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Lombok hotels
Lombok hotels
ranging from luxurious five star to simple
backpacker home stay. Most of the hotels and
resort are
located in Senggigi. The star rate hotels
and boutique resort are nestled in lush
tropical gardens, directly located on the
beach with the tranquil surroundings and a
minutes away from airport or seaport. |
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Villages Surrounding the Mt. Rinjani
Lombok Indonesia
The village of Senaru, an
easy 2.5 hours drives from Mataram or Senggigi, is the
main access to the national park. As a non trekking
destination it is also popular a cool, flower filled
mountain village stretching along a hill side spur above
Bayan. Senaru has range of accommodations in simple home
stays (Losmen), and a number of cafes serving delicious
local specialties. The Rinjani trek centre at the
trailhead offers a displays, ecotourism activities, and
visitor information. Village guides, including several
local women, escort to visits the adjacent traditional
village, three waterfalls, and a number villages walks.
Circuit include the one of hour rice terraces and
waterfall walk, or discover the highlights of Senaru in
Lovely half day Senaru panorama walk.
Sembalun Lawang is set an ancient an fertile caldera to the
east of
 Mount Rinjani,
preferred access route for summiteers. The rich soil produces
high quality market
garden crops, including the famous garlic and rice, staple of
local farmers. Seismic activity is
monitored daily at government Rinjani Volcano logy centre.
The
beautiful valley of Sembalun is also known for its hill walks,
recently restore traditional village, active cultural performers and
local weavers. Some home stay (Losmen) accommodation is available
and trek service are based at park’s Rinjani Information Centre.
Women hand-loom weavers in the village of Sembalun Lawang, East
Lombok have recently revived their weaving skills with the help of
the NZAID Rinjani Trek Ecotourism Program. The women decided they
would like to return to this ancient craft after many years of
earning a livelihood by other means. They now work together in
co-operative groups sharing skills and resources.
In the past weaving was an essential qualification for womanhood,
and young girls began to learn the basic skills at an early age. All
women were expected to provide their family with fabrics for
clothing and ceremonial use. Now, with the widespread availability
of factory-made fabrics, hand-loom textiles are used mostly for
religious ceremonies and special occasions such as weddings.
Although the weavers no longer spin and dye local cotton to make
their yarns, the weaving process is nevertheless very labor
intensive. The fine yarns must be washed, threaded onto the loom and
wound onto bobbins before weaving can start a process which can take
several days. Once the looms are set up it takes about a week to
complete a length of this stunning cloth. It may be sold as is, or
sewn into place mats, bags, cushion covers and belts. All the work
is done in the village by local women.
The rich colors are achieved by careful selection and blending of
basic yarn colors available from the textile mills of Java. These
women are masters of color and the simple, modern motifs they now
use show this skill off to great advantage.
Sighseeing Arround the
Village
Waterfall
Senaru’s best known attraction is the Sendang Gila
waterfall which attracts many thousands of Indonesian
and foreign visitors annually.
Located at about 600m above sea level, the waterfall is
an easy 20 minute walk down a graded trail and steps
from Senaru Village, a pleasant alternative return route
winds along the edge of the steep valley, following the
irrigation canal.
For the more adventurous, Senaru’s “second waterfall”
Tiu Kelep is another hour’s walk upriver from Sendang
Gila. The scramble over rocks through the tropical
forest is rewarded by the beauty of the waterfall and a
swim in its deep pool. It is said locally that every
time you swim behind the main waterfall of Tiu Kelep you
become a year younger!
With access from the main road, Senaru’s “third
waterfall” Betara Lenjang is a true rainforest adventure
strictly for rock climbers with local guide and
equipment.
Wildlife
During early morning and evening walks in Senaru you are
likely to see interesting birds, butterflies and at least one
of the two species of monkey who live in the surrounding
forest.
Long tail macaques, known locally as Kera, often seat on the
road.
More elusive is the rare Silvered Leaf monkey, and also known
as the black monkey or Lutung, which can often be glimpsed in
the forest around the waterfalls.
Senaru Traditional Village
A visit to the Senaru Traditional Village, situated next to Rinjani
Trek Center where the Rinjani trail begins, is greatly enhanced by
asking a
local guide to show you around. The Sasak inhabitants are
the cultural guardians
of Mount Rinjani and its surrounding forest
and safeguard its spiritual values.
Locally guided visits include opportunities to experience the
villagers daily life, visit their thatched houses and gardens
of fruits and spices. For a romantic highlight, ask to be
shown the “sunset view” where you may see the tropical sun
setting against the distant skyline of Bali.
Cultural Performances
By special request in advance, the people of Senaru and Sembalun can
treat you to the very special spectacle of their traditional music
and dance performances in a village setting beneath Mt. Rinjani.
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