The unforgettable Gunungkidul

Gunungkidul Regency which lies about 39 km away in the south east of Yogyakarta City, covers about 1.485,36 km2 area or about 46,63% of the Yogyakarta Special Province & consists of 18 sub-districts & 144 villages, based on its topography & land condition, is generally devided into 3 (three) zones, they are namely :

On the top of  Nglanggeran the ancient volcano

Climbing at karst hills in Siung beach area

1. North Development Area (Batur Agung Zone) covers 42.283 Ha areas, 200-700m above sea level position. Potentially being an eco tourism object of the forest & the mountain.
2. Central Development Area (Ledok Wonosari Zone) covers 27.908 Ha areas, 150-200m above sea level position. Potentially being an agro tourism.
3. South Development Area (Pegunungan Sewu Zone) covers 78.344 Ha areas, 100-300m above the sea level. Potentially being beaches tourism, caves, karst hills & historical cultures. 

Caving in Cokro cave

Caving in Jomblang cave

Maria Tritis cave, religious tourism for catholic followers

Kembang Lampir hermitage, the historical religious place to get the first enlightenment for building Mataram Kingdom (in Java) by Ki Ageng Pemanahan

Ngobaran Pura for Hinduism Prayers

Sokoliman Megalitik Sites, one of the ancient historical cultures

The Rest House Gambirowati, build in 16th century by Begawan Samudono

An other ancient historical cultures

 Jung Hun (Yan Peter Soenkoen) from Holland, in 1935 said that Gunungkidul was a "Garden of Magic". A garden that lies on an area where overall place resides on ridges (hills) & beside that was found many of ancient historical cultures. Von Koeningswald (Holland) also added, that have been found some Homo Sapiens fossils, an Austromelanised & Mongoloid types that have been gone for now on. Also found animal fossils such as Tapyrus, Rhinoceros, buffalo, deer, elephant even the river horse. All indicated that Gunungkidul in the long times ago was a region that fully of dense jungle with an active volcano in the north side with a wide lake in the central area & karst hills in south side. It is really describing an area such as paradise on earth.         

© smtourtravel 2020

World Heritage

Gunungkidul regency is one of the regions in Indonesia, which has karsts area. Gunungkidul karsts area is one of the segments from Gunung Sewu karsts area, which landscape covers 3 (three) regencies, they are Pacitan Regency (in East Java), Wonogiri Regency (in Central Java) and Gunungkidul Regency (Yogyakarta Special Province). Gunungkidul karsts area covers 10 (ten) sub-districts area or 13.000 km2 areas. It is very unique & has upon surface phenomenon (eco-karsts) & beyond surface phenomenon (endo-karsts). The upon surface phenomenon includes positive shape such as karsts mountainous areas, whish has more or less 40.000 conical hills, while the negative shape is in the form of karsts valleys & lakes. Beyon surface phenomenon includes karsts caves (119 caves) with stalactites & stalacmites & all underground rivers.

Because of its unique ecosystem, in 1993 the International Union of Speleology propose to register Gunung Sewu karsts area into one of the world nature inheritance.

© smtourtravel 2020