Explore Alas Purwo National Park in Banyuwangi

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Besides being known as the 'Sunrise of Java', you must have heard that Banyuwangi is also known as a city full of mysteries. This nickname is very attached to tourists from outside the city and abroad. Some people will think magic and something haunted in Alas Purwo, but this is not entirely true. Alas Purwo is located in Tegaldlimo District and Purwoharjo District, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java. This place is a cool and beautiful national park!

Alas Purwo Banyuwangi is famous as a place of various rumours and myths about the supernatural. However, this forest has an area of 43,420 hectares and holds many charms of natural beauty and mysterious historical value. This forest is also one of the oldest forests in Java. Alas Purwo means the initial forest or the first forest, so this place is very sacred to residents. The forest environment here is very well preserved and is used as a habitat for thousands of species of flora and fauna.

Some people believe that Alas Purwo is the site where the first creation took place on earth. Although it sounds strange, some people believe it. Meanwhile, for local residents, this forest is considered a palace for all the jinn in Java. Therefore, you may be able to see many people doing mystical and magical activities such as meditating or praying. Another legend about this woodland is that it was the last resting place of the Majapahit Kingdom's residents. This has prompted Hindus to visit the temple inside the Alas Purwo forest for hundreds of years.

Sounds amazing, right?

But you don't need to worry, you can also enjoy Alas Purwo which offers a cool natural charm!

Interesting Spots in Alas Purwo

Alas Purwo National Park is one of the parks managed by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia. Here you can enjoy the charm of beauty in several interesting spots as follows:

Savana Sadengan

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Not only Africa which has a wide savanna, Alas Purwo National Park also has a savanna that will make visitors feel like adventuring in Africa.

This savannah is a man-made savannah that looks like an African savannah, it has a watch-over tower for visitors to observe the animals from above. There are bulls, deer, green peacocks, and wild boars. The greatest times to visit this savannah are in the morning and evening. At that time, many of these animals came out of their nests to look for food. However, please keep in mind that ticket service hours are only from 08.00 AM to 04.00 PM while visiting hours are accessible beyond 04.00 PM. If you want to spend the night enjoying the savannah in the evening or morning; no need to worry because you can stay at the homestay provided here!

Pancur Beach

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Pancur Beach is one of the most beautiful and unique beaches to visit when travelling to Alas Purwo. This beach comes from a small freshwater river that goes directly to the open sea. This water flow is quite unique because it resembles a small waterfall, so it is called 'Pancuran' which means water that flows down.

The clear and bluish sea water is complemented by its beauty with sloping beaches and if you're lucky, you may see deer coming out onto the beach looking for food or drink. Pancur Beach also provides a camping ground area. If you want to camp in Alas Purwo National Park, Pancur Beach is one of the recommended places.

The best time to visit Pancur beach is at dusk to watch the sunset. Not far from Pancur Beach, you can also see the black coral which is also known as Parang Ireng. When the beach recedes, you can see land hermit crabs too!

Istana Cave

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There are many caves in Alas Purwo National Park. One that can be visited is the Istana Cave. This cave is about an hour from the post of Pancur Beach by walking along the bamboo forest. On the way to the cave, you will be pampered with a stunning green bamboo. In addition to the Istana cave, you can also visit other caves. This other cave is often visited by people for spiritual purposes, such as praying and meditation.

Bamboo Forest

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When you want to go to Istana Cave, you will be accompanied by the bamboo forest area along the way. The bamboo forest is one part of the main attraction because it is suitable for taking photos. You can also feel a peaceful atmosphere when you are in this location because it looks beautiful and attractive.

The bamboo looks neatly lined along the road accompanied by the chirping of birds in the bamboo trees. This is one of the reasons why you should visit Alas Purwo National Park. All the places that you pass by are very interesting!

Pura Giri Selaka

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Giri Selaka Temple is one of the religious adventure spots for Hindus. This temple will be visited by Hindus during the holy day to do Pager Wesi ceremony, once every 210 days.

In this temple, a religious ceremony is usually held. So, if you wish to observe the ritual, remember to always obey the rules and norms in there. Last but not least, please note that we have to respect the culture and customs there.

How to Get There

The location of Alas Purwo is administratively in the area of two sub-districts, the Tegaldlimo sub-district and the Purwoharjo sub-district.

You may reach there by car or motorcycle. In comparison to a few years ago, the road leading to the park is now clean and comfortable. The journey to Alas Purwo is quite enjoyable with the breathtaking landscape you can see along the way.

For visitors from Banyuwangi, the route that you can use is through Rogojampi, Srono, Muncar, and Tegaldlimo. If you have arrived at Tegaldlimo, you have to travel about 10 km to find the Rawabendo post as the main gate to this park. If from Banyuwangi city, you can travel 2 hours to Alas Purwo. If you want to visit Alas Purwo, you should use a private vehicle to make it more comfortable.

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Great! that's what we can recommend to you about Alas Purwo National Park. It’s such an interesting tourist place to visit in Banyuwangi. You can leave nothing but footprints, and take nothing but pictures. When you visit Alas Purwo, don't forget to behave politely and respect the culture here, fellas!