Mataram and
Cakranegara
Mataram 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 around
the beginning of the 18th century, Mataram was the residence
of the crown prince of Karang Asem, a kingdom in southern
Bali.
The ruler himself had his seat in Cakranegara.
The royal palace no longer exists, but many of the old temples
and pleasure gardens are still there. Lombok's biggest Balinese
temple is the Pura Meru in Cakranegara.
Dedicated to the Hindu trinity, Brahma and Vishnu,
it was built in 1720 by Anak Agung Made Karang, which has
three courtyards. Three pagoda like places of worship stand
in a line from north to south in the innermost courtyard.
The one on the north is dedicated to Vishnu and has a roof
with nine tiers. The central is dedicated to Shiva with
11 tiers on its roof and the southernmost one is for Brahma
with a roof of seven tiers. Nearby is Taman Mayura. once
part of the royal palace, it has an artificial lake set
in the middle of a park. A raised path leads from the side
of the pond to a pavilion built in the middle of
the lake. In former, days, justice was meted out and religious
rituals were performed in this open-sided pavilion.
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
volcano Rinjani where they used to make offerings by throwing
valuables into the water. As the became too old to make
the pilgrimage up the 3,726 meter high mountain, he had
Narmada made to represent the mountains 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 to worship. About 7 kilometers
west of Narmada, it was built in 1714 and rebuilt in 1878
to symbolize harmony and unity between the 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 in the compound. In the lower yard is a spring
in which pilgrims in the temple yard stage a mock battle
between Hindus and Moslems in which troth parties hurl rice
cakes at each other.
Pura Agung Gunung Sari
This great temple on a hill at Gunung Sari, about four
kilometers from Mataram, was witness to the Puputan battle
to the last man, 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.
Sukarare
This is a village of weavers south of Cakranegara. Lombok
is known for its brightly Patterned songket cloth. People
have been making it on their handlooms for many generations.
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 barns are built in the age- old traditional
style where life itself appears to be as it always has been.
The arid savanna-like landscape of this area is impressive
even in its starkness.
Batu Bolong Beach
Located 9 km from dowtown Mataram, this beach has a
huge rock with a hole in it. A Hindu temple lies on top
facing the Lombok Strait and across is the contour of ma
jestic Mount Agung of Bali. after sunbathing, relaxing and
frolicking on this beautiful beachfront, try to 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 with incredibly flaming colours.
Taman Mayura
The Mayura Park is what remains of the once existing
Karang Asam kingdom of Bali whose King A.A. Ngurah built
it in 1744. In the middle of a large pond is a structure
called Balai Kambang which at the time functioned as a legal
court of justice as well as a hall for important meetings.
Curiously, its architecture shows both Hindu as well as
Islamic influence, whereas around the place statues made
of stone are found in the form of a Moslem hajji
Pura Meru
Another relic remaining from the Karang Asam Kingdom
is the Meru Temple at Cakranegara, close to Mataram. The
temple was built in 1720 during King A.A. Made's
rule as a symbol of Hindu unity on Lombok island. Several
structures are found in this complex, all of them designated
to function for particular pur poses, including the 33 stalls
located next to the main temple.
Kuta Beach
Also known as Putri Nyale Beach, Kuta on the south coast
of central Lombok is one of the most scenic and unspoilt
beaches in this part of Indonesia. From Kuta to Tanjung
Aan five km away, it is an unbroken stretch of clean white
sand on the Indian Ocean. It is safe for bathing and swimming.
Further to the west are the surfers and windsurfers beaches.
Each year, on the 1 9th day of the tenth month of the Sasak
lunar calendar when the Nyale fish come to the sea's surface,
Kuta Beach is the site of great festivities.
Fishermen sail out to sea while young men and women gather
along the teach 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 harbour, near Pamenang.
Senggigi Beach
Senggigi, north of Bangsal, belongs to the most scenic
and most popular beaches an the island of Lombok with good
accommodation facilities. Coral gardens grow in the sea
just off shore.
Mount Rinjani
Mount Rinjani, a 3,726 meter high active volcano, is
one of the tallest mountains of Indonesia. At the floor
of the volcano's huge caldera is the sickle shaped crater
lake Segara Anakan, surrounded by steep walls. The mountain
is popular with hikers. Sembalun Bumbung and Sembalun Lawang
are two traditional Sasak villages on the slopes of Rinjani.
Tepas, Sumbawa
A village on the slope of the mountain Batu Lante, 60
kilometers south of Sumbawa Besar, where the houses are
built in traditional architectural style.
Mount Tambora, Sumbawa
Not active at present, the 2,820 meters tall volcano
Tambora i. notorious for its savage eruption on April 5
-July 15, 1815. Falling debris, hot gases and lava streams
killed more than 12,000 people. Some 44,000 more perished
of hunger in the aftermath of the explosion. The top, now
a big caldera has two colored lakes. From the rim of the
crater, the view on the rest the island, the sea, Mt. Rinjani,
and the island of Lombok in the distance is breathtaking.
The mountain occupies almost the entire Sanggar peninsula.
Moyo Island
Moyo Island, at the mouth of the Bay of Saleh, has a
nature reserve with wild oxen, deer, wild boars and a great
variety bird species. Visits are best made during the dry
season from
June through August.
Bima, Sumbawa
The former palace the Bima sultanate. The building is
now being turned into a museum. Dara s village two kilometers
from the town of Bima in eastern Sumbawa, is belieaves to
have been the seat of the anchient Bim kingdom.
Sape, Sumbawa
Ship wrights still make sailboats the traditional way in
this port town on Sumbawa's east coast. Sape is a convenient
point of departure for trips to Komodo Island across the
strait, home of the prehistoric Komodo lizard.
Beaches
Other good beaches are found at Talolai and Hangawera,
north of Bima, Lunyuk on the south coast of Sumbawa.
Hu'u Beach
(Dompu Regency)
Beautiful beach with white sand located on the Indian
Ocean. It is known for its big and long waves which is good
for surfing. The beach surrounded by lovely panorama, mountains
and for 3 est. The distance from Dompu | is 37 km, can be
reached by car and has modest accommodation for visitors.
Ule Beach
(Bima Regency)
A calm beach with white sand nicely located on the Bima
bay with a beautiful small island called Pulau Kambing (island
of goat). There are fish ponds and garoso trees (tropical
fruit trees) along the beach.
A popular recreation sport of the local people.
Wane Beach
(Bina Regency)
Located 60 km from Bima and be reached by car. It has
white sand and big wave whichis suitable for surfing.