Lombok Island, is located in Indonesia between the islands and Sumbawa, and is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands group in the Malay archipelago. City Mataram- this is the main one administrative center islands. 40 km from it there is international Airport, although the number of foreign flights is less. They fly to and. The distance from Mataram Airport to Senggigi is 55 km. You can get there by Damri Damri buses - it’s convenient and inexpensive. A new international airport was built in the city of Praya Praya - this is to the south.

On the island of Lombok there are two sea ​​ports one in the southwest is the port of Lembar, the other is in the east of the island. You can get to Lombok from other islands, Sumbawa, Flores by ferry or ship (more on this in the next article). There are also private boats and boats that also provide transportation.

I bought a ticket for 159 thousand rupees, and not 200, as the hostess’s husband asked. Travel tip - never give money up front. The girl with whom I was going to the ship warned me that there would be a lot of people and I needed to take great care of my things, which of course worried me and did not allow me to relax.

My budget for two partial days.

Got from the port to Senggigi for 60 thousand rupees + accommodation with light breakfast 65 thousand * 2 nights = 130 thousand rupees. During all this time I spent 50 thousand rupees on food, including cake and coconut. I got back to the port for 50 thousand rupees.

In continuation of my “great” journey through Indonesia and South East Asia I went further east to see the volcano on Flores Island. swam on

Lombok is an island in the Indonesian province of West Nusa Tenggara, part of the Lesser Sunda archipelago. In the west, Lombok is adjacent to the island of Bali, separated from it by the Lombok Strait, and in the east, next to it is the island of Sumbawa, separated by the Alas Strait.

Lombok is a small island, one of the best resort islands Indonesia, often described as the "Bali of yesterday", is an island of striking contrasts and contradictions. This is where the transition from the western to the eastern part of Indonesia begins, its flora and fauna, the changes becoming more noticeable the further you move to the East. Northern part The island is hilly and covered with greenery of tall trees and bushes.

Administrative center of Mataram province. Famous resorts of Sendzhizhi and Gili Meno. On the island the rhythm of life is slow, it is here that you can hear the sound of silence in the mountains, feel peace and tranquility.

The three main cities of Lombok - Ampenan, Mataram and Chakranegara - are located next to each other, within a six-kilometer strip stretching from the western coast of the island to the east. Of all the cities, Chakranegara, which lies a little further to the east, is rightfully considered the most interesting. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it was the royal capital, and today serves as the main market center of Lombok. In the bustling, crowded Arab quarter, you can buy intricately patterned cotton sarongs, while in the Balinese neighborhoods, across the Anchar River, you can admire houses built in the amazing Lombok-Balinese style with courtyards. At the intersection of the main streets of the city is Pura Meru - main temple local Hindu community.

Tourist infrastructure is mainly concentrated in the south- west coast islands, near Senggigi Beach. Most of the city's hotels are located here. Recently, tourism has been developing rapidly and south coast in the Kuta area, where new luxury hotels and an airport are planned to be built in the near future.

The climate on the island of Lombok is equatorial, but drier than on the island of Bali, so the best time to travel is all year round. The timing of the rainy season varies from island to island. Average annual temperature ranges from 26 C to 28 C.

You can get to Lombok from Bali by flying over the Lombok Strait, and there is also a regular ferry service between Bali and Lombok. The south is a barren, arid land, savannah. With increasingly longer dry seasons, corn and sago are replacing rice as the main ingredient in most dishes.

Lombok is known as a pristine island, ideal for travel and relaxation, where you can experience white sandy, quiet beaches, mountains, untouched villages, tropical vegetation and the rich culture of Indonesia. The island has its own unique charm, it is not without reason that they say “You can see Bali on the island of Lombok, but not vice versa.” And this is true, since during the formation of the Lombok culture, the Bali culture was superimposed on its own existing basis. In the 16th century, Islam first came here and is the dominant religion on the island of Lombok.

