The Mandalika area in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara is a tourist area with 1,035.67 hectares. Since 2014, through Government Regulation number 52 of 2014, Mandalika was inaugurated as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) tourism and is expected to become a reasonably representative vacation spot in Lombok because it is already equipped with several hotels and various recreational facilities. In addition, Mandalika was also designated as the “new Bali” by the government.
Mandalika offers marine tourism with stunning beaches and underwater charm. The name Mandalika itself comes from the myth of a princess who is renowned for her beautiful visuals and good nature. Growing up, many young men, including princes, fell in love with the princess. They all wanted to marry the princess, and the King finally left the decision to her.
To strengthen his heart, the princess then meditated. Returning from meditation, the princess invited the prince and the young men who said they wanted to marry her. Long story short, the princess said she did not want a split, and she ended up throwing herself into the ocean, and then swallowed by the waves.
Mandalika has many interesting tourist attractions and beaches to visit and here are at least the eight of them.
- Kuta Beach
The first to be famous from the Mandalika area is Kuta Beach, Lombok, which is at the western end of Mandalika. Its name is often compared to Bali’s Kuta Beach, but Lombok’s Kuta Beach is more beautiful than Bali’s, cleaner and quieter. The Kuta Beach area has the most potential to develop compared to other spots in Mandalika. The facilities are also complete enough, especially it is not far from the Great Mosque of Nurul Bilad which President Jokowi has inaugurated. This is the place where the Mandalika street circuit will also be built for the 2021 MotoGP.
- Seger Beach
Then to the east of Kuta Beach, there is Seger Beach with a shape like a cape. Seger Beach follows the popularity of Kuta Beach because it has an annual event, namely the Bau Nyale Festival which takes place in the Seger Beach area. Residents flock to Seger Beach to look for the incarnation of Putri Nyale’s worm once a year.
- Sereting Beach
Serenting Beach is to the east of Seger Beach, and its coastline is longer than Seger Beach. Serenting Beach is also an entry area for the Bau Nyale Festival. If Seger Beach is too full of residents and tourists during the Bau Nyale Festival, they will spill over to Serenting Beach. Serenting Beach is also no less beautiful.
- Merese Hill
Merese Hill is one of the best spots to enjoy the view of Mandalika from a height. Merese Hill is located between Serenting Beach and Tanjung Aan Beach, where the trip up the hill is also exciting and burns enough calories. There are many choices of places and backgrounds to take pictures on this hill with a reasonably large area. Visitors can gaze towards Tanjung Aan or to Serenting Beach, all of which are equally beautiful.
- Tanjung Aan Beach
To the east of Merese Hill is Tanjung Aan Beach, with white sand stretching along the coastline curves like a crescent moon. Tanjung Aan Beach is a favorite place for tourists because it is quieter than Kuta Beach, but the scenery is much more beautiful. Swing by the sea is also a favorite for photos of tourists.
- Batu Payung
At the eastern end of Tanjung Aan Beach, there is a unique natural phenomenon, namely Batu Payung. It is a rock formed naturally by erosion, scouring of seawater, and wind scouring thousands of years that include coral formations similar to mushrooms or umbrella buds. That’s where the name Batu Payung was born.
- Sasak Sade Village
Located in Pujut, Central Lombok, Sasak Sade Village offers local wisdom that the locals still preserve. Among them is to cover the house floor with buffalo dung 4-5 days a day which is usually avoided because of the smell, but not so with the Sasak tribe in Sade village. This unique tradition aims to avoid adhering to dust, strengthen the house’s floor, and prevent insects from entering the house.
- Goa Kotak or The Box Cave
As the name suggests, the shape of this cave is completely square. Anyone who visits will surely love this cave because it is classified as an unusual and unique cave and has become a new tourist spot in Mandalika. Because of its location on a hill, visitors can see the beauty of the stunning span of the beach and the nature of Central Lombok from the mouth of the box cave.
Whether your trips take you on a long stroll on beaches, delicious cuisines, relaxing spas and resorts, or urban attractions, additional research will give you the best experience for your visit. Get to know more about Mandalika by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.