The Gorgeous--yet Magical Dieng Plateau.
There were some things that mesmerizing and unforgettable in Dieng plateau. Not only the sunset nor the relics of the candi, but there were also other spectacular things in Dieng.
Dieng is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a caldera complex on the Dieng Volcanic Complex in Wonosobo and Banjarnegara Regencies, Central Java Province, Indonesia. It sits at 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level, far from major population centres. Word Dieng is actually coming from the Sanskrit language “Die Hieyang” which means beautiful and rare. Die also means a mysterious, bizarre, perfect mountain or a high place. Hyang is an article that describes supernaturals, gods, or spirits. Thus, Dieng is known as a place where Gods and spirits live. There is also a belief that all dreadlocks-haired children bring disaster and misery.
Dreadlocks-haired child
Candi and crater in Dieng
The way to go to Dieng is not easy, though. If we come from Yogyakarta, we will arrive approximately 4 hours later. We have to go through a really uphill road. Plus, the road to Dieng is very crowded, so it is likely that there will be traffic jams along the way. But don’t worry, because there are many rest areas along the journey. The atmosphere there is also very fresh and healthy, so you may open your car’s window and enjoy the air and panorama!
In Dieng, you will see many old sacred things such as candi and sculptures. Candi Arjuna, one of the candi over there is still functioning as a prayer place. Do you know that there are nine candi in total located in Dieng Plateau?
road to Dieng plateau
There is also a famous crater named Sikidang crater. Around Sikidang crater's area, there are a lot of local people selling sulfur from the crater as medicine, and even people sell egg that is boiled inside the crater. Although it just tastes the same, the sensation of eating an egg boiled inside the crater is different.
Just the same as Dieng Plateau, Sikidang crater is also shrouded in many legends. The name of this crater, Sikidang, literally means the deer. Some say the crater got its name from the fact that it’s always moving. The location of the crater is indeed always moving, albeit very slowly. Another legend says that the name comes from a prince; Kidang Garungan. This prince is an odd one as he had a body of a human but his head is of a deer (kidang in Javanese).
Near Sikidang crater, there are also many lake destinations, such as Warna Lake, Merdada Lake, Dringo Lake, and Pengilon Lake, each with its legend and mystery.
Souvenirs That You Can Find There
Along the way, you will find a lot of carica sellers. Carica is one of Dieng’s specialty, and often bring it back as a gift or souvenir. There, Carica is processed to be many kinds of snacks. I recommend you its chips! Apart from fruit products such as carica, the Dieng plateau area is also famous for its tea products. Tambi tea is specially made using superior tea shoots which are grown at an altitude of 4500 feet above the sea. For tea enthusiasts , tambi tea is a must when hunting for souvenirs in Wonosobo. There are also Dieng beans, peanuts that have a larger shape than peanuts are usually nicknamed "pig nuts" by local residents. The way of presenting the typical Wonosobo peanuts is generally fried covered in flour and then sprinkled with various spices according to taste. As a dry food , dieng beans are very suitable to be brought as souvenirs from Wonosobo.