Friday, 19 November 2010

Lombok Island



LOMBOK : BRIEF HISTORY

Lombok is noticeably different than its close neighbour, Bali. The northern part of the island is mountainous and lush with tall tress and shrubs. The south, on the other hand is arid and covered by savannas. Large Asian mammals are absent and replaced instead by marsupials, lizards, cockatoos and parrots. The difference becomes more pronounced as one moves further east, where dry seasons are more prolonged and corn and sago are the staple food, instead of rice.
At around the time Islam first came to these islands in the 16 th century, four Hindu Kingdoms co-existed in apparent peace in what is now West Nusa Tenggara. Lombok experienced strong Balinese influences, but has retained a unique identity. The indigenous people of Lombok, the Sasaks, are predominantly Moslem and have a strong, distinguished tradition, as do the people of neighbouring Sumbawa.
Soft, white sand, virgin beaches are typical in Lombok, where the motto is 'You can see Bali from Lombok, but not Lombok from Bali'. Famous for its ikat hand-woven textiles, the islands has exceptional charm and is relatively undiscovered, except for the town of Sengigi, which is becoming a major resort area.
Regular shuttle flights from Bali and Sumbawa as well as ferries, provide excellent transportation link between the island of the province as well as the rest of the country.


LOMBOK : PLACES OF INTEREST

Mataram dan Cakranegara
Mataram dan Cakranegara is the capital of the province, which has in the past decades joined with Ampenan, the port, and Cakranegara to become the province's biggest urban complex. At th beginning of the 18th century, Mataram was the residence of the crown prince of Karang Asem, a kingdom in southern Bali. The ruler had his seat in Cakranegara. The royal palace no longer exists, but many of the old temples and pleasure gardens are still there.

Narmada
Taman Narmada, 11 kilometers east of Mataram, was built in 1727 by King Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Karang Asem as both a pleasure garden and place to worship Shiva. Its big pool is said to represent Segara Anakan, the crater lake on the vulacano Rinjani, where they used to make offerings by throwing valuables into the water. As the king became too old to make the pilgrimage up the 3,726 meter high mountain, he had Narmada constructed to represent the mountain and the lake. Near the pond is a place of worship and a spring whose water is believed to give dedicated pilgrims eternal youth.

Pura Lingsar
This may be the only Hindu shrine in the world where both Hindus and Moslems come o worship. About 7 kilometers west Narmada, it was built in 1714 and rebuild in 1878 to symbolize harmony in unity between Hindu Balinese and Moslem Sasak population of the area, especially those who adhere to Lombok's unique Wektu Telu school of Islam. The Balinese temple is built on higher ground, behind the Moslem section of the compound. In the lower yard is a spring near which pilgrims stage a mock battle between Hindus and Moslems, hurling rice cakes at each other.

Pura Agung Gunung Sari
This great temple on a hill at Gunung Sari, about four kilometers from Mataram, was the site of the infamous Puputan battle, fought on November 22, 1894, between Lombok's last Balinese ruler, Anak Agung Nengah and followers, and the Dutch troops under General Van der Vetter's command.

Sengkol, Pujut and Rambitan
Time seems to have frozen in these three villages in southern Lombok on the road from the capital to Kuta Beach. All the houses and barn are built in the age-old traditional style, and life continues daily here as it has for centuries.

Sukarare
This is a village of traditional weavers south of Cakranegara, Lombok known for its brightly patterned songket cloth. The techniques, patterns and motifs have been handed down through the generations.

Batu Bolong Beach
Located 9 kilometers from downtown Mataram, this beach has a huge rock with a hole in it. A hindu temple lies on top overlooking the Lombok Strait to majestic Mount Agung Bali. After sunbathing, relaxing and flocking on this beautiful beach front, stay till the end of the day to watch one of the most stunning sunsets you have ever seen when the sun slowly begins to disappear behind Mount Agung.

Taman Mayura
The Taman Mayura Park as all that remains of the Karang Asem kingdom of Bali, whose king Anak Agung Ngurah, built it in 1744. In the middle of a large pond is a structure called Balai Kambang, which once functioned as a legal court of justice and a hall for important meetings. Curiously, its architecture shows both Hindu and Islamic influences, adorned with stone statue in the form of a Moslem hajji.

Pura Meru
Another relic of the Karang Asem kingdom is the Meru temple at Cakranegara, close to Mataram. The temple was built in 1790 as a symbol of Hindu unity on Lombok island. Several engaging structures are found in this complex.

Kuta Beach
Also known as Putri Nyale Beach, Kuta, on the south coast of central Lombok, is one of the most scenic and unspoiled beaches in this part of Indonesia. From Kuta to Tanjung Aan, 5 kilometers away, stretches an unbroken expanse of clean white sand lapped by waves of the Indian Ocean. Kuta is safe for bathing and swimming. Further to the west are surfer's and windsurfer's beaches. Each year, on 19th day of the tenth month of Sasak lunar calendar, Kuta Beach is the site of great festivities. Fisherman sail out to sea while young men and women gather along the beach to join in the merrymaking, tease each other and perhaps meet to build a more lasting relationship.

Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan
Gili, in Sasak means 'island'. These three are clustered together just off the northwest coast of Lombok. Coral gardens abound in clear waters around the islands. Gili Air, the nearest island, can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes by outrigger boat from Bangsal harbor, near Pamenang.

Sengigi Beach
Sengigi, north of Bangsal, is one of the most scenic and popular beaches on the island of Lombok. Excellent snorkeling and good accommodation facilities.

Mount Rinjani
Mount Rinjani, a 3,726 meter active volcano is one of the tallest mountains of Indonesia. In the basin of the volcano's huge caldera lies the sikleshapped crater lake, Segara Anakan, surrounded by steep walls. The mountain is popular with hikers. Sembalun Bumbung and Sembalun Lawang are to traditional Sasak villages on the slopes of Rinjani.

Source : http://baliwww.com/lombok/

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