The Fascinating Culture of Lombok
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Port
Lembar, Lombok, Indonesia
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$149.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 8½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Explore the fascinating culture of Lombok with a visit to Nusa Tenggara Barat Province Museum. Its highlights are the cloth collection, the fine Kris knives and a small Dongson drum. Most of the displays have captions in English. One showcase holds "mystical" paraphernalia with amulets used to acquire supernatural force, immunity from weapons or to foretell the future. Your tour then proceeds to Narmada Water Palace. The centerpiece here is a large artificial lake whose shape resembles Segara Anak in the caldera of the Rinjani Volcano. It was built in 1805 by the Raja of Mataram after he became too old to climb Rinjani to deposit offerings in the sacred lake there, and the replica of the volcano’s lake was a substitute a repository for the Raja’s offerings. Narmada’s temple, Pura Kalasa, is still used and the Balinese Pujawali celebration is held here annually. Lingsar, another large temple complex built in 1714, is the place of worship for Wetu Telu Islam. The Hindu temple is in the northern section and features a fountain. Continue heading north and the road rises over two small hills offering panoramic views of the sea. Enjoy a sumptuous Indonesian buffet lunch served at an international restaurant at the Senggigi Resort. In the central city of Mataram, you’ll stop to visit the famous pearl shops. More shopping opportunities abound at Banyu Mulek village, famous for handmade pottery. Take a cidomo ride (traditional horse cart) around the village to see the skilled villagers processing clay into beautiful export-quality pottery. At the local school, children are trained to make pottery from a very young age. A visit to a large gallery is included, where you can purchase the finished products.