MOUNT TANGKUBAN PARAHU

 

Exploring Mount Tangkuban Parahu:

An Exotic Panorama

Is it a studio photo? That was the first comment my sister said when she looked at the above photograph. Well...the panorama is so amazing. Mount Tangkuban Parahu is a-must-visit tourism site when you first step your feet in Bandung. But it is not actually located in Bandung city. It is located 30 km in the northern part of Bandung city. It lies in Subang District.

Mount Tangkuban Parahu is very famous and unique. If you see Mount Tangkuban Parahu from Bandung city, you will see the mount like a kind of upside-down boat. 

Based on the legend retold to the next generation, the upside-down boat derives from the famous legend of Sangkuriang who fell in love with his mother. 

According to the Geology Mount Tangkuban Parahu has erupted at least 30 times in the previous 40.750 years. On 2 August 2019, the volcano experienced eight minor eruptions, and as a result, the place has been closed down for visitors (Wikipedia).

The book Earth by Professor Emeritus Frank Press an American geophysicist, says that mountains have underlying roots. These roots are deeply embedded in the ground, thus, mountains have a shape like a "peg". This information matches the statement in the Quran, as Alloh has said in the Quran that:

Have We not smoothed out the earth like a bed and made the mountains as its pegs (Quran, 78: 6-7).

And (are they not aware that) We have set up firm mountains on earth, lest it sway with them... (Quran, 21: 31).

And He has placed firm mountains on earth, lest it sway with you (Quran, 16:15).

There are three craters around the mountain:

a. Queen Crater, the biggest crater where people like taking picture of its exotic panorama.

b. Domas Crater, it has some hollows that emit sulphur.

c. Upas Crater, the smell of sulphur is very strong.

The visitors must be careful because sometimes the build-up of poisonous gasses accumulate around these craters.

The biggest crater - Kawah Ratu or Queen's Crater

Before reaching those three craters, you must ride along the way by your own car, bus, and angkot (public transportation). You can have sight seeing along the way because the scenery is very beautiful. The road goes up with pines standing beside it. You can smell the scent of freshly pine green leaves and take a deep breath of fresh air for relaxing.

Rows of pine trees

When you reach the welcome gate of Mount Tangkuban Parahu, you must pay for the ticket IDR 20K per person.

A welcome gate

Driving up the peak of the Mount Tangkuban Parahu or the crater, you must wear a mask for anticipating the Covid-19 pandemic, the fog, and the sulphur gas. The more up the road, the sharper the sulphur gas.

A mask is a must

The thick fog blocks the background view of crater
 

The thick fog usually blocks the spectacular views of mountain scenery. So, if we want to take the picture, we must wait for the fog to disappear slowly. I took the incredible panoramic pictures with panoramic camera feature on my smartphone. Look at the amazing panoramic picture below. It is longer and better than a wide camera I think.

A panoramic picture of crater

A panoramic picture

You can continue your journey to the nearby Ciater's Hot Spring to relax your body or dangle your legs in the hot water.

(Leni Lesnawati is concerned with the sustainability of nature.)