CHAPTER
II
RESULT
1 1.
History
of Situ Cangkuang
A small lake called Situ Cangkuang. Stretch of lake that
covered hundreds of lotus fence across the island as travelers enter the gates
of heaven to bring the natural beauty created by God, heaven can be enjoyed
directly by the unaided human eye. Not to mention the morning air with a thin
layer of fog swept the region's lips seemed to understand what is sought by
travelers.
Situ Cangkuang located in the Cangkuang village, District
Leles, Garut, West Java. Being in a small hill area that has height of 695-706
meters above sea level and stand in the valley area of 16.5 ha of a cool air. It is surrounded by mountain
chains in the four directions of the wind as Mandalawangi Mountain, Kaledong
Mount, Halimun Mountain, Batara Guru Mountain, Guntur Mountain and Cikuray
Mountain made Situ Cangkuang as a decoy to make it natural that offers
extraordinary beauty.
Visiting Situ Cangkuang not just simply enjoy the
beautiful natural grain. But the romance of Hindu and Islam ever excavated from
the site of the temple found in the middle Situ Cangkuang. Hindu-style temple
was discovered in 1966 by a team of researchers Harsoyo and Uka Candrasasmita
based on a report written by Vorderman in the book Bataviaasch Genootshap
(published in 1893). In the article touched on the findings of a statue (Hindu)
in the vicinity and a shrine believed to be a Embah Dalem Arif Muhammad who is
highly respected by the locals.
It is said that the story is a Embah Dalem Arif Muhammad
is a warlord of the Mataram kingdom. Together they try to attack army troops
VOC (Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie) or the East India Company in Batavia,
now Jakarta. But the defeat, therefore, Embah Dalem Arif Muhammad with his
followers felt ashamed to return to the kingdom of Mataram. When they were
escaping, they finally decided to settle in the area Cangkuang that time was
filled with followers of animist and Hindu beliefs.
Together with his followers, Embah Dalem Arif Muhammad
then spread Islam by the wise and prudent. Embah Dalem Arif Muhammad then
married a beautiful princess who lived in the region, but the daughter is
asking for a condition that must be met by the prospective husband. Make a lake
that surrounds the village. With the strength of the Embah Dalem Arif Muhammad
was finally able to realize. They later married and had six daughters. The
sixth son is at the founding of the forerunner Pulo village customs.
Residential area which is consist of only six houses and located behind the
temple Cangkuang.
To reach the site of Cangkuang, the travelers will be
greeted with bamboo rafts are ready to take up the other side of the island. By
paying Rp 3,000, the traveler will feel the sensation of a wave along 500
meters of the lake water. With any luck, travelers can see the activities of
people who catch fish. With his expertise, they are back and forth on a raft
while casting nets. About 10 menitan You have reached the island.
The Cangkuang village is located in north Garut entered
Leles District, exactly 16 miles from Garut or 54 miles from Bandung. To achieve
Cangkuang site can be reached by four wheel drive. From Bandung-Tasikmalaya,
approximately 9 miles leave Bandung, not far from derivative Nagrek will find a
junction to the heart of Garut.
Arriving at the square Leles district, there is a clear
indication board and directs the traveler to Cangkuang site location. Enter
into far more than 3 km, four-wheel vehicles or public transport could still
pass this way. The travelers can also choose to transport motorcycles, wagon
(traditional transportation pulled by horses) or walk for 30 minutes while
enjoying the mountain. Not long after travelers immediately greeted with a gate
that is not too big that it signifies “Welcome in Cangkuang”.
2. Situ Cangkuang
Problem
Because, this is an unique place, both from history and
location, making tourist attraction for both domestic and abroad to visit this
place. According to the officer, "every day there is always the foreign
tourists who visit here, not to mention the end of the week is usually visited
by many school children to deepen their knowledge of history. However, the
factor of cleanliness and beauty seem less serious attention of the Department
of Tourism who manages this place. MCK facilities are also inadequate, so in
the future to remain attractive place for tourists, the parties concerned
should enhance and complement existing facilities.
It is all because the facility of Situ Cangkuang is
bad,so, this point make a minus point to this unique place. So, the government,
specifically Department of Tourism should resolve this problem to make Situ
Cangkuang better. And also the society should take care the originally nature
of Situ Cangkuang.
