Pelabuhan Ratu or
Palabuhan Ratu (
Sundanese for:
Harbor of Queen) is the administrative capital of
Sukabumi Regency. Located at the southwest coast of
West Java facing
Indian Ocean. It is four hours drive from
Bandung and up to 12 hours drive from
Indonesia's capital
Jakarta due to traffic jam in Ciawi, Cicurug, Cibadak and Pelabuhan Ratu gate,
[1] whose residents love to visit the bay
Teluk Palabuhanratu, once named
Wijnkoopsbaai by the Dutch.
[2] The bay is shaped like a large horseshoe and has enormous waves that can be very treacherous. The Sundanese locals tell that the
Indian Ocean is the home of
Nyai Loro Kidul who reigns along the southern-coast of all Java.
[3]
The beach[edit]
The Pelabuhan Ratu white sands beach is also a popular vacation destination for local visitors from
Sukabumi,
Bogor,
Bandung and
Jakarta. However because of high rolling waves, some spots on the beach are considered too dangerous for swimming. Together with
Pangandaran, the beach are the popular beach in West Java both facing south towards
Indian Ocean. Several hotels, restaurants, resorts, and tourism facilities were built in the vicinity. Among the oldest is The Samudra Beach Hotel, established in 1966 commissioned by then Indonesian president
Sukarno. The hotel keeps room 308 furnished with green colours & reserved for Nyai Loro Kidul.
[4] Sukarno was involved with the exact location and the idea for the Samudra Beach Hotel.
[5] The painting of Nyai Rara Kidul by
Basuki Abdullah, a famous Indonesian painter, is displayed in this room.
Surfing location[edit]
Palabuhanratu has become a popular location for surfers in recent years, with its Indian Ocean location providing good waves for surfing. Several spots that are popular with for
surfers are Cimaja Beach, Sunset Beach, Karang Sari Beach and Karang Aji Beach.
From June 12 to 18, 2011 the second event of West Java Surfing Championship has been initialized at Cimaja Beach which has 750 meter beach and wave about 1 to 2 meters height. The competition got 6 stars surfing premium (the highest rank) as a part of Indonesian Surfing Championship and also
Asian Surfing Championship Tours. Cimaja Beach has many rocks, so sometimes it is called as Beach Without Sand.
[6]
Ocean fishing port[edit]
The current port has been improved to become an Ocean Fishing Port with investment of Rp.415 billion ($48.8 million) on a 17-hectare area expansion. The project was initialized in September 2011.
[7]
References[edit]
- Jump up^ Pelabuhan Ratu Heavy Damage Road
- Jump up^ (Dutch) Nederlandse Malacologische Vereniging, Correspondentieblad van de Nederlandse Malacologische Vereniging, Volumes 161-170 (1974), p475
- Jump up^ Dalton, Bill. Indonesia Handbook, Moon Publications, USA 1989, ISBN 0-918373-12-3, pp 232
- Jump up^ Döhne, Roy James. "Room 308 A room for the Javanese goddess of The South Sea". Website Roy James. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
- Jump up^ Khouw, Ida Indawati. "Room No. 308 still retains its mystery". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved December 20, 2006.
- Jump up^ Asian Surfing Championship Tours
- Jump up^ Pelabuhan Ratu Ocean Fishing Port