RESULT

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.