Kiskendo Cave

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2 ( 5 Voter(s) )

A. Overview

According to the story among local people, Kiskendo Cave was discovered by a hermit named Ki Gondorio at around 1700s. He then became the caretaker of the cave. It was told that one night he dreamed of entering a cave which looked just like a kingdom. In his dream, Ki Gondorio was told to name the 15 chambers in the cave. As soon as he woke up, he carried out the instruction.

Local people, however, have many other versions of the history of Kiskendo Cave. There are some who say that the cave emerged from wayang (Javanese puppetry) world in which the cave is said to have been a kingdom ruled by King Mahesosuro. There are also those who say that the cave is a duplicate of a cave in India.

Due to its myth and legend, local people have sanctified this cave until today. The chambers are often used for meditation and night vigil. Thus, prohibitions are applied to whoever enters this cave, including relieving, swearing and damaging parts of the cave, and violating.

B. Features

Visitors can trace back the history of Kiskendo Cave by observing the relief of Ramayana epic carved on the cave mouth.

Kiskendo Cave is a tourism complex consisting of several chambers which, according to local story, are closely related to Kiskendo Kingdom. There are 15 chambers namely:

Lidah Mahesosuro, a stone with tongue-like figure on it (lidah means tongue). It is said that the stone was Mahesosuro’s tongue cut by Subali to prevent Mahesosuro from reviving.
Pertapaan Ledek, a chamber used to meditate to ask for success in art.
Pertapaan Santri Tani, a chamber used to meditate so as to get abundant crops. Once, farmers around the cave used to stay in this chamber.
Pertapaan Subali, a chamber that Subali used to meditate before fighting against Mahesosuro and Lembusuro (buffalo-headed man).
Sumelong, a hole in the middle of the cave that breaks through the cave’s ceiling. This hole is believed to be Subali’s escape after the cave mouth was shut by Sugriwo.
Lumbung Kampek, a storage for precious articles of Kiskendo Kingdom.
Selumbung, or the rice barn of Kiskendo Kingdom.
Gua Seterbang, is another cave in Kiskendo Cave which connected to the Southern Sea.
Keraton Sekandang, which was the center of Kiskendo Kingdom, also, the battlefield between Subali against Mahesosuro and Lembusuro.
Pertapaan Kusuman, is the place to meditate to ask for high social status.
Padasan, a spring in the time of Kiskendo Kingdom.
Sepranji, functioned as a farm in the time of Kiskendo Kingdom.
Babat Kandel, stones that look like human intestines. It is said that the stones were Mahesosuro’s intestines thrown away by Subali.
Sawahan, an ancient rice farm.
Selangsur, the place where the troops of Kiskendo Kingdom fought against Subali.

In addition to the fifteen chambers, there some objects nearby Kiskendo Cave namely Sumitro Cave (about 50 m deep), Grojogan Sewu (waterfall of around 20 meter high), Watu Blencong (situated at about 250 m above Kiskendo Cave), Mount Krengseng, Watu Gajah, and Mount Kelir (karst hill which looks like a sail, situated 4.5 km from Kiskendo cave).

C. Location

Kiskendo Cave is located at the surrounding of Menoreh Mountains which is administratively included in Sukamaya Subdistrict, Jatimulyo, Girimulyo District, Kulon Progo Regency, Special Province of Yogyakarta. This cave is precisely northwest of Wates downtown, the capital of Kulon Progo Regency and at the altitude of approximately 800 m above the sea level. It is 35 km from Yogyakarta downtown.

D. Access

To get to this cave, tourists can take a Yogyakarta – Sentolo or Yogyakarta – Wates bus from Giwangan Bus Station for Rp 10,000 (February 2008). Usually, these buses are painted black and relatively smaller than city bus. The trip will take about 40 minutes. Stop at Ngeplang T-intersection, from here, tourists must change bus for Samigaluh and Nanggulan. The fare is Rp 15,000 and tourists will arrive at Kiskendo cave within 50 minutes.

E. Ticket

Acquiring data.

F. Accommodations and Facilities

Kiskendo Cave is equipped with such facilities as public convenience, pendopo (resting place) and wide parking area for bus, car and motorcycle, for tourists’ convenience.

Text: Khidir Marshanto
Photo(s): Collections of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Apri Widiastuti
(Primary data and various sources)

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If you are from outside Yogyakarta and want to visit this place by travel agency services,
please contact:

Maharatu Tour and Travel

Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 27 Yogyakarta.
Telp. +62 274 8373005. Fax. +62 274 379250
Email : maharatu@maharatu.com -maharatu257@yahoo.com
Website : www.maharatu.com

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