LAMPUNG

Lampung is strategically located and easily accessible, particularly from Jakarta. Bandar Lampung, its capital, was formerly two separate towns, Tanjungkarang and Telukbetung. In the course of development these towns have spread out to one another to become one single city. Lampung has its own traditions, high valued handicraft and art creations such as woven cloth, interwoven by gold threads called "tapis".

Sumatran elephants, tigers and hundreds of species of birds can be watched at the Way Kambas nature reserve. Rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world can be seen when it is blooming at Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, on the southern coastline of Sumatra. The province has a great potential in agriculture, however, its population is small.

Agriculture provides the main income to its population, from farming, fishery and plantations. Clove, coffee and coconut grow extensively along the southern coast. While on the eastern part and hinterland they cultivate pepper, coffee, cassava, cocoa and rice, the tobacco growing area is around Lake Ranau in the northern part.

It is known that Lampung has been inhabited since prehistoric times. This was proven by the discovery of cultural relics in the form of megalithic sculptures at Kebontebu, Kenali, Pugung and Batubedil. There are historical remains showing that it was under the country's greatest maritime empire Sriwijaya.

The stone inscriptions of Palas Pasemah and Batu bedil in southern Lampung are among the relics of this Empire of the 7th century.

The influence of Islam is seen from the Tambra Prasasti inscription containing a contract of merchandise supplies between the Kingdoms of Banten and Lampung. Prior to Islam, the inhabitants of Lampung practiced a syncretism Buddhist-Hindu cult.

PLACES OF INTEREST

BANDAR LAMPUNG

The capital of Lampung has several interesting places such as the Museum and the Monument of the Krakatau Eruption. Worth while seeing or doing is the weaving process of Tapis textile, art and dance performances or just sunbathing on the beach.

MUSEUM of LAMPUNG

Located at Teuku Umar Street, it can be reached within 15 minutes from the centre of Bandar Lampung. It contains ethnographic and archaeological collections, Chinese ceramics, traditional music instruments, ancient Tapis cloth and ornaments.

WAY KAMBAS RESERVE and WAY WAKO RIVER

Way Kambas is a 2-hour drive from Bandar Lampung. 130,000 hectares of area on Lampung's East coast, Way Kambas is the best place to watch wild Sumatran elephants, tigers and many species of birds. Motorboats can be hired at Way Kanan for cruising around and up the river.

WAY KANAN RIVER

Here we can sail along Way Kanan and Way Kambas by canoe or boat to watch the surrounding flora and fauna while in the mouth of Way Kambas, it's good for fishing and swimming. In the morning, we can safari for 2 hours through the prepared track and listen to wild animals roaring and birds singing.

ELEPHANT TRAINING CENTRE

Way Kambas Elephant Training is an international project which is partly funded by the World Wildlife Fund. The aim of training them is to make the captured elephant be useful to mankind.

Most visitors come to Way Kambas to see the training centre and to have an opportunity to ride on an elephant.

Simple tourist facilities are available at Way Kanan such as lodges, wooden houses on poles, river boats and an observation centre. Way Kambas is accessible by car from Bandar Lampung. The activities and special interests are bird watching, jungle tracking, elephant’s safari, and river cruises.

KRAKATOA

An uninhabited island Krakatoa is located on the southern part of the Bay of Lampung. Krakatoa is reachable in three hours by boat from Canti, a fisherman village near Kalianda, South Lampung. This group of islands consists of four islands; one of them is called Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatoa) which has grown higher every year.

Anak Krakatau has emerged from the bottom of the sea between three other islands by early 1928 or 45 years after Krakatoa's 1883 formidable eruption.

PUGUNG ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

Located in Pugung Raharjo village, 40 km. northeast of Bandar Lampung, is a site of megalithic and prehistoric relics as well as of the classical Hindu Buddhist period. There are primitive trenched fortresses which almost surround its site. Stone inscription, ancient Chinese porcelains, Polynesian statue and the statue of Bodhisatwa are at the museum, a house on poles located on the way to Pugung Raharjo.

MERAK BELANTUNG BEACH

Located 40 km south of Bandar Lampung on the way to the seaport of Bekauheni. The beach is ideal for swimming and wind surfing. Cottages and equipment for wind surfing are available.