BandungBergerak.id - Mount Tangkuban Parahu in the north and Mount Malabar in the south seem to be the two iconic mountains of Greater Bandung. Interestingly, if a straight line is drawn between these two mountains, it nearly passes through Gedung Sate, the historic building icon of Bandung City, which is almost at the center of the line.

The Legend of Sangkuriang and Toponymy

Mount Tangkuban Parahu is closely related to the legend of Sangkuriang. This story is not only well-known among the people of Bandung but also among the people of West Java and various parts of Indonesia.

The name "Mount Tangkuban Parahu" literally meaning "upturned boat" or "inverted boat," seems to be inspired by its shape that looked like a trapezoid. When viewed from the southern side, the mountain truly resembles an upturned boat. However, when viewed from the eastern and northern directions, the shape of Mount Tangkuban Parahu does not appear the same.

Captivatingly, many other mountain names are connected to the toponymy of this Sangkuriang legend.

Once upon a time, when Sangkuriang encountered a beautiful princess named Dayang Sumbi, they both fell in love. During their affection, the princess accidentally noticed a scar on the young man's head. She was shocked to realize that this young man was her son. The scar on his head was from a blow when the princess was angry because Sangkuriang had recklessly killed Si Tumang, the princess's beloved dog, which was actually a deity and also Sangkuriang's father.

To thwart their marriage plans, Dayang Sumbi had set a condition that Sangkuriang had to create a lake and a boat within one night. Sangkuriang had accepted the condition and had sought help from an army of genies called guriang. To create the lake, the flow of the Citarum River was blocked, causing the water to flood the valley and form a lake.

For the boat, Sangkuriang chose strong and large Lametang wood. He felled a tree, leaving only its stump. This stump would later become a mountain called Mount Beutitunggulo, located in Cibodas Village, Lembang. The branches from its tree, known as rangrang, were cut and discarded in a certain location. Eventually, these rangrang transformed into a mountain now known as Mount Burangrang. The machete used to cut the branches was thrown by Sangkuriang and became another mountain known as Mount Pangparang.

The number of guriang helping Sangkuriang was plentiful. They came and went, resting in Bukanagara and Cupunagara areas when tired. Some claim that Mount Tumpeng is located in Bukanagara, and Mount Paisdage is in Cupunagara. Tumpeng and Paisdage were the food name of the guriang. In Sundanese mythology, guriang is also interpreted as guru hyang, supernatural beings that guard the preservation of a mountain or place.

Seeing Sangkuriang almost finished his tasks, Dayang Sumbi became anxious. She did not want the marriage between mother and son to happen, so she devised a plan. She created a false dawn by waving a piece of white cloth called "boeh rarang" which partially turned into scattered white shreds of cloth. It seemed as if dawn had arrived and Sangkuriang's time was up.

Certainly, Sangkuriang was surprised and became enraged. In his panic, he kicked the nearly finished boat. The boat soared high into the air and fell in the area bordering Lembang and Subang, eventually becoming Mount Tangkuban Parahu. Then, Sangkuriang went to the place where Citarum River was blocked in the western part of Bandung, and he removed the blockage. The plug was thrown far and landed in the eastern area of Bandung, forming a mountain known as Mount Manglayang.

In his pursuit of Dayang Sumbi, Sangkuriang tried to catch her. Frightened, Dayang Sumbi fled to the east and reached the peak of a mountain. She prayed to Sang Hyang Tunggal for guidance. Dayang Sumbi entered a clump of trees and transformed into a single flower. This flower came to be known as the Jaksi flower, and the mountain is now called Mount Putri. To this day, the Jaksi flower still exists on Mount Putri, hidden within its lush forest.

Sangkuriang arrived at Mount Putri but did not find Dayang Sumbi. He believed that she must have moved eastward. Sangkuriang continued running east until he realized that his efforts were in vain. He understood his mistake, and his anger gradually subsided and disappeared. This place was later named Ujung Berung, meaning the endpoint of turbulent desires.

The legend of Sangkuriang has also left its mark on the toponymy of the western Bandung mountains. Some mountains in the West Bandung Regency, especially in the Cipatat and Padalarang areas, have connections to this tale.

Mount Hawu is derived from the word "hawu," which means a hearth or stove for cooking. Mount Hawu is indeed a rocky mountain with a hole in the middle, resembling a hearth. West of it is Mount Pabeasan, where rice or "beas" was stored to be cooked for the wedding feast of Sangkuriang and Dayang Sumbi.

