Nothing was known about Lombok before 17th century. The
Sasak the original population of Lombok seemed not to active
in developing their country. The record about Lombok was started
in 1677 AD when kingdom of Goa, Makassar, South Sulawesi tried
to overrun Lombok. In that struggle of Sasak Chiefs, Bali
strengthened his control in Lombok and in 1750 the whole island
was under control of Karangasem kingdom, one of the small
kingdom in East coast of Bali. By the end of 18th century
one of Sasak chief invited Dutch to rule their land in return
to the service that the Dutch must spell out Karangasem kingdom
from Lombok. The Dutch was interested, and the first army
was drop in Lombok, but was defeated by the prince with their
army, The second army of Dutch drawn from Java was able to
subdue the kingdom after bombarded Ampenan the center of kingdom
in Lombok, and after the marched of prince and all the army
and families to face the guns of Dutch army until the last
drop of blood. This war was known as Puputan Lombok. Now Lombok
was under the Dutch administration, and the Dutch was welcome
like god as their liberator from Karangasem kingdom, and as
promised by the Sasak Chiefs, the Dutch now control the island.
The control of Dutch become a nightmares for the Sasaks since
the heavy taxes was imposed without exception. The rice was
all collected and brought to the the Dutch headquarters. This
was continuing for years until what was everyone by no means did
not want, yet it happened -- the great famine of 1938 on.
With the rule of Balinese in Lombok some cultural aspects
of Bali were applied such as water irrigation system, social
organization, and religion. The co-operation between the Sasak
and Bali was going well inter-marriage was common. The Sasak
who make-up 90% of the total population of Lombok are all
Moslem, while Balinese who mostly live on West Lombok and
in the city of Mataram, Ampenan, and Cakaranegara were remain
Hindu. There are many interesting places belong to the Hindu
kingdom in Mataran and surrounding as described below. When
the Dutch defeated the kingdom of Bali in Lombok, the Sasak
welcome them as salvation, they lent the Land of Lombok to
be managed by the East India Company. As a result, as mentioned
above was the long famine of 1938. The Dutch to finance their
army and maintain their office and administration in Lombok
must look for other sources of income by collecting all agricultural
products, especially the rice. As the chiefs of Sasak had
promised to them, a heavy tax was imposed, the life of the
people become very miserable, and this misery started to reach
the peak in 1938 and continued for years. Lombok again was
divided into many smaller kingdoms which was independence
each of them such as Mataram, Praya, and Selong. These small
kingdoms continued until the proclamation of Indonesian independence
in 1945. After the independence of Indonesia actually Lombok
would have been under Bali administration, but again with
the involvement of Dutch who came again to Indonesia together
with International League Army tried to colonize Indonesia
again. Although the fact that the International League Army
had the duty only disarmed Japanese. Lombok was made as independence
federal state separated from Bali. With the departure of Dutch
again from Indonesia due to International pressure, Lombok
is considered as independence province under Republic of Indonesia.
Lombok is small island around 80 x 80 square kilo meters with
most of the land is the area of Rinjani peak with it's slope
of dry land. Good land for farming is only on the west coast
and central Lombok. While other areas are hilly and dry. Southern
part of Lombok near the beach is greatly hilly, and plateau,
but have nice clean sandy beach, a perfect place for enjoy
the sea water. Physically they are similar with Javanese and
Balinese, but their language is typical and can not be understood
by Balinese or Javanese. Sasak ethnic form 90% of the total
population of Lombok, and Bali 10% of the total population.
There are other minorities such as Chinese, Arabian, and Sumabawanese
at the eastern part of the island. They came to Lombok, when
the king of Goa tried to attack Lombok by bringing many soldiers
from Sumbawa.
Lombok handicraft is simple in decoration, but
it is strongly ethnic in character, such as the type of Lombok
art and handicraft is typical for certain village for certain
type. Pottery for example is typical for Panujak village,
Lombok cloth is typical for Sukarara village, and others.
Very little of creative art can be found. Collectors are very
interested to buy the art since it's typical shape, and tourists
are their main customer beside it is exported to Bali in big
numbers. In Bali it is easier to find market, even for the
wholesalers. On west Lombok musical instruments and dances
are much influenced by Bali. It can be said that it is Bali
in characters. Original Sasak dance is a very simple war dance,
and other Sasak dance which got the influence from Islam.
Taman Narmada
It was built in 1744 by royal court of Karangasem to look
similar with water palace of Karangasem in Bali. This palace
was the bloody site in 1894 between Bali prince and the Dutch.
