VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Generally, caves in Indonesia consist of limestone and exist on hillsides. Thus, stalactites and stalagmites are often formed. However, there is one cave in Purbalingga, Central Java, namely Gua Lawa, which is a volcanic one formed from active mountain lava that has melted and cooled from thousands to millions of years. This lava cooling process causes the rock to be hard and strong with a black color without causing stalactites or stalagmites. The thickness of the rock can reach 50 meters. So, it is resistant to shocks. Lawa Cave is located at the foot of Mount Slamet, precisely in Siwarak Village, Karangreja District, Purbalingga. This place is called Lawa Cave because there are many bat animals in it. Lawa Cave or also commonly called Golaga by the local people, has a length of about 1.5 km with an altitude of about 900 meters above sea level so that the air feels cool.

In addition to the natural beauty of Lawa cave, visitors may also enjoy this more attractive tourism destination, which has been carried out by the Government of Purbalingga Regency. Since operating the day after Eid al-Fitr in 2018, this tourism destination provides a unique coffee shop located in a cave. With the advent of these facilities, the number of tourists visiting has increased drastically. This facility is certainly appropriate for tourists who want to rest for a while after going around the cave. Sipping a cup of warm coffee is enjoyful to see the exotic scenery of the cave decorated with colorful lights, such as red, blue, green, and others that alternately turn on to be an unforgettable experience.

Either insideor outside of the Lawa cave area has also begun to be arranged by the local government. The entrance consists of a brick arrangement that resembles a door in the era of the Majapahit Kingdom. To enterthe area, visitors may see a stretch of grass and shady pine trees. This spot is intended for a place to take photos of tourists. Because it is managed by the government,and the access to the Lawa cave is quite easy. If you depart from downtown Purbalingga, the journey reaches 27 km. It is recommended to visit this place from the morning, because Lawa cave is open every day from 08.00 to 17.00 in the afternoon. The entry ticket price is around IDR 20,000 (US$1.33) for Monday to Friday while IDR 25,000 (US$1.67) per person for weekends.