Then there's Mount Pawon, which served as a "pawon" or kitchen to cook the main dishes. Nearby is Cibukur Village. "Bukur" means vegetables or additional food ingredients in a dish. There is also Mount Manik, which means jewelry. It is said that jewelry was stored and prepared on Mount Manik as a dowry for the wedding. And there's Mount Kancahnangkub, known as the inverted pot. Also, there's Mount Karangpanganten, which served as the wedding stage. Not far from there are Pasir Bende and Ketuk Cave, used to store percussion instruments.

When Sangkuriang realized his failure, he expressed it by jumping up and down. This place later became a river called Ci Luncat before momentarily stopping and basking in the sunlight at a location now known as Rancamoyan (sunbathing marsh). Chaos due to Sangkuriang's recklessness occurred near a sand area. This spot, causing disasters in many directions, was later named Pasir Bancana.

The legend of Sangkuriang can still be found in the mountains further to the west. The author of this article once asked villagers in Saguling Village and was told that the name "Saguling" supposedly originated from Sangkuriang's tumbling after kicking the boat. This place is now known as Mount or Pasir Saguling.

The impact of this story is so powerful. Unfortunately, even now, information about the origin or when this tale first appeared and its author remains vague. The oldest written record of Sangkuriang is found in the writings of Bujangga Manik from around the 16th century.

Leumpang aing ka baratkeun (I’m walking to the west)
Datang ka Bukit Patenggeng (Afterwards, come to Mount Patenggeng)
Sakakala Sang Kuriang (Once upon a time, Sang Kuriang)
Masa dek nyitu Citarum (The time will dam Citarum river)
Burung tembey kasiangan (But failed because it was too late)

Therefore, that’s what was in the writing about Sangkuriang by Bujangga Manik. This was written before the reign of Sri Baduga Maharaja, also known by the title Prabu Siliwangi, in the Pakuan Pajajaran kingdom.

Baca Juga: MOUNTAINS IN GREATER BANDUNG: Mount Manglayang, Blessings of Sanctity and Beauty that Towering in Eastern Bandung
MOUNTAINS IN GREATER BANDUNG: Mount Putri Lembang, the Myth of Dayang Sumbi and the History of the Dutch Fort
MOUNTAINS IN GREATER BANDUNG: Mount Geulis Manggahang, the Highest Peak of the Baleendah Barisan Hills

Access and Location

Mount Tangkuban Parahu is on the border of three regencies: West Bandung Regency, Subang Regency, and Purwakarta Regency.

According to information from the RBI (Rupa Bumi Indonesia) map, sheet 1209-313, titled "Cimahi," edition I-2001, and at a map scale of 1:25,000, the peak's elevation is recorded at 2,086 meters above sea level (masl). However, the more commonly known elevation among climbers is 2,084 masl.

The journey to reach the peak of Mount Tangkuban Parahu can be undertaken through several routes, including from the Sukawana tea plantation, the Jayagiri hiking trail via Leuweung Tiis, and the Taman Wisata Alam Kawah Mount Tangkuban Parahu tourist route.

In historical records, Abraham van Riebeeck was the first climber to reach the peak of Mount Tangkuban Parahu in 1713.

For the Jayagiri route, the entrance ticket is 8,000 rupiahs for a round-trip day and 15,000 rupiahs for camping. For the Taman Wisata Alam Kawah Mount Tangkuban Parahu route, climbing tickets cost 20,000 rupiahs on regular days and 30,000 rupiahs on holidays or Sundays. The climbing routes from both of these trails lead to a building owned by ITB (Institut Teknologi Bandung) with a relatively tall tower or antenna. This building serves as a lightning research station.

Geological History of Mount Tangkuban Parahu's Eruptions

Mount Tangkuban Parahu is a descendant of Mount Sunda Purba. The eruption of Mount Sunda Purba formed a large basin called the Kaldera Mount Sunda Purba. Within this caldera, a new mountain emerged, now known as Mount Tangkuban Parahu.

To directly view its caldera, you can hike Mount Burangrang. From its peak, the expansive basin of the Kaldera Mount Sunda Purba can be observed in its entirety.

Prior to its eruption, Mount Sunda Purba was estimated to have an elevation of over 4,000 masl. Major eruptions occurred 105,000 years ago, followed by another significant eruption 55,000 years ago.

Mount Tangkuban Parahu, formed around 90,000 years ago, has also erupted several times. The book "Geologi Cekungan Bandung," published by Penerbit ITB in 2011, presents a table showing 18 eruptions from 1829 to 2005.

As a result of its volcanic activity, numerous craters have formed on Mount Tangkuban Parahu. There are at least 13 craters, including Kawah Ratu, Kawah Upas Tua, Kawah Upas Muda, Kawah Baru, Kawah Domas, Kawah Badak, Kawah Pangguyanganbadak, Kawah Ecoma, Kawah Jurig, and Kawah Siluman.

* Translated from this article by Zelika Salsabila Insyra.