Who says volcanoes cannot be considered among the most beautiful places on earth? Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in East Java, Indonesia. The national park consists of numerous hills and mountains. Among them are the Bromo and Semeru volcanoes.

According to a Java legend, in the 14th century, Java’s childless king and queen came to Bromo praying for heirs. The volcano god ‘blessed’ them with 25 children, and requested the last child to be sacrificed to the god. When the 25th child was born, the king and queen refused to do the sacrifice as promised. The god then threatened with fire until the last child was sacrificed. Since then, an annual ceremony was performed on the volcano. Until today, this event is still marked at the festival of Kasada. Every year on March 14, streams of villagers from nearby Cemoro Lawang picking their way up 256 steps from the Hindu temple at the volcano’s base to its very rim. The villagers dodge sulphuric blasts in order to make offerings to Bromo.

Not hard core enough for you? Perhaps you should meet Bromo’s feisty neighbour, Semeru. Semeru is the highest of 38 volcanic mountains in Java. Semeru is still pretty much active nowadays, with eruptions occur every now and then and lava flows almost continuously.


Bromo Volcano, with Semeru Smoking in the Background

Plan to catch sunrise at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park? You can plan your visit with us.