Umbul Pengging Bathing Place, Boyolali

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A. Overview

Umbul Pengging Bathing Place is one of the leading tourism objects in Boyolali, Central Java. This bathing place was built by the King of Surakarta Sunanate, Sri Paduka Paku Buwono X. The floors of the ponds are covered with natural stones. The former royal bathing place gets its water from a natural spring. The water is indeed so pure. The spring never dries out even in dry season.

At first, the bathing place was a resting place for the King and the royal family that now we can still see a resting pavilion close to the ponds. But today, the bathing place is open for anyone who wants to enjoy the beauty of the garden and experience the freshness of the water. Umbul Pengging is a tourism resort that combines history, culture, and nature.

B. Features

The weather is cool and the surrounding is shady. In the pond, visitors can experience the freshness of the water by swimming, soaking, or just playing around.

There are three ponds, namely Umbul Temanten, Umbul Ngabean, and Umbul Sungsang. Umbul Temanten is a rectangular pond with about 50-170 cm depth. There is a special pond for kids, complete with buoys, balls for playing, and other facilities. This pond is in the southwest of Umbul Temanten. Here too, there are 24 changing rooms with a number of bathrooms.

People say that the origin of Umbul Temanten started with the visit of Sri Paduka Susuhunan Paku Buwono X, who saw two springs (umbul) close to each other in the area. He then prayed to God to merge the springs and there it was, the two springs became one. It was then called Umbul Temanten that literally means the Married Spring. Regardless the truth, this legendary story contains an advice (piwulang) for people that in a family, husband and wife should maintain harmony and peacefulness.

The next pond is Umbul Ngabean. The pond has approximately 150 cm depth, is round and only for adults. The depth is consistent all around the pond so you can move freely in there. After swimming, you can sit around in the gazebo in the east of the pond. There you can spend some time for a rest while enjoying the meals sold by the food peddlers. The green and neatly arranged gardens will be in front of you, adding to the fresh and relaxing atmosphere.

The third pond is Umbul Sungsang. Besides the garden and the cool water, here you can take part in the tradition of kungkum (soaking your body) usually performed by the local people. They say that many people, either local or from other areas, often come to the pond to do the ascetic act of kungkum. The tradition is usually performed in the night of Pahing (a day in Javanese calendar) Friday, starting from 24.00 to 03.00 West Indonesian Standard Time. There is no charge for taking part in this ritual.

Another tradition visitors could get involved here is padusan. “Padusan” is derived from Javanese word “adus” which means “to bath”. The annual tradition is a process of self-purification, both mentally and physically, before entering the fasting month of Ramadan. To add to the cheerfulness, the management normally holds dangdut, karaoke, and other art performances.

For tourists who like history, going around to see the architectures of the King’s resting place, Royal Family pavilion, and many other remnants is strongly recommended.

C. Location

Umbul Pengging Bathing Place is situated in Dukuh Village, Banyudono District, Boyolali Regency, Central Java.

D. Access

You can start your trip from Boyolali. The distance between Boyolali to Umbul Pengging is roughly 12 km. You may also depart from Surakarta and take a 17 km trip to the bathing place.

E. Ticket

The admission ticket is Rp 1,000 for a person (December 2008).

F. Accommodations and Facilities

There are additional facilities in the bathing place, such as tennis court, playing ground, fishing pond, wide parking lot, small mosque, restaurants, souvenir stores, and floating houses. There are also lodgings for tourists in the local houses, of course at affordable tariffs.

Text: Junardi
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Reza Daffi
(Primary data and various sources)

Read : 5734 time(s).

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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