Mount Penanggungan, East Java : Immortality of The Magical Mountain

 Mount Penanggungan is a small stratovolcano, located immediately on the north side of Arjuno-Wilerang volcanic complex in East Java province, Java island, Indonesia. Historical remain scattered across the slopes of Mount Penanggungan, most come from the Hindu-Buddhist civilization dating back to the 10th-16th centuries A.D. Back then, the mountain was called Pawitra. One of the oldest remains, the Jalatunda bath, is estimated to date back to 977 A.D. Situated on the slope of Penanggungan, the bath water is believed to grant immortality.

People come to the mountain to mediate or isolate themselves. Penanggungan is believed to have a megical charisma. According to the ancient Javanese society, the mountain's rounded, bare and hilly peak resembles that the Mahameru peak, a holy mountain in India. About 80 historical sitescan be found anywhere in the mountain, from the foot to the top. Visitors can find pyramids, meditation caves as well as small temples with various statues and stone carving.

Standing 1,653 meters above sea level, the mountain tilts between 30 to 70 degrees. Hikers usually pass through the Trawas trail at Duyung Village or Jalatunda trail at Seloliman Village to get to the peak. Jalatunda is an up hill trail, but it features various tamples like Lurah, Guru, Gentong and Carik. The mountain is located at the border of Pasuruan and Mojokerto in East Java