bandung hotels, tourism and travel

Wednesday, 01 March 2006 15:51

Not far from Cangkuang Temple and just 10 km north of Garut is the small Lake Bagendit (Situ Bagendit).  It i situated on the kind of tranquil country-side that is so typical of this area.

Local legend has it that in the year 1812 a rich but greedy man by the name of Bagendit traveled here and perished in a terrible storm.  One version of the story says that the man died in the jungle, was eaten by animals, and that the lake formed after this incident.  Another version has it that Bagendit died when his boat capsized on the lake.

You can reach Lake Bagendit via back road from Cangkuang Temple east of Leles.  ASk locals or refer to the Tour Log at the end of thi section.  Alternatively, you can reach the lake from Tarogong: keep to the left toward Tasikmalaya and then to the left again 1.5 km after the round-about in Tarogong.  From there it is another 8 km to the lake.

Today, Lake Bagendit is a recreation spot on a modest scale.  Small rafts are for hire and a few stalls sell food and drink.  On the western bank of the lake is a somewhat curious pyramid-like hill with terraced rice fields.  Local people say there is nothing special about this structure, but it looks so strange taht one can't help but warrants an archeological investigation.