If Bali is a “universal” resort, then the island of Lombok can be promoted as a place of pilgrimage for newlyweds. A very common type of hotel here is the boutique hotel - completely isolated accommodation, just for those who want to enjoy each other's company. Or villas with separate access to the beach, swimming pool, and their own servants. In general, the level of hotels is very high, quite comparable to Bali, and the prices are somewhat lower.

Most of the island's population professes Islam, but there are Christians. The vast majority of residents are representatives of the Sasak ethnic group; Chinese, Arabs and Indians also live on the island. The island's national religion is called Wektu Telu and has approximately 30,000 followers. In the language of the Sasak people, "Vektu" means "result" and "Telu" means "trinity"; perhaps the influence of the Hindu trinity is manifested here. In general, this religion contains elements of Islam, Hinduism and pagan beliefs. The influence of Islam is especially strong, and believers themselves consider themselves Muslims, but orthodox Islam does not recognize this religion.

The island's population is mainly engaged in agriculture and fishing; The island has a textile industry (fabric production). The narrow agricultural specialization of the island leads to the fact that the income of the population is highly dependent on climatic conditions. Drought on the island is a terrible disaster. A severe drought in 1996 resulted in the death of 50,000 people. In order to solve economic problems, the government is trying to stimulate the development of the island's traditional crafts.

In the central part of Lombok, Mount Rinjani is visible from everywhere - a volcanic cone 3800 m high with a crater lake in the middle. Volcanoes of this height are rarely found - this is one of the 4 most high mountains Indonesia. This active volcano, but in the dry season it is quite possible to climb there. It gets slippery during the rainy season water flows become difficult to overcome, and the peak is completely invisible in the clouds. The foot of the mountain is covered with dense forest, which, due to humidity and lack of air, is very difficult to climb up. The higher you go, the more stunted the vegetation becomes, and pebbles appear. The northern coast of Lombok and the Java Sea are visible, and if you stand on your tiptoes, you can see the Sulawesi Sea and sailboats. The best time for climbing is the summer months from April to October. But the peak is still hidden in the clouds, especially in the afternoon.

North of Bangsal begins the beautiful and most popular and developed Senggigi Beach. Local restaurants, shops, souvenir shops selling stunning ceramics and fabrics that are completely different from Balinese. Coral reefs grow in abundance right offshore at Senggigi Beach.

In the same part of Lombok is the 17-meter Otakokok waterfall, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Otacococa water is believed to have medicinal properties.

Near Lombok, nestle three tiny Gili islands, famous for their beaches with dazzling white sand, bays with crystal clear water and coral reefs. For one or two days you can take an exciting trip to one of these islands. Diving enthusiasts will be amazed by the beauty of the corals.

Gili Air is the smallest of the three and the closest island to Lombok's northwestern coast, accessible by ferry in just 15 minutes. The Oberoi Lombok 5*dlx and Sheraton Senggigi 5* hotels arrange picnics for their guests on this island. It is said that rare “blue coral” can be found in the waters of this atoll.

Gili Trawangan is the largest of the three islands (3.5 sq. km). It is known as one of the most interesting places for underwater diving.

The largest temple on Lombok is the symbolic Pura Meru at Cakranegara. 3 pagodas built in 1720 preach the Hindu trinity. Nearby, created artificial lake- Mayura Water Palace. Leftovers royal palace dating from 1774 represent an unusual mixture of regional influences.

South of Sukarare, there is a traditional weaving village. Women in traditional attire weave colorful fabric on wooden handlooms. Visitors can be shown the whole process, but unfortunately it seems that the weavers are tired of the huge number of tourists. Some fine weavers' work is available for purchase.

Not far from the weaving shop there is the famous village of Penujak, where they make pottery, which is fired in traditional kilns, dishes of very interesting shapes made of red clay.

