Lombok
Map
Lombok Facts
Lombok is noticeably different than its close neighbor, Bali.
The northern part of the island is mountainous and lush with
tall trees and shrubs. The south, on the other hand is arid
and covered by savannas.
At around the time Islam first came to these islands in the
16th century, four Hindu Kingdoms co-existed in apparent peace
in what is now West Nusa Tenggara. Lombok experienced strong
Balinese influences, but has retained a unique identity. The
indigenous people of Lombok, the Sasaks, are predominantly
Moslem and have a strong, distinguished tradition, as do the
people of neighboring Sumbawa.
Lombok’s biggest Balinese temple is the Pura Meru in
Cakranegara, it was build in 1720 by Anak Agung Made Karang.
Dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu,
it has three courtyards.
Three pagode-like palces of worship stand in a line from north
to south in the inner-most courtyard. The one of the north
is dedicated to Vishnu and has a roof with 9 tiers. The central
one is dedicated to Shiva with 11 tiers on its roof, and the
southernmost one is for Brahma with a roof of 7 tiers.
Nearby is Taman Mayura. Once part of the royal palace, it
has an artificial lake set in the middle of a park. A raised
path leads from the side of the pond to pavilion built in
the middle of the lake. In former days justice was meted out
and religious rituals were performed in this open-sided pavilion.
Soft, white sand, virgin beaches are typical in Lombok, where
the motto is: “You can see Bali from Lombok, but not
Lombok from Bali”. Famous for its ikat hand-woven textiles,
the island has exceptional charm and is relatively undiscovered,
except for the town of Senggigi, which is becoming a major
resort area.
Regular shuttle flights from Bali and Surabaya as well as
ferries, provide excellent transportation links between the
islands of the province as well as the rest of the country. |
