Promotion Place: Segara Anak Lake, Mt. Rinjani, Lombok Island

Overview

Segara Anak on Mt. Rinjani is considered a holy place, and holds a deep, spiritual significance for the local people. Every fifth full moon, religious ceremonies are held at Segara Anak. During the rituals, small gold fish are released into the lake to honour the goddess Enjini, the queen and ruler ofMount Rinjani.

Every five years, there is a larger religious ceremony.Those who attend are not restricted to the people of Lombok, but Hindus from Bali, Java and Kalimantanalso gather to embark on this sacred pilgrimage.

During the 16^th century, the Kingdom of Karangasem of Bali, which was the ruling kingdom at that time, was hit by a long period of drought, resulting in the outbreak of disease. Faced with disaster, King, Anglurah Karangasem held vigil and meditation at the lake. Immediately after, rain soaked the earth, bringing salvation to the people of Lombok. The tradition continues to this day, in absolute loyalty and acknowledgement of a higher presence, beyond that of human life.

For three days, thousands of men, women and children scale the steep slopes of Ranjani to Segara Anak, which has been regarded as the spiritual center of the region for hundreds of years. Once at the lake, the crowd will disperse to the nearby caves for silent prayer, chanting and meditation. After the prayers, dozens of animals are sacrificed to represent the cleansing of evil elements from the earth. Nine species of animal are offered in the nine directions of the compass, including buffalo, cows and goats. Following the sacrifice, a number of animals are released into the wild to breed and create a balance of nature, and harmony between the human world and the universe.

At the peak of the ceremony, yet another sacrifice is offered. Precious metals of gold, silver and copper are carved into symbols of hope. Shrimp as a symbol of fertility.Turtles as a symbol of the world.Fish as a symbol of life.Birds, as a symbol of the universe.One by one, these objects are then sunk into the lake; expected to be returned with blessings of rain, good health and soil fertility. With this dedication to the gods, the ceremony is almost complete. By this time, evening has fallen. When the full moon is high in the sky, the mask dance is performed to wash away the exhaustion, andas a final declaration of praise to the Supreme ruler of the Universe. With this, the 6-day ceremony has reached its end.

Danau Segara Anak is a volcanic lake formed in the caldera of Mount Rinjanion over 2,000 meters above sea level. The lake spans across an area of 11 square kilometers, and reaches depths up to 230 meters. Danau Segara Anak is located on the west side of Mount Rinjani in the village of Lawang Sembalun in Lombok, East Indonesia. The mystifyingly blue colour of the lake gives Segara Anak its name: Small Ocean.

The trek from the Senaru Village, and through the crater to Danau Segara Anak takes two days and a night. It begins with a hike through a lush, tropical rainforest, and up the mountain to the rim of the crater. The trek to the Senaru rim is a challenging climb up steep terrain and high cliffs, but the exhaustion is well rewarded by the breathtaking panoramic view of the sun setting over Mount Rinjani, Bali and the Gili Isles on the horizon, and the dazzling blue waters of Segara Anak glistening hundreds of meters below. The top of the crater is a popular camp site for both foreign and domestic tourists on this journey to spend the night. It is advisable to set a morning alarm so as not to miss the magnificence of dawn from atop Rinjani.From the crater’s rim, it is a sharp descent of about 600 meters to Danau Segara Anak.

part of segara anak flows down a steep ravine forming one large waterfall and several smaller ones. there are also four natural hot springs in the lake whichare said to hold magical healing powers, and many make the climb solely for medicinal purposes.

Despite its high altitudes, taking a dip in the lake is not as cold as one might imagine. 2,010 meters above sea level, the surface water of the lake is unusually warm for such heights, at about 20-22 degrees Celsius—well above the mountain’s “room temperature,” which is about 14-15 degrees Celsius.

between 2008 and 2009, researchers of volcanology and geological hazard mitigation as well as universitelibre de bruxells conducted a geochemical and thermodynamic study on segara anak. the tests showed several leaks in the volcanic system of gunung baru; the cone in the center of the lake. these leaks from the magma chamber seep a large supply of hot water into segara anak, indicating a direct relationship between volcanic activity and the lake’s high temperature. the geochemical composition of the hot water showed a number of elements such as chloride, sodium, potassium, and sulphate. although rich in elements, rainwater that enters the lake assists in thinning its chemical content. segara anak also maintains excellent circulation, and is therefore not harmful to life.

lake water circulation takes place when the density of the water is higher at the surface than at the base. rainwater has a higher density than the hydrothermal water, and therefore moves downward, while waters from the hydrothermal vent move up. this is an on-going process providing well-mixed water and bringing the acid level of the lake to neutral—suitable for breeding fish.

in 1969, volcanologists from the directorate of geology, (london,) examined the lake and recommended the cultivation of fish. at that time, there were no fish in segara anak. in 1985, the nusa tenggara barat provincial government finally began breeding fish in the lake. the fish bred rapidly and the lake is now home to millions of tilapia and carp, making segara anak not only a popular spot for fishing, but some locals of the area even make a living from this.

In the 1980’s, the areas surrounding Segara Anak pulsated with wildlife. Grouse, hornbill, and barking deer thrived around the lake. Several species of monkey could be found in the forests, including the rare black ebony leaf monkey, and the black crested macaque, indigenous to Indonesia. But human intervention has changed the ecology of the lake. With more and more people climbing up the mountain and into the lake, more and more species have begun to disappear. Initially, people only caught fish, but then grouse, which soon led to deer hunting as well. Now few grouse remain, and the deer are no longer found along the route. It is estimated that only a hundred or so remain.

In 1998, Danau Segara Anak was immortalized in paper money on the ten thousand rupiah bill.

Like other crater lakes around the world, Danau Segara Anak was born of a violent past, celebrates a brilliant present, and has the potential to lead to a catastrophic future. Yet we remain fascinated by its origin, splendour and unique existence.

Get There

Getting to Danau Segara Anak starts with a flight to Bandara Internasional Lombok, (Lombok International Airport.) from Jakarta, Bali or other large cities in Indonesia. The new airport is situated in Central Lombok. Since the opening of the international airport in 2012, Lombok’s former Selaparang airport located near its capital, Mataram, has been closed, and the international airport in the cetral part of the island is now the island’s only functioning airport.

SilkAir is the only international airline serving Lombok direct from Singapore, with Garuda Indonesia and other domestic airlines serving the island from major Indonesian cities.  

From Mataram, it is a 2 ½ hour scenic drive to Senaru Village, which is the main access point to Rinjani National Park.

To Do

Rinjani National Park, (http://www.rinjaninationalpark.com/) offers several trekking and hiking packages, many of which include pick up from your hotel in the city. Also included in package tours are experienced guides to bring you safely to and fro, first aid, meals for the duration of the trek, mineral water, as well as alcoholic beverages. Equipment provided includes tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, cooking utensils, portable chairs, disposable toilet and toilet tent. Visitors are advised to bring comfortable shoes, warm clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, personal toiletries, and of course, your camera.