44 bends
A numbered road down to the lake.
Slimguy — CC BY-SA 2.0 de · Government of Agam Regency, West Sumatra, Indonesia — Public domain · seven red — CC0 · Kars Alfrink — CC BY 2.0
A calm volcanic lake in the caldera of a volcano that erupted some fifty-two thousand years ago, about thirty-six kilometres west of Bukittinggi. It is some twenty kilometres long and eight wide, ringed on every side by the green walls of the caldera, and its name in the Minangkabau language means overlook or viewpoint. The journey's great feature is the road itself: it drops from the caldera rim to the lake in forty-four sharp, numbered hairpin bends, the Kelok Ampek Puluah Ampek, with the lake opening up at every turn. At the top of the road is the Embun Pagi viewpoint, and on the other side Puncak Lawang, where paragliders launch over the lake. The lake and viewpoints are free, and around the shore are small villages and restaurants serving grilled lake fish. The renowned Indonesian scholar and writer Hamka was born in a village on its shore. The trip from Bukittinggi takes half a day or a full day. The road is narrow and full of bends, so choose an experienced driver, and come in the morning, when the view is clearer before the afternoon clouds.
A numbered road down to the lake.
Green walls on every side.
Home of the scholar and writer.
About 36 km west of Bukittinggi
It is narrow with many sharp bends, but paved and used daily. With an experienced driver it is fine; driving yourself suits only those used to mountain roads.