Mount Bromo is one of the five mountains within the the Tengger caldera in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park located in East Java, Indonesia. With height 2,329 meters (7,641 feet) Mt. Bromo has a unique natural phenomena in from of a crater on the crater covered by sand sea.
Major access point to the National park is from Cemoro Lawang (northeast) of village Ngadisari 5.5 km from Probolinggo. Another trail is from Tosari (northwest) which is around 35 km from a town called Pasuruan through steep mountain road and spectacular scenery.
In Tosari, there are many cottages providing accommodations for travelers and hikers, as well as other services including small restaurants, shops and 4 wheel drive car rents.
From Tosari, we head to the Sea of Sands, forms the floor of the massive Tengger Caldera. The sandy region measures to 10 kilometers in diameter. Eruptions from the surrounding mountains spewing tonnes of volcanic rock which eventually became fine black sands as we see it today.
There are 5 volcanoes inside the caldera of black sands, Mt Bromo (2,329m), Mt Batok (2,470m), Mt Kursi (2,581m), Mt Watangan (2,661m) and Widodaren (2,650m) and of course the great Mt. Semeru or known as Mahameru at (3,676m) which ironically not within the black sea of sands.
Deep by the sea of sand lies Pura Luhur Poten, a Hinduism temple that holds a
significant importance to the Tenggerese tribe scattered across the nearby villages.Apart from rituals, the temple host the annual Yadnya Kasada ceremony. The event lasts for about 1 month, which on the 14th day, the Tenggerese will congregate at Pura Luhur Poten to ask for blessings from Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa and God of Mahameru (Mt Semeru).
Then the mass will proceed along the crater edges of Mt Bromo where offerings of rice, fruit, vegetables, flowers, livestock and other local produce will be thrown into the deep gully. The offering service dates back to the time of Roro Anteng and Joko Seger who performed a sacrificial ritual of animals and plants in replacement of their 25th child who initially was supposed to be thrown into the crater.
To get to the peak of Mount Bromo itself, you can either walk or take a horse ride to the staircase of the mountain. Horse rides are operated by local Tenggerese youngsters that will cost you Rp. 30.000 at the most.
Then we use the concrete stairs up to the edge of the crater where you will see a large caving crater with smokes coming out of the bottom showing the active volcano.
From there you could enjoy one of the world's greatest volcanic mountain and the outstanding natural panorama they have surrounding the national park.
Trekking Mount Penanjakan (2.770m) is something you should not miss out on your visit. It is a popular vista or look out platform which enables us to view the massive Tengger Caldera. Before the viewing platform, there are plenty of shops selling gifts, foods and jacket rental for those who feels they may need extra layer of protection since weather there is cold enough to keep your fingers froze.
The vista viewing platform is indeed spectacular. To the south, you will see the massive Tengger Caldera, inside which the Sea of Sands stretches as far as your eyes could see. Also within this ancient crater you can see Mount Bromo, Mount Batok, Mount Kursi and the majestic Mount Semeru in the far horizon.
The view to the east is landscaped by Mount Argopuro (3,088m) and Mount Raung (3,332m), and if the weather is clear enough, you can see the western tip of Bali island. And try to look to the west where you can catch the glimpse of the twin peaks of Mount Arjuno (3,339m) and Welirang (3,156m) as the sun rising above the morning mist over the city of Malang.
Be sure to capture many pictures and videos as the journey ends. A last minute tips is always bring adequate clothing to keep you warm and enough food supply if you are camping out. Have a great journey!
