One of the most active volcanoes on earth, Mt Merapi is located near Yogyakarta is one of the 500 volcanoes in Indonesia, from which at least 129 are active in the volcanic arc spread along the Asia-Pacific islands called the Ring of Fire.
It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. It is located approximately 28 kilometres (17 mi) north of Yogyakarta city. Besides looking at the volcano mountain from afar, one can actually explore and understand better about this Mt Merapi. You can actually hired a jeep and they will stop by 3 stops.
Stop 1 : Merapi Museum
Merapi Museum is one of the stop that they are created to commemorate the magnitude of the eruption of Mount Merapi on the surrounding life. This Museum at Kaliurang is located on the slopes of the volcano. You can witness the ruined village crashed by hot volcano materials. And in here, you can see the sculpture, the burn house and many more which had become the victims of the Merapi Museum.
And this massive eruption in October 2010 sowed ruin around the mountain, bringing death and destruction to villages clinging to the slopes of Merapi, including the villages of Kaliadem and Kinahrejo.
Stop 2 : Allien Rock
Allien Rock is one of the location to visit. Understand from the tourguide, the huge rock was flung from the mountain during the Mount Merapi eruption and you can see the huge rock here. Local had named it as “Alihan” which means “moved” in English. As it transformed, the name “ Allien” had come up. The locals claimed to see a human face on one side of this huge rock. You need to look close but you can make out a shape, though it is a bit strange, which is how it got the name alien. Alien Rock is also said to have magical powers
Stop 3: Bunker Kaliadem
The Bunker Kaliadem is build by the Indonesian government for the villagers to hop in and hopping tat they can save the villagers lives that could not manage to the safety ground. Unfortunately, during the 2007 eruption, 2 of the villagers that has hid in this bunker to escape the volcanic ash falls. And now, the bunker has become a monument to those who died.
Asides, one can enjoy the bumpy ride up with the exciting jeep ride. Overall, the experience is perfectly awesome and I am loving the ride so much!
Address: Dusun 2, Suroteleng, Selo, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
Opening Hours: 8:00AM – 3:30PM (daily, closed on Monday)
Phone: +62 274 896498
(Note: During the tour you will pass through several villages that were affected by the Merapi eruption)