TAMAN NASIONAL ALAS
PURWO
Geographical location : 114°20-114°36 E ; 8°25-8°47 S
Administrative location : Provinsi Jawa Timur (Kabupaten Banyuwangi)
Area : 43,420 hectares
Temperature : 27° - 30° C
Rainfall : 1,000 - 1,500 mm/year
Altitude : 0 - 322 masl
Best time to visit : March - October.
(Alas Purwo National Park) is representative of typical lowland
tropical rain forest ecosystem in Java. Peculiar and endemic species of plant
that grow in this Park include sawo kecik (Manilkara kauki) and manggong bamboo
(Gigantochloa manggong). Among the other plants that can grows here are
ketapang (Terminalia cattapa), nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum), kepuh
(Sterculia foetida), and keben (Barringtonia asiatica). Moreover, there are 13
different species of bamboo.
This park is habitat for several species of wildlife such as the ebony
leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus auratus), banteng (Bos javanicus
javanicus), Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus javanicus), green peafowl (Pavo
muticus), red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), deer (Cervus timorensis russa),
panther (Panthera pardus), and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis
javanensis). Some species of turtle like the Pacific ridley (Lepidochelys
olivacea), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata),
and common green (Chelonia mydas) are often seen landing on the southern beach
of this park between January and November.
In October to December, 16 species of migrant bird from Australia such
as the sacred kingfisher (Halcyon chloris/Todirhampus sanctus), blue-tailed
bee-eater (Merops philippinus), common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), and wood
sandpiper (Tringa glareola) visible in Bedul Segoro Anak.
This Park has a diversity of ecotourism and cultural tourism
attractions (sea, sand, sun, forest, wild animals and traditional cultures)
which are located close one to another
Communities living around the park are very typical of the
"Blambangan" culture. They believe that what is now the Park was the
last stopover of the Majapahit people who were escaping the onslaught of the
Mataram kingdom, and they are convinced that a sacred "Keris Pusaka
Sumelang Gandring" was hidden somewhere in the park, and for this reason,
it is not unusual for people to meditate or hold religious ceremonies in the
Park specialy in Goa Padepokan and Goa Istana.
Interesting locations/attractions:
Sadengan : located 12 km (30 minutes) from the Pasar Anyar entrance
gate. This is a grazing area for banteng, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pigs
and birds.
Trianggulasi : located 13 km from the Pasar Anyar entrance gate, a
white sand beach with a coastal forest, suitable for marine recreation and
camping.
Ngagelan Beach : located 7 km from Trianggulasi. Visitors can watch
several species of turtle landing on the beach to lay their eggs and other
turtle breeding activities.
Plengkung (in the southern part of the Park) : is legendary paradise
for world's top class surfers and they call it "G-Land". The name is
derived from its location in Teluk Grajagan (Grajagan Bay) which lettered
"G". Moreover, it is just on a short distance from a stretch of
tropical rain forest which always looks green (hence green land or
"G-land"). Plengkung is one of the top four locations for surfing in
the world and ranked alongside surf sites in Hawaii, Australia, and South
Africa – it is paradise for ‘left handed’ professional surfers.
Bedul Segoro Anak : boating, swimming and water skiing on the lake,
and watching migrant birds flock in from Australia.
Caves : there are 40 cave sites, both natural and artificial,
including a Japanese cave where a pair of old 6-metre long cannons can be seen,
Istana Cave, Padepokan Cave, and other caves for both cultural interest and artificial
nature caves.
Near Rowobendo entrance gate : there are historical remains in the
form of "Pura Agung", a Hindu temple where a Hindu ceremony named
"Pagerwesi" is held in every 210 days.