Bantaragung Village in Majalengka, Tourist Destination for Guardians of Nature and People

Bantaragung Village in Majalengka is changing its face through sustainable tourism. Cipeuteuy Waterfall is the main magnet.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Visitors relax in the Curug Cipeuteuy area in Bantaragung Village, Sindangwangi District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Monday (22/4/2024). There, visitors can enjoy the waterfall or curug, swim in the pool, and even camp amidst the pine trees. The community has developed this tourist destination since 2009.

A dozen years ago, Bantaragung in Majalengka Regency, West Java, was not attractive. Not only did it not receive visitors, but its residents also chose to migrate. Now, through sustainable tourism, the face of this village is slowly changing. Tourists come, and residents return.

The shade of tall pine trees greeted visitors on Monday (22/4/2024) afternoon. The heat of the sun penetrated through the rows of pine trees. The sound of cicadas and crickets accompanied footsteps on the trail. After 200 meters, the sound of a waterfall could be heard.

This is a snippet of the atmosphere of Cipeuteuy Waterfall in Bantaragung Village, Sindangwangi District. Curug in Sundanese means waterfall. The water that falls from a height of 12 meters is a magnet for visitors. Apart from taking photos, tourists also soak in the pool near the waterfall.

"Here is peaceful and still very natural. Other places have already undergone many changes," said Dede (30), one of the visitors.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Visitors relax in the Curug Cipeuteuy area in Bantaragung Village, Sindangwangi District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Monday (22/4/2024). There, visitors can enjoy the waterfall or curug, swim in the pool, and even camp amidst the pine trees. The community has developed this tourist destination since 2009.

This hijab-wearing woman came with her relatives. She rode a motorcycle for about 1.5 hours from her home in Lemahabang, Cirebon Regency, to get to Curug Cipeuteuy.

"This is my first time here. You know from social media (social media). "The place is cool, the road also stimulates adrenaline, ha-ha-ha," he said.

The path to the area with an altitude of around 700 meters above sea level is indeed quite challenging. There are uphill and downhill roads.

Besides taking photos and enjoying the cool temperature, Dede also tasted the coldness of the waterfall. He cannot easily find that atmosphere near his home, which is not far from two steam power plants. Therefore, he plans to invite other relatives to visit Curug Cipeuteuy.

Change

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

A portrait of a villa with a terraced rice field background in Ciboer Pass, Bantaragung Village, Sindangwangi District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Monday (22/4/2024). Ciboer Pass is one of the tourist destinations in the village that offers a terraced rice field view. In the area, visitors can stay and enjoy the green rice fields.

Dede's enthusiasm contrasts with the past conditions. A dozen years ago, hardly any tourists knew about Curug Cipeuteuy. Even residents ignored it.

“Previously, this area was bushy. There is indeed a waterfall, but nothing is done about it. "Mostly, people here just pass by to farm above," said Sutardi (44), a local resident.

In the past, residents were more interested in planting vegetables, taking wood, and tapping pine trees in the upper part of Curug Cipeuteuy. Being located in Mount Ciremai, the area is quite fertile. The highest mountain in West Java with an altitude of 3,078 meters above sea level is indeed a source of livelihood for the community.

Also read: Exploring Tourist Destinations on the South West Java Route

However, in 2004, the government declared Gunung Ciremai a national park. As a consequence, the community was no longer allowed to freely plant or take anything from the area. Residents had to think creatively to find new sources of income.

In 2009, residents who are members of the Ciremai Mountain Tourism Community (MPGC) began transforming the bush area into a waterfall tourism destination. The Ciremai Mountain National Park Office (BTNGC) also supports the initiative by maintaining nature and complying with regulations.

Haunted

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

The atmosphere of the camping area in the Cipeuteuy Waterfall area in Bantaragung Village, Sindangwangi District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, Monday (22/4/2024).

Sutardi admitted that not all of the 100 families in his area were optimistic about the plan. "This area is known to be haunted and scary. Who wants to play here? "It's difficult to access the road," he said, echoing the views of a number of residents.

However, MPGC is still trying to present a waterfall tourist destination. Some people donated money, energy and food.

"Everyone's excited. In fact, there were people who were pecked by snakes. He was taken to hospital. Thank God, I'm safe," he said.

Slowly Cipeuteuy Waterfall is becoming more and more well known. Moreover, there are camping, outbound and trekking facilities. Currently, he said, 2,000-3,000 people visit the destination every month. In fact, before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the number could be 4,000 tourists per month.

With a ticket price of Rp 15,000 per person, the potential revenue in that destination could reach Rp 45 million per month. This does not include parking fees. In addition to tourism operational costs, the funds are also used to help Quran teachers, mosques, and community needs.

Now, the flow of the river from the waterfall is increasing. In the past, its discharge was small. This means that the springs here are still preserved because many trees are not cut down.

In fact, Cipeuteuy Waterfall contributes to village income and non-tax state income. For residents, the economic growth of this tourist destination can be seen from the emergence of food stalls and dozens of homestays. Not only that, people's awareness of protecting nature is also increasing.

"To be honest, I used to be like stealing wood here. I sell the twigs for snacks and buy rice. Since the tour started, I have a new toy. "It's not optimal, but it can develop the economy and protect nature," said Sutardi, who helped build Cipeuteuy Waterfall.