The Balinese temple, Narmada, built in 1727, is located 11 km east of Mataram. Here you can see beautiful gardens and a lake in the crater of the Rinjani volcano, revered by the locals. The sacred spring in the center of the volcano gives pilgrims eternal youth.

Did you know that there is a place on our planet called “chili pepper”? Yes, yes, this is how the Indonesian word Lombok, an island located in the Malay archipelago, is translated into Russian.

On one side the shores of the island meet the waters Indian Ocean, and on the other - with the Bali Sea, which flows into Pacific Ocean. Despite the fact that Lombok's area is small, its reliefs vary greatly depending on the part of the island. So, in the north there is mostly mountainous terrain, in the south there are plains. In addition, Lombok has a real active volcano. The volcano is called Rinjani and is the third highest point in all of Indonesia.

About the history of the island. The first mention of the existence of states in Lombok dates back to the 9th century AD. During the same historical period, there was a massive subjugation of all the small members of the archipelago by the Balinese principalities. Lombok was no exception. The island existed in this situation until the Middle Ages.

In the mid-17th century, some skirmishes began on the island lands with the Dutch colonialists, in which the latter were defeated. Three centuries later, during the Second World War, Lombok, like the rest of the nearby islands, was occupied by Japanese troops. Over the ten years after the war, the island found itself in different administrative statuses. As a result, in the fifties of the last century, Indonesian sovereignty was finally established to this day.

As you already understood, Lombok - quite an interesting place to travel. And a favorable climate, and ethnic diversity, and rich story– all this only encourages tourists to visit this corner of the Earth. So that you don’t get confused when you arrive on the island and don’t grab your head in search of attractions, this article was written. Here is a list of the main places in Lombok that are definitely worth seeing.

Climbing to the top of the mountain is probably the most popular activity among tourists. After all, where else but from above does it open? best view to most of the island, to the ocean and to volcanic lake? But you shouldn’t rush to climb on your own: the climb itself is not dangerous, but it takes a long time.

The ascent alone will take you almost the whole day, and you still need to save energy for spending the night in tents and descending. That is why in Lombok it is not difficult to find a company that organizes trips to Rinjani professionally. The price for such a pleasure is quite affordable, considering that in addition to the ascent itself accompanied by a guide, the price also includes full equipment (tent, sleeping bag, etc.).

Going to the shores of these coral islands, prepare your eyes in advance for the indescribable beauty of the landscape. You won’t want to leave here, because the water here is completely clear and the sand is snow-white. On the islands you can try yourself as a diver and explore the life of the inhabitants of coral reefs.

Don't worry about running out of hotels: the Gili complex includes three islands that are very close to each other. Each of them has all the conditions for a comfortable stay for tourists.

The first thought that arises when you hear the phrase “ water park", an entertaining water park with hundreds of slides and pools. But in Lombok this place is connected with something slightly different. This place has long been loved by members of the government and the royal family. Today here you can find a temple, a fountain whose water rejuvenates, a swimming pool, and many natural springs.

The water palace is named because most of the territory is occupied by a lake. The place is perfect for secluded walks away from noisy world. It was also here that in the 17th century there were fierce battles between the local population and the Dutch colonialists, which led to the almost complete destruction of the palace building.

This local attraction is directly related to the previous one, because it is located on its territory. It must be said that Sukarare is not the only craft village in the Mayura water palace, but today it is the largest and most interesting. This is where you can watch how real weavers work, how looms work, etc.

Today Pura Meru is the largest temple on the entire island. The faith it professes is Judaism. It was built at the beginning of the 18th century.

The interest of tourists is attracted not by the decoration of the temple itself or its history, but by the huge wooden drums that are located in the courtyard. It is with their help that the temple servants invite all the believers of the island to worship. Also in the courtyard you can find about thirty sculptures dedicated to different gods.

The temple was built at the beginning of the eighteenth century and today it serves two religions at once: Hinduism, called Balinese, and three-day Islam called “Vektu Telu”. On the territory of the complex there is a separate temple for each religion. Entrance is free, like most other temples, but donations will never be superfluous.

