10 meters of the canopy and situated at an altitude of 50 meters.

It was Suparjo Rustam – the Governor of Central Java -  who had an idea to develop Jatijajar Cave as a valuable tourism destination in 1975. The building process was conducted by CV. AIS, Yogyakarta, headed by Saptoto, a famous dioramic expert coming from Yogyakarta. After that, the further management was taken over by the local government of Kebumen.

A spurting-water dinosaur statue, in front of the cave, symbolizes the urgency of the cave. People entering the location will pass by the mouth of the statue. The spurting-water from the statue‘s mouth comes from the Kantil River and the Mawar River. It is believed that the water never dries up even in drought season. Often, the water is utilized for irrigating the people‘s farms.

Exploring into the cave, you will see the wondrous scenery of surrounding area. Flickering lamps lightening the entrance door to the way out, enhance the comfort of your visit. Thus you are not necessary to be afraid of the illumination inside the cave. Some holes on the wall of the cave function as ventilation so that the air circulation within the cave keep on stable. In the center of the cave, there is a circle stone for your seat when you are tired, so you can keep enjoying the beauty of the cave.

About eight dioramas with 32 effigies depicting the story of Raden Kamandaka (commonly known as the story of  Lutung Kasarung) – the son of Padjajaran King – who lived as an ascetic in the cave looking for divine inspiration, can be watch therein. He lived as an ascetic in Jatijajar Cave because the location, at the time, included into the territory of Padjajaran Kingdom (now West Java)  with Bogor (cited in Batutulis inscription) as the capital.

While the entrace door to the cave is the mouth of dinosaur statue, the way out of the cave is the tail of the statue. The distinction of the cave from other caves in Indonesia is the existence of four underground rivers (seven in other sources) listed below: the Mawar River, the kantil River, the Jombor River, and the Puser Bumi River. The Mawar River and the Kantil River flow through narrow fissures penetrating the wall to the way out. By washing our face by the water of the Mawat River, it is assumed for being able to make us stay young. And, washing our face by the water of the Kantil River can make our dreams come true. The last two underground rivers, the Puser Bumi River and the Jombor River are intentionally considered as sacred by the management of the cave. People who want ot explore those two underground rivers must have permission from the management first.

Jatijajar Cave Location

Jatijajar Cave lies in Jatijajar Village, Ayah Sub-district, Kebumen District, Central Java Province, Indonesia. It is about 21 km away southwetern direction of Gombong Sub-district. You can take either public or private transportation remembering the location of Jatijajar Cave can be easily accessed. For you taking public transportation, you need to take bus passing by Gombong – Jatijajar route from Gombong bus station.

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