Merapi is the only one mountain that located in Yogyakarta. It is also as the border between Yogyakarta and Central Java. It is located 30 km from the city of Yogyakarta. This volcano mountain ever came up with a big eruption in 2010. Destroying many villages and also killing many people. Two years has passed. Now, Merapi’s slope is already in a very beautiful condition. We can visit the village after eruption which is already cleared by the government. The landscape is very beautiful because the green trees is also growing up and start covering the land again.
Not only the landscape but also the history
As we already know that the landscape of this area is totally amazing. But Merapi is not only offering the overview but also a bit more about history that really related to myth, philosophy and Javanese belief especially for those who live in the area of Merapi. It is illustrated by an imaginary line connecting Merapi Mountain to the South Ocean (Indonesia Ocean) with Yogyakarta town as the central point (Tugu Yogyakarta). And this line is also representing two symbols of philosophy, Jagat Alit and Jagat Ageng (jagat means world, alit means small and ageng means huge).
Jagat alit is the symbol of the life of human from he was born till the death. This imaginer line is directing from south to north which also representing about how’s life going, that human always have the temptations of power and wealth. The Kepatihan (royal complex) is the symbol of power and Bringharjo market is representing the wealth.
Jagat ageng have the meaning that a leader must make people’s need as his priority and listen to his conscience instead of passion for power. A leader must base his leadership on his belief to God. It means that whatever he does must be as exact as what God command and forbid us.
Hiking the mountain
Now there are three ways to get the top or we can say Merapi’s peak, which are Kinahrejo or Kaliadem way that is started from the south way, Selo way that is from the north way and Babadan way of the west. The north way is the most recommended way because this way is more gently sloping. The best season to climb is between June to August because in that season is dry season in Indonesia so there won’t be too much strong winds.
It is a better choice if you climb up with a guide at least they know more about the track and you won’t get lost in the way. But if you still choose to climb up by yourself, make sure that you give some report to the officer that usually stand by in some post so they’ll know your existence.
There’ll be also a good choice to catch up the sun rises. But in fact that you have to climb about 6 hours to the peak, so it quite impossible if you start climbing in the middle of night. You maybe can start in the morning or evening then build a camp because there’s also a camping ground area in Merapi. After passing the night, continue climbing and get a very beautiful scenery of the highest land of Yogyakarta in the most active volcano in Indonesia.