The waterfall cannot boast that it is easy to reach, but its advantages include its height - more than five hundred meters - and, of course, a picturesque reservoir in which anyone can swim.

Unlike the previous waterfall, this one is practically unattainable. You can see the landscapes of this area only if you have rock climbing skills. If you are one, do not even think about going in search of Betar on your own: without a guide, you are unlikely to cope with this difficult task and thereby spoil your impressions of the entire vacation.

Weather in general

Temperatures here, as in Bali, are high all year round - between 26 ° C and 29 ° C. However, it is cooler in the mountains. Average temperatures in the central mountains of the island range from 18 ° C to 24 ° C. In general, the weather in Bali and Lombok is approximately the same, although Lombok is drier and has less rainfall than Bali.

Rain season

The hot rainy season lasts from October to March, and sometimes the downpours are quite long and heavy. During the wet season it rains almost daily, with the heaviest rainfall from December to February. In December and January, sudden and brief thunderstorms occur in the afternoons, although rain can sometimes fall for days, flooding roads and causing the island's rivers to overflow. But most often the rains will not bother you much. After all, the rest of the day (except for this rainy hour) is sunny, and you may even manage to get sunburned. Not that the humidity was unbearable. For example, swimsuits will have time to dry overnight on the balcony, but T-shirts will dry only during the day in the sun. So, just in case, we stock up on swimsuits and light clothing. Read completely

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What to buy?

It's safe to say that, unlike Bali, you can find a richer range of handicrafts and souvenirs in Lombok. No, Bali is also littered with all sorts of trinkets, but the point is that in the markets of Lombok they sell gizmos brought from craft villages, which, as a rule, specialize in one particular skill: wicker baskets, textiles, pottery. If you are not at all lazy, go to one of these villages (Masbagik, Banyumulek or Penujak) and see with your own eyes how all these miracles are made by hand using ancient technologies.

Lombok is known as a pristine island, ideal for travel and relaxation, where you will find white sandy, quiet beaches, mountains, untouched villages, tropical vegetation and the rich culture of Indonesia. On the island the rhythm of life is slow, it is here that you will hear the sound of silence in the mountains, feel peace and tranquility.

The island of Lombok is often compared to its famous neighbor Bali. It is often described as "Bali before the tourists came." Lombok can be recommended for newlyweds. A very common type of hotel here is a boutique hotel and villas, which have a separate access to the beach, a swimming pool, and their own servants. In general, the level of hotels is very high, quite comparable to Bali, and the prices are somewhat lower. The island does not have as many monuments and other attractions as Bali. People come here mainly to enjoy nature.

The main difference and advantage of Lombok is that there are much fewer tourists there than in Bali. Nature lovers will be delighted by the scenery of the southern coast of the island and the beauty of Mount Rinjani. In the central part of Lombok, Mount Rinjani is visible from everywhere; it is a volcanic cone 3800 m high with a crater lake in the middle. In the same part of Lombok is the 17-meter Otakokok waterfall, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. In the evening, you can admire the stunning spectacle of the sunset between two famous volcanoes - Balinese Agung and Rinjani.

How to get there

Get to o. From Bali to Lombok you can take a comfortable catamaran ferry in just 2.5 hours, and there are also daily flights from Bali, Jakarta and Singapore. The flight from Bali to Lombok takes only 30 minutes.

Population

Most of the local population (2.5 million people) - the Sasaks - profess Islam with elements of Hinduism and the local animalistic cult of Wetu Telu. The Balinese (about 100 thousand people) inhabit the areas adjacent to the west coast of the island.

