Five Interesting Facts About Gua Jomblang, Inside It Contains Primitive Forest

by Matob W. ideamaker

Gua Jomblang is a cave located in Dukuh Jetis Wetan, Semanu District, Gunung Kidul Regency. The cave is located 10 km from Wonosari City.

In terms of its form, this cave is a vertical cave where visitors must descend using safety equipment to enter. Although it is located in a hidden and far from the bustling life of the community, this cave is quite popular with foreign tourists.

In 2011, this cave was used as a filming location for the "Amazing Race" program, an American television show. Furthermore, in 2020, this cave was used as a filming location for the film "Twogether" starring Lee Seung Gi and Jasper Liu.

This cave indeed holds many other interesting things. Here are 5 interesting facts about Goa Jomblang, the hidden beauty in Gunung Kidul, Special Region of Yogyakarta.

The Formation Process of Gua Jomblang

Quoted from Gunungkidulkab.go.id, Gua Jomblang is a vertical cave formed due to geological processes thousands of years ago. At that time, there was an event of soil and vegetation sinking to the bottom of the earth.

This soil collapse then formed a sinkhole or pit. In Javanese, this term is known as luweng.

Primitive Forest Inside the Cave

Unlike the area around the cave which is relatively arid because it is located in a limestone mountain area, the conditions inside the cave are quite fertile. There, various vegetation plants are found that are not found outside the cave.

Furthermore, even a primitive forest was found inside the cave as if there was another world underground. The atmosphere of the cave when sunlight enters through cracks and the mouth of the cave.

The Deepest Pit in Java Island

The depth of Gua Jomblang varies. There are those with a depth of 80 meters (path A), 60 meters (path B), and 40 meters (path C). Usually beginners use path C in exploring this cave.

When you reach the end of this cave, there is another pit known as Gua Gubruk. The 80-meter deep pit is the deepest pit on Java Island.

Connected to Underground River

The bottom of Gua Gubruk is an underground river that flows rapidly. Furthermore, two large and green-brown colored stalagmites stand upright at the bottom of Gua Gubruk.

At 1 PM, sunlight will penetrate through the mouth of the cave and a beautiful light shines. Furthermore, water dripping from the height also enhances the view. By tourists who come to this cave, this phenomenon is known as "heavenly light".

Contains Dark History

Although it has a beautiful charm, Gua Jomblang actually holds dark history. Quoted from Dream.co.id, it is said that this cave was used as a mass murder site for PKI members. It is estimated that hundreds of PKI members met their deaths in this cave during the 1965 tragedy.