Discover 4 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Cilacap (Indonesia). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Benteng Pendem, Teluk Penyu Beach, and Nusa Kambangan. Also, be sure to include Karang Bolong Beach in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Cilacap (Central Java).
Table of Contents
Benteng Pendem
Fortress in Cilacap, Indonesia. Benteng Pendem is an abandoned Dutch fortress in Cilacap Regency, Central Java, which has become the region's main tourist attraction. Built between 1861 and 1879, the fortress originally served to defend the important port of Cilacap, though after a series of changes in ownership it fell into disrepair in the 1960s. In 1987 it was opened to the public.
The pentagon-shaped site covers 6.5 hectares (16 acres), and consists of both original buildings – including barracks, a clinic, and a prison – as well as several later additions. It is a Cultural Property of Indonesia.[1]
Teluk Penyu Beach
Also known as: Teluk Penyu
Beach in Indonesia. Teluk Penyu Beach is a brown sand beach in Cilacap, Central Java. Named for its former sea turtle population, the beach is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area.[2]
Nusa Kambangan
Also known as: Nusakambangan
Island in Indonesia. Nusa Kambangan island is located in the Indian Ocean, separated by a narrow strait from the south coast of Java; the closest port is Cilacap in Central Java province. It known as the place where the fabled wijayakusuma, which translates as the 'flower of victory' in the highest literary register of the Javanese language, grows. The wijayakusuma can be used to bring a person back from the dead, and the princes of the Sultanate of Mataram and later the Surakarta Sunanate sent to the island for the blooms in order to become kings. Thus the island is also known as pulau bunga-bungaan, the 'island of many flowers'. There is a forest reserve on the island. One of the main cultural events is Sedekah Laut, which is held by the Surakarta Sunanate every Satu Suro in the Javanese calendar. Since the Dutch colonial period, there have been a number of supermax prisons on the island, some of which still operational and run by Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Indonesia.[3]
Karang Bolong Beach
Also known as: Pantai Karangbolong
Beach in Indonesia. Karang Bolong Beach is a white-sand beach on the island of Nusa Kambangan in Cilacap Regency, Central Java. Located on the eastern end of the island inside a nature reserve, the beach is situated near an old Dutch fortress, also known as Karang Bolong.[4]