Sikidang Crater

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A. Overview

Sikidang Crater is one of the natural tourism sites situated up in Dieng plateau, Wonosobo, Central Java. This place used to be a volcano, which is still actually active at the moment yet safe owing to the low amount of sulfur.

The legend has it that a long time ago in Dieng, there stood a palace of an amazingly gorgeous queen called Ratu Shinta Dewi. One day, the queen was proposed by a prince whom people said was very rich and handsome, Pangeran Kidang Garungan. Ratu Shinta Dewi, however, was disappointed for the prince was not as handsome as she expected. It turned out that Pangeran Kidang Garungan had a human body but am antelope’s head. To turn down the proposal, Ratu Shinta Dewi set a requirement for the prince, i.e. he had to make her a very wide and deep well. The prince did what he had to, and while the well was almost done, Ratu Shinta Dewi and her men buried him with soil.

The prince struggled to get out of the well, employing all the supernatural powers he had. The well grew hotter. It shook stronger and stronger and finally exploded. Pangeran Kidang Garungan almost made it but the queen kept on throwing soil into the well. The prince was kept inside. He was infuriated and then cursed Ratu Shinta Dewi and her children with unkempt hair. The well was what people now call Sikidang Crater.

B. Features

Sikidang is one of the craters in Dieng, besides the other two, Sileri and Candradimuka. The 200 m² wide volcanic crater is situated in a plain surface so tourists can see the bubbling mud closely. The crater ejects hot steam and boiling, grey-colored water.

There are the other two craters not far from Sikidang. Sileri Crater is the vastest among the three with color of thick grey like “leri”, Javanese term for water residue from cooked rice, thus the name originated. As for Candradimuka, it is a crater with pure hot spring. The local people believe that the spring water can bring good fortune and keep one away from disasters or problems. Besides, the water is also believed to have the power to heal various illnesses. Many people actually come to this crater for this.

C. Location

Sikidang Crater is situated in Wonosobo Regency, Central Java Province.

D. Access

To get to the location, tourists can take a bus from Wonosobo Bus Station. There are buses heading for Dieng with fare of more or less Rp 7,000 (October 2008). The crater is approximately 26 km away from the bus station.

E. Ticket

To get into the tourism object of Sikidang Crater, tourists are charged with Rp 6,000 ticket each (October 2008).

F. Accommodations and Other Facilities

Around the parking area and entrance of the object, there are kiosks selling many kinds of food and beverages. Moreover, there are also sold the famous Dieng chili, mushroom chips, jamu purwaceng (drink made of a kind of ginseng), and papaya marshmallow.

Text: Junardi
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Reza Daffi
(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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