The smoking Gunung Bromo, best viewed at sunrise, has to be one of the most breathtaking views one will ever see. The nearby town of Malang has a real Dutch flavour and is a great place to wander around.
Fertile rice-terraces give way to a blanket of lava sands and the smouldering grandeur of Mount Bromo, usually trailing a wisp of volcanic smoke. Located on the region’s awesome Tengger Massif, stretching 10 kilometres across, this is best seen at dawn as the sun rises over a stunning vista.
Located some 4 hours drive from Surabaya, the capital of East Java, Mount Bromo is a part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park that covers a massive area of 800 square kilometres. While it may be small when measured against other volcanoes in Indonesia, the magnificent Mt Bromo will not disappoint with its spectacular views and dramatic landscapes. At 2392 meters tall, Mt Bromo is not among the tallest of Indonesia’s mountains but its stunning beauty lies in its incredible setting.
From a vantage point on Mount Penanjakan (2,770 meters above sea level), 2.5 hours from Malang. Visitors from around the world come to see the sunrise over Mt Bromo. From this spot the vista is magnificent. All you will hear is the click of cameras as visitors snap their camera’s hoping to capture the incredible scene of Mt Bromo in the foreground with Mt Semeru smoking in the distance and the sun shining brightly, quickly rising in the sky.
Although one must get started by three o’clock in the morning and walk for an hour through the sea of sand to get the best sunrise view, it is worth your effort. During the rainy season it is better wait until after sunrise for climbing Bromo, which then can be cloudy at dawn. The Bromo highlands are also an important centre for traditional Hindu Javanese beliefs. In the 15th century many Hindu believers fled to the mountains for a safe haven for the upcoming Moslem rulers.
The eerie landscape has spurned countless legends and myths. Mt Bromo has particular significance for the Tengger people who believe that this was the site where a brave prince sacrificed his life for his family. The people here appease the Gods once a year during the annual Kasada festival where offerings of vegetables, chickens and money are thrown into the crater of the volcano
How to get there:
To reach Mount Bromo, you can fly to Juanda international airport in Surabaya. There are direct flights to Surabaya from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hongkong, Jakarta and Bali. Sriwijaya Air flies twice daily from Jakarta to Malang.
From there, continue your journey to Mount Bromo by booking with a travel agent, or driving the Surabaya-Pasuruan-Wonokitri-Mount Bromo route. The journey will take 2 to 3 hours. It is best for you to leave Surabaya at 23:00-24:00 in order to arrive in time for sunrise. Or you can stay overnight at one of the hotels at Prigen, Tretes, .to make sure that you are on the crater rim before sunrise.
Ponies can take you across the sand sea to the bottom of the steep stairs that leads to the crater.
For more information and reservation write booking@topindonesiaholidays.com