Waduk Darma: A Lovely Place for Vacation in Kuningan

Waduk Darma is an artificial lake resides in Kuningan City. This tourism object is about 425 ha wide area, surrounded by the beautiful hills and dales scenery. As it resides at the valley of Ciremai Mountain, the atmosphere around the lake is cool. Waduk Darma is often visited by thousands visitors per year for its cool atmosphere, beautiful wide view, available tour facilities, and strategic location. As it is located at the roadside of Cirebon-Kuningan-Ciamis freeway, Waduk Darma is accessible by public transportations. It is ± 12 km distance from Kuningan City and ± 37 km from Cirebon City. Its exact location is at Jagara Village, Darma Subdistrict, Kuningan Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia.

Waduk Darma is a pleasing place to relax with family or friends. Its beautiful panorama and cool air are suitable for releasing the tiredness and for self-refreshing. From this place the visitors can enjoy the panoramic sight of Ciremai Mountain. They can also enjoy boating and feel the fresh mountain breeze. Sunset moment is a more captivating sight to enjoy at twilight in Waduk Darma.

With its maximum water puddle capacity ± 39.000.000 m3, Waduk Darma functions as the water accommodation for irrigation and fishery. Because of its large water volume, this lake is also used for recreation and sport facilities. Various tour facilities are provided, such as motor boat, children swimming pool, cottages, camping area, and recreation park which is provided with art performance stage. Small shelters and many food stalls are also provided in this area.

Waduk Darma Tourism Object is usually crowded during Idul Fitri and school holidays. This tourism area is one of several tourism object alternatives reside in Kuningan City. The other interesting tour locations are Cibulan, Telaga Remis, Linggarjati, Subang hot-water bathing place, etc.

Situ Patenggang: A Beautiful Romantic Lake in Bandung

Situ Patenggang, or also known as Situ Patengan, is a romantic lake resides in Bandung City. As every “situ” (lake) has its own attractive special fascination, Situ Patenggang is interesting for both its beautiful panorama and its own name. This lake’s panorama is beautified by the outspread tea plantation, just like the wide green carpet. Moreover, the trees’ reflection makes the lake water green colored. The breezing wind and water ripples add the refreshing atmosphere in this lake area. Situ Patenggang is a lovely place for family picnic. This place is also often used for pre wedding photography. You know, this place’s name has a romantic story within it.

Literally, the name Situ Patenggang or Patengan came from Sundanese. Situ means lake. Patengan originated from the word “pateang-teangan” which means ‘look for each other’. And Patenggang means separated by distance or condition. In the past, Situ Patenggang was a romantic legend. As the story goes, it was a love story of a prince and a beautiful girl, Dewi rengganis. Their love journey wasn’t as beautiful as they hoped. They were separated from each other by condition. They were filled with anguish, until their tears flooded and formed a lake. Then the lake was named “Situ Patenggang”. They looked for each other until finally they met at a stone, which is now called as Batu Cinta (Love Stone). Dewi Rengganis asked the prince to make a boat, so they two could go around the lake. The boat then became a heart-shaped island, the so-called Pulau Asmara (Amour Island) or Pulau Sasaka. From this story, aroused a myth that whoever visits Situ Patenggang with his/her beloved sweetheart, and they go boating together around the lake till Pulau Asmara and Batu Cinta, their love will be everlasting. This may be something that makes the visitors wonder about Batu cinta and Pulau Asmara.

Resides in about 1600 m altitude, Situ Patenggang is 150 ha total wide area. In the middle of the lake is Pulau Asmara. The visitors wouldn’t forget the surrounding panoramic beauty in this area: the wide lake, with slight mists hang above; the green trees; and Rancabali tea plantation which is outspread beautifully. Visiting this place is an alternative to release the exhaustion. The lake contains various fishes. Various long-beak birds live around the lake. There’s also a protected forest where grasses and West Java typical trees grow.

The visitors can enjoy the beautiful panorama around the lake using speed boats, multicolored row boats, water bicycles, and oar ducks. There’re several ponds around the lake for fishing. The other facilities provided in this area are: camping grounds, parking area, gazebo, toilet, mushola, restaurant, seat mats, food & drink shops, and souvenir kiosks.

Situ Patenggang area is located at Patengan Village, Rancabali Subdistrict, Bandung Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. It’s ±47 km to the south-ward from the center of Bandung City. Not far from this area are the other interesting tourism objects, viz. Kawah Putih, Walini Tea Plantation, Cimanggu hot-water bathing place, Ranca Upas camping ground, and Ciwidey Strawberry Agrotourism.