The upturned boat
A mountain with a Sundanese legend.
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An active volcano north of Bandung whose name means upturned boat, because from afar it looks like a boat lying upside down, and a famous Sundanese legend tells of Sangkuriang, who kicked over his boat in anger so that it became a mountain. It is one of the world's easiest volcanoes to visit, as cars drive right to the rim of its main crater. From the rim you see the wide, deep Kawah Ratu crater, with sulphur fumes rising from it, surrounded by paths and stalls selling souvenirs and grilled corn. With a guide you can go down to the smaller Kawah Domas crater, where hot water boils in sulphur springs. It is cold and misty at the top. Entry for foreigners is about two hundred thousand rupiah on weekdays and about three hundred thousand at weekends and holidays, far above the local rate, plus a vehicle fee. The area may close temporarily when volcanic activity rises, so check before going. Set off in the morning before the mist, bring a jacket, and beware of pushy vendors. It lies on the Lembang road, so pair it with the Lembang Floating Market and its cool farms in one day.
A mountain with a Sundanese legend.
A deep crater steaming sulphur.
One of the easiest volcanoes to visit.
Lembang, about 30 km north of Bandung
Indonesia's nature parks set a separate rate for foreigners. It is relatively high, but driving to the rim of an active volcano is a rare experience.