World Over the Sky: Dieng Plateau

The view of Telaga Warna (left) and Telaga Pengilon surrounded by mountains and hills in Dieng Plateau, Wonosobo, Central Java. Captured from Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin. (Doc. Henry)

Over the sky, the cold temperature of Dieng Plateau can make you feel relaxed and will also engrave some memories on your heart. During the dry season, the temperature can be around minus 5 degrees Celsius, which can make the Dieng Plateau area covered by some frost (frozen dew) around the ground.

Dieng Plateau is the coldest place in Central Java. Usually, the temperature in the morning is about 3 until 5 degrees Celsius on average, but it can sometimes go below 0 degrees Celsius. You may need to bring your own thick coats, beanie hat, shawl, gloves, or maybe a scarf to keep yourself feeling warm during the cold temperature at Dieng Plateau. 

While visiting Dieng plateau, you can enjoy the beautiful three-color lake of Telaga Warna, ancient Hinduism temples, and also the foods. Dieng Plateau has their origin food that you have to try, the name of the food is Mi Ongklok. These noodles are widely sold in various stalls, restaurants, or peddled by using a cart. Then usually served with side dishes like beef or chicken satay, tempe kemul, and tofu chips. This boiled noodle is made using cabbage, chopped chives, and a thick starchy gravy called loh. The ‘ongklok’ name is from the utensil made from woven bamboo that used to boil the noodle.

Telaga Warna is the place that you must visit while you’re on Dieng Plateau. But I have a recommendation another way to enjoy Telaga Warna. You can visit Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin. Its rocks were on upper places from Telaga Warna. At Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin you can enjoy Telaga Warna from above. You can almost view the whole Telaga Warna there and captures some photos. Not only Telaga Warna, but you can also enjoy Telaga Pengilon from Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin. You need to pay Rp10,000/person for the entrance of Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin.

The ancient temples of Hinduism at Dieng are the one on the list of must visited places in Dieng. Since the 7th or 8th centuries, edifices originate from the Kalingga Kingdom. The temples are clustered around three groups; Arjuna, Dwarawati and Gatotkaca clusters, while Bima temple was constructed as a separate single temple. 

The Arjuna cluster is the most visited place compared with other clusters in the Dieng area. The Arjuna cluster is surrounded by mountains and hills. Arjuna cluster is located in the central area of Dieng plateau, consisting of four temples that creates a north-south axis. 

Arjuna temple is located at the north end, then successively to the south is the Srikandi, Puntadewa and Sembadra temple. Right in front of Arjuna temple stands Semar temple. The four temples in this cluster are facing west, except the Semar temple that faces east right in the opposite of Arjuna temple. 

The price of entrance tickets to Dieng temple is Rp20,000 for Arjuna cluster and Dwarawati cluster. 

Surprisingly, the ticket was included for the entrance to Sikidang Crater. You need to keep your ticket, then you can show the ticket at the entrance of Sikidang Crater.

Sikidang literally means deer. Some say the crater got its name because it’s always moving. The location of the crater is indeed always moving, albeit very slowly. Another legend says that the name comes from a prince; Kidang Garungan. This prince is an odd one as he had the body of a human but his head is of a deer (kidang in Javanese).

The crater is so hot that many visitors bring chicken eggs when visiting this place. Usually, they boil the eggs in the crater. However, due to safety reasons, this is no longer allowed.

Sikidang Crater is one of the most popular destinations in this area. This crater is a wonderful place, shrouded in legends and myths.

You can go to Dieng Plateau by train to Purwokerto Station, then continue by a small bus heading towards Purwokerto-Wonosobo. If you go by your own car, you can go to Dieng by the Magelang-Temanggung-Wonosobo route. If you want to reach Dieng Plateau in an extreme way, you can try go there by a jeep. You can go to Bawang, that place on Batang, Jawa Tengah. Rent a jeep from Bawang, then go to Dieng Plateau through the Bawang-Dieng route or commonly known Sindoro route. You can also use your own motorcycles to go to Dieng Plateau on that route. Make sure the motorcycles that you use are strong enough, also the driver should be able to handle conquer the steep road. On that Sindoro route, you can enjoy many views before arriving in Dieng Plateau. You can stop for a while then capture some photos.