The Magic Mountain

Bromo volcano is one of Indonesia's active volcanoes. It is located in the east of the Jawa island at 145 km from Surabaya, in Probolinggo region, in the center of the Tengger massive. It has a height of 2392 m and the width of the crater is 700m.

It is surrounded by two other volcanoes Kursi (2581m) and Batok (2440m) and Semeru volcano to south (3676m). All these volcanoes are part of Bromo-Tengger National Park-Semeru. Even if Bromo volcano is not the highest in this complex, it is the best known, and often the whole region is known as the "Bromo".

Million years ago was one huge volcano Tengger and after the eruption has formed a "sea" of volcanic sand and there were three smaller volcanoes Bromo, Batok and Kursi. The sea of sand with a diameter of 10 km, was strictly protected by law since 1919. The most spectacular volcano is Bromo through his activity and unique sunrises offered. Bromo is one of the most venerated volcanoes in Indonesia. Every year, people bring offerings to the god of the volcano in a ceremony called Kasada.

Bromo volcano Legend says that during the Majapahit Empire, while Brawijaya was king, the queen gave birth to a girl named Roro Anteng, who later married a young man from Castle Brahmin named Jaka Seger. Together they led the Tengger land then named Purbawisesa Mangkurat Tengger Ing. Even if the kingdom flourished, the queen and the king were not happy because they could not have children. For this, the two were going to ask the help of the gods, so they climbed the volcano Bromo and begged the god of the mountain Hyang Widi Wasa, to help them have children. God offered them help with one condition: the last baby born to be sacrificed in the crater.

After many years, the kings had 25 children, and the last named Kesuma, was doomed to sacrifice. The Queen refused to give his child as a sacrifice, so God became angry and threw stones and fire in the country. Ultimately, the kings were forced to keep his word, and went up to the mountain to sacrifice their last child. It is said that when Kesuma was thrown into the crater, was heard his voice that was telling to the locals: "My dear brothers and sisters, I was sacrificed by our parents to obey to the God Hyang Widi. Be in peace and live in wealth, but never forget to worship. In my memory do a ceremony every year on the 14th day of Kasada, when the moon is half by bringing offerings: fruit, vegetables and flowers. ". Since then every year in December to the Bromo volcano takes place a ceremony that lasts a month, when the villagers of the area bring offerings to the gods.

What I recommend to those who wish to visit this area is: do not choose the tours with the jeeps. Go on your own. I dont't hate the tours, but they are quite expensive and deprives you of what is more beautiful: the plateau and the experience of Bromo.

Hundreds if not thousands of jeeps are crowding.... the tourists are flocking to the same place at the same time for sunrise, at the same time they go to the crater after everything is finished. It is convenient.... but the feeling of walking on the crater without a whole army of people out there, to sit and admire the plateau after the jeeps left is wonderful. Plus the road itself and the feeling that you did it is truly sensational.Less