West Java is one of the five provinces of Java, Indonesia.
Bandung is the capital city. The greater part of west Java is
mountainous, with the Priangan highlands forming the core
territory. 21 mounts can be found here, most of which are
classified as active volcanoes and have become an integral part
of tourism in the West Java province.
Mount Tangkuban Perahu (capsized boat) is one of
them. A smouldering 2000m wide, surrealistic volcano 1800m above
sea level, it lies 28 km north of Bandung reachable within 30
minute ride.
The Legend of Sangkuriang
This is an example of how nature was converted into a legend,
such as Bandung lake and Mt Tangkuban Perahu with the story of
Queen Dayang Sumbi and her son Sangkuriang cited from Neuman va
Padang (1971). Once Sangkuriang, whilst growing up, he was so
naughty and got hurt and the wound formed an ugly scar.
The King, who loved his son above everything was so furious that
his son had hurt himself that he rejected his wife. Fifteen
years later, being of age, Sangkuriang asked his father
permission to take a trip to West Java. After arriving in
the plain of Bandung, he met a beautiful lady, fell in love and
ask her to marry him and she accepted. But one day when she
caressed her lover's head she saw the wound. The loving
woman, turned out to be the disowned queen, discovered that she
was in love with her son and marriage was impossible.
The marriage had to be prevented. Not willing to admit that she
was his mother she thought of a way out. The day before the
wedding was due to take place, she said to her husband to be,
tomorrow is our wedding day, and if you are true to your love to
me and love me as much you say do then I want to celebrate the
wedding on board a ship, a proa. Tomorrow morning at day
break, I want to sail with you on a great lake in a nice boat and
there must be a banquet feast. Sangkuriang was embarrassed
but he was not willing to refuse. He begged the help of the
lake's helpful spirits. By causing a landslide, the lake
spirit dammed the river Citarum that flowed through the plain of
Bandung. The force of the water felled big tree and a boat
was constructed while other lake spirits prepared the wedding
banquet.
Early in the morning the Queen saw that the impossible had been
realised so she prayed to Brama, the mighty God, to help her to
prevent the disgrace of a marriage between a mother and her son.
Brama destroyed the dam in turbulence and Sangkuriang was
drowned. The queen in her agony threw herself on the
capsized boat, breaking through the hull of the ship and was also
drowned.
Now, the vast plain of Bandung is flanked on its north side by
the volcano Tangkuban Perahu, the capsized boat. The
Queen's jump on the hull of the ship is the Kawah Ratu, the
crater of the Queen. The hot fumaroles and tremors in the
crater represent the tears of the sad mother still sobbing.
East of Mt Tangkuban Perahu rises the Bukit Tunggul, trunk
mountain, the trunk of the tree from which the boat was made and
to the west we find Mt Burangrang, the “crown of
leaves”. At many places along the shore of the lake
Neolithic obsidian tools of primitive inhabitants are found and
described by von Koeningswald (1935). These Neolithic
people noticed that the hold was cut deeper and deeper by erosion
caused by the lowering water. Finally only a marshy plain
remained.
Centuries later the inhabitants of Bandung plain still know about
the legend of the existence of a former lake. Not knowing
anything about geology, but living in the taboos of spirit ghosts
and Gods, geological facts were put together in a tale that was
understandable.
If you are thinking of holiday trip, or even just information on
any travel requirements in Java especially Indonesia, please do
not hesitate to contact me. I'll be most happy to assist you.
Tedy can be contacted by e-mail as follows: abctour_td@cbn.net.id.