Monday 25 April 2022Mount Semeru or also known as Mahameru is the highest mountain on the island of Java and is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. Mount Semeru rises to a height of 3,676 meters above sea level. With this height, Mount Semeru can be seen from various places around Lumajang, Malang, Tengger and several other places.
For those of you who like trekking, what if you occasionally visit Mount Semeru in East Java. Mount Semeru is in detail in Bromo Tengger National Park, and I have also discussed the beauty of Bromo Tengger National Park, you can read about it here.
The beauty of Mount Semeru itself makes many climbers who want to witness and conquer the challenges of this mountain.
The uniqueness of Mount Semeru
One of the uniqueness of this mountain is that the crater always emits periodic explosions every 15-20 minutes, causing puffs of ash smoke and sometimes even mixed with gravel into the air. To be able to climb to the top of Mahameru requires careful physical and logistical preparation, as well as adequate climbing knowledge.
At the top of Mount Semeru you can see a panoramic view of the Jonggring Saloko crater which is the peak crater on Mount Semeru. This crater has a dome with a height of 3,744.8 m in the southern part which smashed into the crater rim, causing lava flows along the southern edge to the Pronojiwo and Candipuro areas in Lumajang.
Located in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park area, this mountain is also rich in vegetation and is a habitat for many types of fauna. Along the way up, at certain points you can find edelweiss flowers and orchids endemic to Semeru.
It is considered the abode of the gods
By the Hindu community in Bali, Mount Semeru is considered the Father of the Mountain and the abode of Lord Shiva. This also led to the holding of an offering ceremony as a tribute to Lord Shiva and a prayer for salvation as well as a blessing for the surrounding community. There are several alternative routes to reach the foot of Mount Semeru. The most common and most often used by climbers is the route through Malang - Tumpang.
Access road to Mount Semeru
You can travel by starting the Malang city terminal and then heading to the village of Tumpang, from Tumpang by Jeep, Pickup/truck to the Ranu Pani post. Previously stopped briefly at Gubuklakah to get a permit at a cost of around 6000 rupiah/10 people maximum. The entrance ticket is Rp. 2000 per person and insurance is Rp. 2000 per person. Climbing Mount Semeru takes approximately 4 days round trip.
Around Mount Semeru we can also find a lake that we can use as a beautiful photo spot. The following is a list of the names of the lakes around Mount Semeru.
1. Ranu Kumbolo
Ranu Kumbolo is one of the famous lakes on Mount Semeru. This beautiful lake which is located at an altitude of 2,389 masl is an icon of Mount Semeru. Ranu Kumbolo is on the hiking trail to the top of Mahameru, precisely after the fourth post. The area of the icon of Mount Semeru reaches 15 hectares.
Usually the climbers will stop and spend the night in this very charming lake. In addition to relaxing, you can watch the splendor of the sunrise that appears from behind the hill.
2. Ranu regulo
Besides Ranu Kumbolo, there is also another beautiful lake, namely Ranu Regulo. Ranu Regulo is also one of the iconic lakes on Mount Semeru. This lake is still located in Senduro District with an altitude of 2,100 meters above sea level. It is located not so far from Ranu Pani.
Ranu Regulo has an area almost similar to Ranu Pani, which is about 0.75 hectares. This charming lake can be used as an alternative camping site before or after climbing from Mount Semeru.
3. Ranu Pani
The beauty of Ranu Pani is also a pity to miss. Ranu Pani is located in Ranu Pani Village, Senduro District, Lumajang Regency, East Java. Ranu Pani itself is one of the tallest villages in Indonesia.
Ranu Pani is the entrance gate for climbing Mount Semeru. This is the place to register before doing any climbing activities. This beautiful lake is a volcanic lake with an area of about 1 hectare.
4. Ranu Darungan
Ranu Darungan is located at an altitude of 830 meters above sea level with an area of 0.25 hectares. Ranu is surrounded by cliffs, forests that are home to wild animals. Ranu Darungan is also called Linggo Rekisi because it is surrounded by many Rekisi trees.
Besides being beautiful, this lake also has historical value because it is a relic of the Dutch who used to manage this site for the sake of conserving orchids and medicinal plants.
5. Yellow Ranu
Ranu Kuning is very rare, even almost unheard of in the ears of climbers. Ranu Kuning is known to be a lake formed from rainwater and is similar to Ranu Pani. Ranu is located not far from Kalimati. This beautiful lake is rarely heard because it is located on a difficult hiking trail.
That's an explanation of the splendor of Mount Semeru which has the nickname the roof of the island of Java, because this mountain is indeed the highest mountain on the island of Java and has extraordinary natural beauty.
Lead image from unsplash
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It's a very beautiful view, I also used to climb mountains a lot when I was in college, I want to climb again but I've been very busy with work