For climbers or mountain lovers, you must be familiar with the names Semeru or Mahameru. Chosen as the highest mountain on the island of Java, Mount Semeru is famous for its beauty which can spoil the eyes of climbers.
Various stories about the beauty of Ranu Kumbolo, a lake located at the foot of Mount Semeru, have not escaped the talk of climbers. Ranu Kumbolo is a favorite location that is often chosen as a stopping place for climbers.
Like Mount Fuji which is worth visiting when on holiday in Japan, Ranu Kumbolo is a mandatory destination for climbers who plan to visit Mount Semeru. When the shoes have stepped on the Ranu Kumbolo area, the tents of the climbers who are resting will be clearly visible.
Apart from its beauty, Mount Semeru also has a quite unique history. It is said that the gods moved Mount Semeru from India to balance the island of Java which at that time was adrift in the Ocean.
Initially, Mount Semeru was moved to the western part of Java Island. But because it looked unbalanced, the gods decided to move it again to the eastern part of Java. On the way, several parts of Mount Semeru fell apart and formed small mountains stretching from west to east. After successfully moving to the east, the problem was not over with the island of Java still looking slanted. The gods then decided to cut off part of the mountain, then place it in the northwestern part with the name Mount Penanggungan. The unique history of Mount Semeru is present in the ancient Tantu Pagelaran manuscript from the 15th century.
With its beauty and uniqueness, Mount Semeru was the main location for one of the best-selling films in Indonesia. Friends, remember the film 5 cm which shocked Indonesia in 2012? Mount Semeru is the main location for the film about 5 friends who want to climb the highest mountain on the island of Java.
Another unique fact is that the band Dewa 19 once gave one of their song titles another name for Mount Semeru, namely Mahameru. The song Mahameru was created as a representation of the beauty of Mount Semeru and the struggle that every climber who intends to conquer the mountain must go through.
So, are you interested in visiting the highest mountain on the island of Java?