According to him, residents no longer tap pinus trees. When tapping was rampant, residents had to cut down unproductive trees that were around 30 years old.

"Now the river flow from the waterfall has increased. In the past, the flow was small. This means that the springs here are still preserved because many trees have not been cut down," he said.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Residents relaxing in the Curug Cipeuteuy area of Bantaragung Village, Sindangwangi District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Monday (22/4/2024). Visitors can enjoy the waterfall or "curug", soak in the pool, and even camp amidst the pine trees.

Not only minimizing logging, residents are also actively planting. Every year, 500-1,000 seeds of endemic Ciremai plants are planted. Bambang Surya Atmaja (32), manager of Cipeuteuy Waterfall, said that the trees included, among other things, picung (Pagium edule) and salam (Syzygium polyanthum).

"The planting is in critical areas," said Bambang, who is usually called Ibenk.

For Ibenk, tourism makes him care for the environment and love his village more. "After graduating from junior high school, I migrated to Jakarta and other regions. That's just how it is here. I have also worked in Malaysia. When it comes to developing tourism, I returned to the village," he said.

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The development of tourism in Bantaragung Village also rescued Maman (29) from losing his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The cafe where he earned a living in Bogor, West Java, had to close down and leave employees unemployed. He went back to his hometown and started working at Curug Cipeuteuy.

"I was asked to go back there. But, I still want to be in the village. Even though the income is not as big as in Bogor, it is good here. "Close to family, no worries about staying in the room," said this vocational high school graduate.

Organic rice fields

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Residents use buffaloes to plow the fields in Bantaragung Village, Sindangwangi District, Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Monday (22/4/2024). In addition to cultivating the land, buffaloes are also utilized as one of the tourism attractions in the area. The village government has developed Ciboer Pass, a tourist destination that presents views of rice fields and organic rice cultivation.

The perseverance of the community has finally made Curug Cipeuteuy the pioneer of other tourist destinations in Bantaragung Village. There is Awilega Camping Ground at an altitude of 150 meters above sea level, Bukit Batu Semar, and the latest addition, Ciboer Pass, which presents a terrace rice field panorama similar to Ubud in Bali.

Despite having their own uniqueness, those tourism destinations carry the same theme: sustainability by preserving nature. In Ciboer Pass, since 2021, the village government has partnered with the Bank of Indonesia Cirebon Representative Office to develop organic agriculture.

Initially, the village's one-hectare rice field was cultivated using natural materials. For example, fertilizers came from goat, chicken, and even rabbit urine. The manure piled up at the edge of the rice field and in the fertilizer storage area. The aroma of fermented chicken manure wafted.

"We are getting many benefits from organic farming. With organic farming, the livelihood chain (in the rice fields) is not disrupted, the soil becomes more fertile, and the rice produced is healthier," said Usaeri (55), the Chairman of the Cikarikil Farmers' Group.

Rice production has also increased. "During last year's gadu season (second planting), I got 3.5 tons of dry milled rice. Before using organic methods, the most I got was 2 tons of paddy," said a farmer who cultivates a 5,000 square meter field.

Now, there are already 4 hectares of organic rice fields in Bantaragung. Not only used for farming, the rice fields also attract tourists. Visitors can learn how to farm and plow the fields using buffaloes, following the traditional practices that still thrive in the village.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Residents use buffalo to plow the fields in Bantaragung Village, Sindangwangi Subdistrict, Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Monday (22/4/2024). Aside from being used to cultivate the land, buffaloes are also utilized as a tourist attraction in the area.

At Ciboer Pass, tourists can stay at villas or enjoy coffee in cafes with a terraced paddy field view. They can also enjoy "nasi liwet" made from harvested rice. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) products also grow from the hands of local mothers.

For example, Tuti (40), the head of the Mertasela Kitchen Group, prepares a package of nasi liwet, banana chips, and kue cucur. "With this tourism, we gain experience, learn new things, and get extra income. Instead of idling around without direction," she said with a smile.

Before Eid, for example, this mother of two children was busy serving requests for 2,000 packages of various types of cakes. In October 2023, his house also became a homestay for American students studying culture. "We met a lot of guests," said this high school graduate.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

A resting place and restaurant stand on top of a hill with a view of terraced rice fields in the Bantaragung area, Majalengka Regency, West Java, on Friday (18/8/2023). The beautiful landscape of rice fields in Bantaragung makes the area one of the tourist destinations in Majalengka.

Not surprisingly, Bantaragung Village won various awards. From the third winner of the Indonesian Pesona Award in the 2017 Popular Hidden Paradise category, the winner of the 2018 Achievement Conservation Development Village, to the second winner in the Digital and Creative category of the 2023 Indonesian Tourist Village Award.

For Ibenk, his village's tourism will continue to grow with the presence of the West Java Kertajati International Airport and the airport city (aerocity), about 55 kilometers from Bantaragung. He also hopes that tourism events such as Cycling de Jabar, a cycling event from Cirebon, Kuningan, Majalengka to Pangandaran, can showcase the potential of the region, including Bantaragung.

"We are increasingly enthusiastic about developing tourism in the village with the presence of all this," he said.

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