Location

O. Lombok is a small island located near Bali and the island of Sumbawa.

Lombok is located 8° (375 km) south of the equator, so the length of day and night is approximately the same all year round. Sunrise is approximately 6.20. sunset at 18.30. Between Fr. Lombok and o. Bali passes the border of the ecosystems of equatorial Asia and Australia - the Wallace Line. To the east of it live representatives of the Australian fauna: birds of paradise, orange-rimmed thrush. To the west are Asian, including monkeys and tigers (they were found on Bali until the 1930s).

The three main cities of Lombok - Ampenan, Mataram and Chakranegara - are located next to each other, within a six-kilometer strip stretching from the western coast of the island to the east.

Mataram

The city with wide green streets and parks is lined with buildings in traditional Saka and Art Deco styles, shops of Arab and Chinese merchants. It is located on the west coast of the island. Lombok.

The metropolis of Mataram, formed as a result of the merger of five settlements - Ampenan, Mataram itself, Cakranc-gara, Sweta and Bertais - stretches for 10 km from west to east along the street with one way traffic. Traffic in the opposite direction goes along a parallel (1 block to the south) street. In Ampenan, the former main port of the island, several interesting old houses have been preserved. City government buildings, most hotels, shops and restaurants are concentrated in Mataram - the administrative center of the West Nusa Tenggara region (Lombok Island and Sumbawa Island) and Chakranegara, and the main bus stations are located in Sveta and Bertais, through which the main transport interchanges pass.

In the 17th century The feudal lords of Bali, Makassar and Bima (Sumbawa Island) fought for Lombok. In 1838, Matarama, the raja of one of the four principalities created on the island by the Balinese, became the sole ruler of the island. In July 1894, a Dutch expedition landed on Lombok. After overcoming fierce resistance, the Dutch took Mataram by storm on September 29. and November 8 - Chakranegara. Until the mid-1990s. the island remained far from historical events and was little affected by the tourism industry. It was then hit hard by the 1997 Asian crisis and subsequent sectarian violence.

On January 17, 2000, during the celebration of the Day of Muslim Solidarity, a group of aggressive Islamists gathered in Amperon. Over the next three days, the Catholic church, the adjacent hospital and several discos were burned to the ground. As the crowd was dispersed, several Muslims were killed and wounded by police, but no tourists or local Christians were harmed. Now the Mataram administration is making great efforts to return those frightened by the pogrom to the island foreign tourists and tries to ensure their safety.

In Mataram you can visit Mayura Water Palace(Mayura). The palace (1744) was built as part of the royal palace of the Balinese Karangasem dynasty. In 1894, the Balinese destroyed the wall of the water palace and killed the Dutch who defended it. Nowadays, all that remains of the palace ensemble is a lake, surrounded by a park with fountains, statues, altars and cannons.


Pura Meru Temple
opposite Mayura Palace. This is the largest temple in Lombok with 33 sanctuaries and three multi-tiered pagodas dedicated to the Hindu triad: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. It was built in 1720 under Anak Agung Karang. Entrance is free, but the priests immediately pounce on visitors as if they were dear guests, lead them to a giant banyan tree, make a belt from a piece of simple cloth, ask them to sign the book of honored guests, and after that it is impossible to do without a donation for the maintenance of the temple. Only then can you go through the gate to the territory of the second and third courtyard. True, there is nothing special to see there - the outside of the temple is decorated much brighter than the inside. In a small alley adjacent to the wall of the temple, there is a very picturesque weaving workshop. There you can see the conditions under which local proletarians work.

Negeri Nusa Tenggara Barat Museum. The exhibition, dedicated to the geology, history and culture of Lombok and Sumbawa, contains textiles and ceramics, copper and wood products, archaeological finds, including 1239 manuscripts written on palm leaves.

Narmada Water Palace. The palace (1727) was built on a hill south of the main road and is surrounded by three pools. They depict the Rinjani volcano (Gunung Rinjani): the central pool represents Lake Segara Anak, the small pools symbolize the thermal springs near the lake, and the top of the mountain is the Kalasa temple dedicated to Shiva. In the lower basins local residents bathe and wash clothes. The water of the upper pool ensures eternal life. During the full moon of the fifth Balinese lunar month (usually December), the pujawali ritual takes place here.

