Parahyangan
Discover Parahyangan
Parahyangan (or Priangan, Preanger) is a mountainous region in Western Java, Indonesia. The region is centred around West Java's provincial capital Bandung. The name 'Parahyangan' is Sundanese for 'the abode of the gods', as the Sundanese believed that spiritual entities (hyang or gods) resided in the mountain tops. The oldest remaining reference to Parahyangan dates from the 14th century, when it was part of the Sunda Kingdom. After the fall of the kingdom in the 16th century, large parts of Western Java came under the control of the sultanates of Banten and Cirebon and the Mataram Sultanate from Central Java.
What to Experience in Parahyangan
Taste of Parahyangan...
The traditional food from the region, Sundanese food, is ubiquitous and can be found everywhere from major hotels to roadside food stalls. The food is characterised by fresh (often raw) vegetables, sambal terasi (chilli sauce with shrimp paste), and fried tofu and tempeh. The city of Bandung is known as a destination for culinary tourism, not only for Sundanese food but for cuisines from throughout the Indonesian archipelago and beyond. In the major shopping malls, you can also find international food, such as Chinese, Japanese, or Italian. In traditional Sundanese restaurants, it is common to sit on a bamboo mat on the floor and eat with your hands. A small bowl of water is provided to clean your hands before eating. A well-known place to eat Sundanese food in traditional style is the Puncrut area along the hillside in Northwest Bandung, but Sundanese restaurants can be found throughout the region. A typical Sundanese dish is nasi timbel, with steamed rice wrapped in a banana leaf, served with fried or grilled chicken, duck, or pigeon, tofu and tempeh, fresh vegetables, and sambal (chilli sauce). The city of Bandung is also known for soto Bandung (clear beef soup with soybeans) and siomay Bandung (also known as baso tahu, steamed dumplings served with spicy peanut sauce). The city of Sumedang is known for its specific style of fried tofu, tahu Sumedang.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe region is served by Husein Sastranegara Airport in Northwest Bandung. There are multiple flights per day to and from Denpasar (Bali), Medan, Pekanbaru, Batam, Palembang, Surabaya, Semarang, and Yogyakarta, and daily flights to and from most other major cities in Indonesia. Multiple daily international flights arrive from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and a few per week from Johor Bahru. Many more flights, both domestic and international, arrive at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. There are frequent direct buses from that airport to Bandung. The region is traversed by the major southern railway route from Jakarta to Yogyakarta. The busiest station in Parahyangan is the central station of Bandung, with direct trains to destinations throughout Java. Other stations with good train connections beyond the region include Purwakarta and Cimahi. The Whoosh high-speed train links Jakarta-Halim with Padalarang station, 19 km northwest central Bandung, in as little as 30 minutes....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The road network is extensive, with the city of Bandung at the heart of it. For certain trips within Bandung, and from Bandung to the northeast (to Cimahi and Purwakarta) you can use tolled motorways; to other destinations, smaller regional and local roads need to be used. Roads tend to be severely congested, especially in Bandung and surrounding areas such as Lembang and Cimahi. During weekends and holidays, the roads to tourist attractions, such as the hot springs of Garut, are very busy. Off the main roads, road quality is sometimes poor; during the rainy season, flooding and landslides sometimes result in serious delays. A railway connects Purwakarta, Cimahi, Bandung, and Cibatu (near Garut). There are only a few trains per day, with most business/executive class trains stopping only at the major stations (such as Bandung's central station). Economy class trains, on the other hand, only call at secondary stations of Bandung, not at the central station.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Be aware that there are several active volcanoes in the area. Make sure to be informed about the latest situation on eruptions and volcanic activity from the Indonesian authorities when you want to climb a volcano. Keep also in mind that traffic is very busy and chaotic. If you are not used to driving in Indonesia, it is better to use public transport or to hire a car with a driver rather than attempting to drive by yourself.