Mount Rinjani and the surrounding areas are great for trekking, but did you know they’re also full of history too? When you go on a trek with Green Rinjani, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn from our guides about the history of our beautiful mountains and culture. Read on below to learn more about the history of some of Lombok’s most important sights and landmarks!
Mount Rinjani
The people of Lombok believe that the peak of Mt. Rinjani is where Dewi Anjani, the Queen Spirit and Ruler of Mt. Rinjani resides. To the southeast from the peak, there is a dusty and barren area called “Segara Muncar”. This is reportedly the invisible palace of the queen Dewi Anjani and her followers, the good spirits. According to an ancient Lombok legend, Dewi Anjani was the daughter of a king who would not allow her to marry her boyfriend. At a spring on Lombok called Mandala, she disappeared and mysteriously transitioned from the real world to the spirit world.
Mount Baru Jari
Gunung Baru is the name of Lombok’s newest volcano, which emerged in the center of Segara Anak Lake. People believe that after Mount Baru erupted, it would not harm the people of Lombok unless the eruption came from the peak of Mount Rinjani.
Some people said that the 1994 eruption of Mount Baru was caused by spirits who were building something with stones, and arranged them in an orderly and elegant way at the foot of Mount Baru. In September of 2004, Mount Baru erupted again, perhaps for the same reason.
Segara Anak Lake
Segara Anak Lake is so wide, that when you see it, you might think you’re out on the ocean! In fact, the name Segara Anak means “Child of the Sea”. In addition, Segara Anak Lake holds various mysteries and invisible powers. People feel content to stay a long time in this place because of the large community of the mysteriously calming spirits, which live around the lake. The local people believe that if the lake looks wide when seen at a distance, it is a sign they will live to an old age. If the lake seems narrow, though, it is a sign of a short lifespan. So in order not to be pessimistic, people quickly purify themselves by lifting up their spirits and calm souls and look at the lake contentedly. In the area of the lake, it forbidden to have sexual intercourse, complain, or say disrespectful things about other people. As this is a truly sacred place on Lombok, we always try to be respectful to others in this area.
Lombok’s Famous Healing Hot Springs
The hot spring Aiq Kalak means “hot water”, and it is used to cure various diseases. One of the hot springs is also called “pengkereman jembangan”, which means “a place for dipping”. The water which spurts out of this spring is very hot. In ancient times, weapons such as swords, big knives, and lances were dipped in the spring to test their magic powers. If the weapons became sticky, it meant that the weapons were bad and had no magical powers.
However, if the weapons remain unchanged, it meant that the weapon had supernatural powers and that the owner’s strength would be increased. People also used hot springs to create medicine from coconut cream. After dipping a bottle of coconut cream in the hot spring, if the liquid became clear and oily, it could be used as medicinal oil. Then, the medicinal oil would be used to help heal people from their many illnesses. It is traditionally called “Siu Satus Tunggal”, which means that it can be used to cure thousands of different types of diseases and illnesses.
The Caves of Lombok
There are three famous caves on Lombok. They are called Goa Susu, Goa Payung, and Dan Goa Manik. Another one, Susu Cave, is a good place for self-reflection, and it’s often used as a place to meditate in peace and quiet. People with sinful or evil minds will have difficulty entering Susu Cave (which has narrow entrance) because the cave will not let these kinds of people in, but people with noble and pure minds will easily enter the wide entrance to the cave.
Inside the cave, water drips down from the tip of a stone which looks like a nipple, and as a result people say the water in Goa Susu tastes different from regular fresh water. Inside Goa Susu the temperature is very warm, and there is a lot of smoke and steam. As a result, people call this place menguku (or hot house), and sometimes people also call it roentgen (the x-ray) as a result of the scorching temperatures inside. It’s truly a magnificent sight to behold, and if you get the chance, you should try and visit at least one of these caves on Lombok.