Situated in Mulur village, Sukoharjo, and easily reached from Karanganyar and Surakarta, the reservoir once served as an irrigation source during the Dutch East Indies. Since the 2000s, the reservoir has been gradually rejuvenated. Though not yet equipped with tourist-friendly public facilities, it has already become a popular destination for the people of Sukoharjo and neighboring cities.

Occupying a 120-hectare area, 90-hectares of which is water, the site features lush trees and a field locals use for sport. Visitors can also be found fishing from dawn till dusk every day; some even hop aboard bamboo rafts to fish in the middle of reservoir.

Read also: East Jakarta discusses turning reservoir into tourist destination

The reservoir is also home to many keramba (floating fish farm cages), filled with various fresh-water fish like nila, gabus, toman and patin, which will later be sold to buyers from Sukoharjo and Surakarta for Rp 25,00 (US$1.9) or Rp 35,000 per kilogram.

Sixty-nine-year-old Yatim, who has been working as a keramba farmer for 4 years, said the activity was not only profitable, but also fun. "Every morning and evening I row my small boat to the middle of the reservoir to feed the fish in the keramba, or to repair the net. This is a fun and healthy activity for me." (kes)

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