A long time ago the prosperous kingdom of Daha in Kediri, East Java was ruled by King Syrengga. The king’s favourite daughter, Dewi Kilisuci, was a legendary beauty who had infamously broken the hearts of many hopeful suitors.
One day two malevolent kings, Lembu Suro and Mahesa Suro, both mesmerized by Dewi Kilisuci’s beauty, asked her hand for marriage. They were not ordinary kings, nor were they humans. Lembu Suro was a cow-headed creature and Mahesa Suro was a buffalo-headed monster, both possessed supernatural powers backed by a strong army of soldiers. The princess, conscious of the kings’ evil nature and great powers, devised a strategy to turn down their proposals. She challenged the kings to make two huge wells on top of Mount Kelud before sunrise. The catch? One well had to smell fishy and the other fragrant. To ordinary people the completion of this task required nothing short of a miracle. But Lembu Suro and Mahesa Suro were far from ordinary.
Lembu Suro and Mahesa Suro agreed and started constructing the wells. Thanks to their magic powers, the kings finished the wells in time. In order to prove that the completed wells smelled fishy and fragrant, the kings were asked to enter the deep wells. Once the kings were inside, King Syrengga and Dewi Kilisuci summoned their army to bury them with stones.
Both Lembu Suro and Mahesa Suro could not escape the trap and just before Lembu Suro died, he cursed (in Javanese), “O Yoh, wong Kediri bakal dadi kali, Blitar dadi latar, Tulungagung bakal dadi Kedung”, which meant that one day Mount Kelud would erupt and the town of Kediri would be a river, Blitar would be dry-land, and Tulungagung would be a lake.
In the end, Mount Kelud erupted and buried Candi (Temple) Penataran in Blitar until it was discovered again in 1815 by a British representative in Indonesia, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, also known as Singapore’s founding father.
Hotel Tugu Blitar offers our guests an opportunity to relive this incredible tale through guided excursions to the legendary wells, now a beautiful mountain, and many other interesting places worth visiting in and around Blitar. Inquire about our unique ‘Lost Temple Private Dinner at Candi Penataran‘ and enjoy an unforgettable, nostalgic, romantic evening!
Exotic Treats in Nature
Hotel Tugu Blitar is pleased to offer Exotic Treats in Nature – A journey to unwind and relax in the tranquility of Java’s nature.
After a delicious breakfast, enjoy the ride to the forest of Pacuh National Park and Anak Kelud
Volcano. Relax in the serenity of Blitar’s country scenery of lush coffee plantations, emerald rice fields, and the magnificent Anak Kelud Volcano – one of many volcanoes that gives shape and drama to Java’s landscape.
Walk under the shades of hundred-year old trees, feel the sun on your face and the soft cool winds in your hair. Sip the hot, freshly brewed Java coffee from our very own Kawisari Coffee Plantation on the slopes of Mount Kawi.
Enjoy a picturesque picnic mid-way in the fresh mountain air. Lovingly prepared by Mbok Musinem, your home-cooked Javanese lunch will be served with a young coconut, freshly picked from a fishing
village.
This offer includes:
- Fresh Tugu Kawisari Coffee, the very finest Java Robusta coffee from our own plantation on the slopes of Mount Kawi
- A special lunch arrangement
- Transportation arrangement and all entrance fees
- Complimentary mineral water during the whole trip
- An English speaking guide
Package Rates
|
1st Package |
2nd Package |
3rd Package |
|
IDR 1.500.000 |
IDR 2.350.000 |
IDR 3.050.000 |
The rates are net (includes tax and service charge) and are valid until 31 March 2015.
For further information please contact us at:
Hotel Tugu Blitar
Jl. Merdeka 173
Blitar, East Java
Phone: +62 342 801 766
Email: blitar[at]tuguhotels[dot]com
https://www.tuguhotels.com/hotels/blitar/
Hotel Tugu Blitar: Reviving the Romance of Old Java
At the heart of the nostalgic town of Blitar in East Java, lies the charming Hotel Tugu Blitar. Housed in a graceful 1850s Dutch colonial mansion, the building was lovingly renovated to its every detail to preserve its artistic, charismatic, and historical characters with giant white washed pillars, high ceilings, antique furniture, lines of old photographs, and elegant art-deco chandelliers. Step back in time and experience the grandiose atmosphere of the room of Soekarno, Indonesia’s founding father, from colonial time Indonesia to the early years of independence. Here one’s imagination travels to a setting of the 12th century Majapahit Kingdom to mid 20th century, to a grand yet beautifully simple room which hosted a young, high-spirited and nationalistic team of intellectuals, from where they set up a whole nation and brought millions of people together.
