Kawah Putih or White Crater is a very famous tourist attraction in Bandung. It is located in Ciwidey in West Java.
The crater is on the top of Patuha Mountain, Ciwidey around 2 hours from Bandung, so it offers cool air with temperatures of 8-22 degrees.
Along the way to White Crater tourists will also be presented with views of trees that add to the coolness of this place. Be prepared to be fascinated by the beauty of this nature, the thick fog, and the watercolor of the crater that looks bluish-white.
Kawah Putih, translated as White Crater, is the most famous tourist spot in Bandung. It is located in Ciwidey, West Java, approximately 50 kilometers south of Bandung City. White Crater is a lake formed by the eruption of Mount Patuha a long time ago.
As the name implies, the soil in this region is white as a result of the mixing of sulfur elements. The lake water also has a greenish-white color and can change color according to the sulfur content contained, temperature, and the weather.
Ciwidey White Crater is located in a mountainous area that has an altitude of more than 2,400 meters above sea level.
With this height, the temperature in the Kawah Putih region is naturally cold with temperatures of 8 degrees Celsius to 22 degrees Celsius, so don’t forget to bring a jacket or wear thick clothes if you visit here.
Other than enjoying an exotic panorama, visitors that come to this place can also do some other activities, such as film shooting, painting, bridal photos, hiking, and horse riding activities as well.
The story of the White Crater began in the 10th century where there was a great eruption by Mount Patuha.
After the eruption, many people assumed that this location was a haunted area because every bird that flew past the area would die. Over time, the belief about the haunted place began to fade, until finally in 1837 a botanist with German nationality came to this area to do research.
The researcher’s name is Dr. Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn and he was very interested in the quiet mountainous area where there were not even birds flying over the area, so he toured the village in search of information. At that time, all the information he got was that the area was haunted and inhabited by spirits. For Dr. Franz, the statement of the local community didn’t make sense. Then, he went into the jungle to find out what was there. Finally, he knew the answer. He made it to the top of the mountain and from there he saw the existence of a beautiful lake that had white water with a strong sulfuric odor.
Since then, the existence of Ciwidey White Crater became famous, and starting from 1987 the government developed this area as a tourist spot that offers a unique experience of seeing a lake that can change its color naturally. Because it has been developed as a tourist area, Kawah Putih has adequate tourist support facilities such as transportation from the front gate to the crater, information center as well as restaurants and food stalls.
In order to make your tour to Kawah Putih more comfortable while exploring the best of West Java, consider the following tips:
- Cold temperature does not mean you are safe from sunburn, use a sunblock before activating in the White Crater.
- If you are not strong enough with the smell of sulfur, please use a mask and if you forget to bring it, you can buy it on location.
- Do not stay in the crater too long because it can make your breathing disrupted, you can go up briefly to the top and then down to the crater again if you still want to see views of the White Crater.