Near the village of Lingsar there is a huge Puri Lingsar temple complex. The complex was built as a sign of friendship between the Balinese and Sasak (indigenous inhabitants of Lombok). In this strange temple, Muslims, fans of the Balinese form of Hinduism, and followers of the local animalistic cult can perform sacred rituals. Every year before the start of the rainy season, the Perang Topat ceremony (Sasakian Perang Topat - Topat War) takes place here for a week. Muslims and Hindus give thanks for the rains of the previous season and pray for more rains, and after that they begin to throw ketupat (ketupat - rice wrapped in coconut leaves) at each other. At the gate temple complex They sell hard-boiled eggs. It is believed that if you feed them to the eels living in the sacred pond, your wish will certainly come true. To the east of Lingsar Temple is the Puri Suranadi Temple (admission by donation) - one of the most revered temples in Lombok.

Pura Batu Bolong Temple perched on a rocky ledge with stunning views of the ocean. They say that once upon a time it was from this rock that the most beautiful virgins of Lombok were sacrificed to the sea. A small but surprisingly romantic temple, built in the Balinese-Hindu style, oriented towards the sacred Mount Agung.

Kuta

At the southern tip of the island. Lombok stretches along Kuta Beach. Pure white sand, rugged coastline, high waves attract surfers here, and unusual rock formations attract nature lovers. The main settlement of the resort is the village of Kuta, built up with wooden fishing houses.

8 km west of the village of Kuta lies the deserted Mavun Beach. and 8 km to the east - sandy bay Tanjung Aan with calm turquoise water.

Mount Rinjani. Dormant volcano- the second highest peak in Indonesia is located in the center of the northern coast of the island. Lombok. The cross-shaped caldera has a small but active Baru volcano(strong eruption was in 1925, and the last one in 1994) and crater lake Segara-Anak, and at the foot there are thermal springs. Balinese Hindus revere the active volcano as Holy place. Every year they make a pilgrimage to the top to the shores of a lake surrounded by steep walls. Local Muslims believe that the souls of the dead enter here on the ninth day after death. Live goldfish and gold jewelry are sacrificed to them.

You can climb to the top of the volcano from almost any side, but the most popular trail starts from the village of Sembalun-Bumbung on the spurs of the northern slope. The ascent takes at least three days. You can do this independently or as part of an organized group under the guidance of experienced instructors (from 55 thousand Rp/day) and with porters (from 45 thousand Rp/day). A sleeping bag, tent and other camping equipment can be rented from Senaru Village or Sembalun Bumbung.

Best time for ascent - June-August; at the height of the rainy season (November-April) the path becomes too slippery and dangerous, and the view is obscured by clouds and fog. Since 2000, several cases have been recorded of tourists being attacked by armed bandits, so precautions should not be neglected.

There are waterfalls near Senaru Air-Terzhung-Gila.

Climate

The climate in Lombok is drier and hotter than in Bali. Between these close islands (2.5 hours by catamaran) lies a deep ocean trench, separating Asia and Australasia. The best time to travel is all year round. The timing of the rainy season varies from island to island. The average annual temperature ranges from 26 °C to 28 °C. This is where the transition from western to eastern Indonesia begins, with its flora and fauna becoming more noticeable the further east you go. The northern part of the island is hilly and covered in greenery with tall trees and bushes. The south is a barren, arid land, savannah. With increasingly longer dry seasons, corn and sago are replacing rice as the main ingredient in most dishes. Lombok is known as a pristine island, ideal for travel and relaxation, where you will find white sandy, quiet beaches, mountains, untouched villages, tropical vegetation and the rich culture of Indonesia. The island has its own unique charm, it is not without reason that they say “You can see Bali on the island of Lombok, but not vice versa.”