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Soaking in the cool air of Pasir Langlang
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he setting and atmosphere of Pasir Langlang in the southern part of Purwakarta regency, West Java, is true to its name. "Pasir" is Sundanese for hills, while "Langlang" is a term used to refer to an adventurous mood.
This ecotourism site, located in the hills of Pusaka Mulya Village in Kiarapedes sub-district, is a pine forest filled with fresh air, thanks to the lack of industrial pollution or vehicular emissions.
In order to reach this beautiful tourist destination, visitors can start their journey from Jl. Kapten Halim in Purwakarta and head toward Wanayasa. Go past the local market until you reach the entrance of Pusaka Mulya Village. Keep going on and you will eventually see a sign that points toward the Pasir Langlang tourism area.
The typical feeling of being there is one of remembrance. Just soaking in the beautiful natural sights will take you back centuries into the past and make you imagine what life was like for adventurers during the time of the ancient Sundanese kingdom.
Admission tickets to this pristine forest are priced at Rp 5,000 (37 US cents). Those who want to camp there have to pay Rp 10,000, alongside Rp 330,000 to cover the cost of renting sleeping bags, cooking utensils, tents and a guide. If you want to rent a hammock, you can also do so for the price of Rp 15,000.
The average visitor likes to take a picture of themselves standing in front of the local sign that says "Pasir Langlang Panyawangan Purwakarta". The sign has a picture of Mount Burangrang, which locals believe contains mystical energy.
Other tourists like to take pictures of themselves sitting and relaxing in the forest while sitting on wooden chairs provided by Saung Gede, the organization that serves as caretakers for the forest.
For 17-year-old Julia, a local 12th grader who was spotted visiting the forest on Feb. 4 with her friends, the day marked her second visit to Pasir Langlang. She said that being in the forest gave her a feeling of tranquility.
"The atmosphere is just great. It's quiet, comfortable, and it’s got fresh air. Someday, I want to try camping here, but I haven't had the time to do so because the school holidays are still far away," she said.
According to Saung Gede, visitors to the forest on average tend to be teenagers and nature lovers.
"These days, most of the people I see are teenagers and nature lovers. I also see a lot of people visiting as part of their pre-wedding ceremonies," said Nandang Mulya Nugraha, a representative of Saung Gede.
Seen from an aerial vantage point, the forest looks like a green food topping covering the brown surface of the Earth. Locals are forbidden from cutting down trees there. At most, they are only allowed to pick up branches and bits of wood that have fallen from the trees to use for their day-to-day cooking needs.