Balinese prince with his soldiers and family did not want to
surrender to the Dutch, but decided to face them until the
last drop of blood. This event was known as Puputan Lombok.
The location is rally nice with the wall enclosing and water
palace is a good place for relax under the shade. Original
Lombok music may not exist, but so far what is called Tandak
Gerok, a set of instruments consist of bamboo flutes, rebab,
and kempli ( bamboo knocked instruments ) are used during the fold
play after harvesting time, especially harvesting the rice.
The most unique religion is waktu telu religion, a mixed indigenous
with Hindu and Islam. They do not fast a month but only 3
days during Ramadhan, do not pray 5 times, and do not make
pilgrimage, and no objection of eating pork. The famous temple
for this believe is Lingsar Temple, where is also a Hindu
temple on the side. It was built in 1744 by royal court of
Karangasem to look similar with water palace of Karangasem
in Bali. The largest temple in Lombok built by the
royal palace in 1720 as the symbol of the kingdom and consolidated
the smaller kingdoms. The temple reflects the style and concept
of Bali. The temple as the main tourist's object in Lombok
beside Mayura Water Palace, this is especially popular combination
during Mataram City tour. The Narmada park with it's temple
is dedicated to the god residing Mount Rinjani. The location
is around 6 kms east of Sweta market, and a beautiful palace
to enjoy for hours. There are 2 swimming pools for recreation,
constructed during the kingdom of Lombok. Built in 1714 and
is considered the holiest temple in Lombok. Hindu and Waktu
Telu Moslem have the temple at the same area. Hindu temple
is the northern complex, and Waktu Telu temple is the southern
complex, built in separate section. According to the data
the younger generation of Waktu Telu Moslem is steadily leaving
their ancestor belief to joint he more Arab oriented Islam.
Suranadi temple is the one of the holiest temple sets in a
garden, and famous with it's icy cool water spring. The bath
has Balinese decorations such as carving and artistic patterns.
There is also a sanctuary in the small forest which is a pleasant
place to walk on the shade. Banyu Mulek vilage is the famous
pottery handicraft village in Lombok. Here the pots are decorated
in plant style and make outer woven basket to keep the terracotta
pot stronger. The weaving is patterned and make the pot looks
natural and beautiful. Plenty of this handicrafts works are
exported to Bali, beside it is also sold locally for art shops
and tourists. Senggigi beach has fine beach, just west of
Mataram city on the west coast of Lombok. Senggigi beach is
the most developed area in Lombok especially from tourism
business. Now dozens of accommodations from simple to five
star hotels can be found here. Also various shops and restaurants
are along the the main road of Senggigi beach. There are 3
small islands on the west coast of Lombok with white sand
beach and clear water. Those are Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili
Trawangan. These 3 Gilis are already inhabited by local people
from Lombok. Gili Air is the most densely populated around
one thousand people there. All Gilis are developed for
tourists resort, especially for diving program and snorkeling
in their clear water and white sandy beaches. Tete Batu is
a place with a very beautiful view of South and east Lombok,
while northern area is the slope of Mount Rinjani. Near Tete
Batu there are waterfalls and monkey forest, with black monkeys.
The place is a perfect choice for an absolute retreat with
it's many simple accommodations. Sukarara village is the center
of Lombok traditional weaving craft. The village is so famous
among tour operators in planning tour program in Lombok which
caused the village is crowded and commercial. This Lombok
weaving cloth has very typical ethnic tone. Foreigners look
it very much as a collection of the ethnic specialty or just
for hobby. If you have the chance to visit Lombok, take a
full day tour called Full day Sasak Traditional tour, and
ask the tour operator to stop at the village. Panujak
village is known for it's authentic terracotta pottery making.
Their technique of production might be the most simple one.
Besides pottery they also make figurines of animals as a gift
items for tourists or for selling in big amount. Most of their
products are exported to Bali, so it will not strange that
in Bali this handicraft look like Made in Bali, as some of
them got new decoration again. Rambitan village is a traditional
Sasak village where architecture, pattern of living, and the
materials used for construction are typical. One who want
to see Sasak culture is good to see this village closely to
have a rather complete insight on their life. There are many
Sasak village have changed their original setting of their
village due to the modernization. The name Kuta in Lombok
is just by coincidence with Kuta in Bali, but the two place
is incomparable for anything. Kuta Lombok is famous for it's
clear water and white sandy beach. On the beach of Kuta around
February or March is organized a tribal event called "Putri
Nyale" where people collecting Nyale a kind of sea worms.
If the number of collection is big they said it is the sign
of good harvest, and so does the contrary. After collecting
the sea worms the boys will take their boat or canoe run after
another while shouting noisily. |