Lomography

Mount Bromo (Indonesia)
written by ananditya on May 14th, 2009 , 8 comments (14 votes)

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Bromo is in fact only one of many peaks inside the massive Tengger Caldera, but it’s easily recognized as the entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white sulphurous smoke. The inside of the caldera, aptly dubbed the Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand) is coated with fine volcanic sand and the overall effect is unsettled unearthly, especially when compared to the lush green valleys all around the caldera.

According to a folklore, at the end of the 15th century princess Roro Anteng from the Majapahit Empire started a separate principality together with her husband Joko Seger. They named it Tengger after the last syllables of their names. The principality prospered, but the ruling couple did not have children. In their despair, they climbed Mount Bromo to pray to the gods, who granted them help, but requested the last child to be sacrificed to the gods. They had 24 children, and when the 25th and last child Kesuma was born Roro Anteng refused to do the sacrifice as promised. The gods then threatened with fire and brimstone, until she finally sacrificed the child. After the child was thrown into the crater, the voice of the child ordered the local people to perform an annual ceremony on the volcano, which is still held today.

Bromo is noted for its spectacular sunrises, and majestic views across to Semeru volcano in the south. You’ll usually need to get up by 3:30 AM or so to get there in time for dawn to see the sunrise from Mount Penanjakan,located just north of the caldera, is a mountaintop viewpoint accessible by paved road from Tosari and hence popular with jeeps and even tour buses.

It’s a fairly easy 3-km hike from the major access point, Cemoro Lawang, to the foot of Mount Bromo. Alternatively, you can hire a pony to do the drudge work for you, or have it even easier and do the trip by jeep. Private cars are not allowed inside the caldera. You can join the jeep package at IDR 40.000 per person at the Probolinggo entrance office. On the next morning 4am, the jeep departs from hotel to catch the sunrise at Mount Batok (costs IDR40.000 per person for entering the compound). After the sunrise, go down to Mount bromo. You can hire a horse (IDR50.000) to bring you up and then walk thru the last stair-case to reach the top of Mount Bromo.