WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE
Gunung Rinjani National Park lies in the Wallacea transition zone, where Southeast Asian flora and fauna blend dramatically with Australasia’s unique biodiversity. The park offers diverse plant and animal life, but the rugged terrain and dense rainforest often make sightings difficult.
Wake up early to spot the rare black Ebony leaf monkey, or Lutung. Long-tailed grey macaques, known as Kera, roam across Lombok, while older males frequently appear along the crater rim. Rusa deer wander through the forests and occasionally cross the Rinjani trekking trail. When sensing danger, the smaller Barking deer, or Kijang, lets out a sharp, dog-like bark. Wild pigs, or Babi hutan, leave behind clear signs of foraging along the trails. Other elusive forest dwellers include the Leopard cat (Bodok alas), Palm civet (Ujat), and Porcupine (Landak).
Colorful birds fill the park’s forests, with the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo standing out as an iconic species exclusive to Lombok. Many animals, insects, birds, civets, and monkeys rely on the wild fig tree (Beringin) for food and shelter. Casuarina trees (Cemara) dominate the grassy highlands, while Orchids (Anggrek) and Edelweiss (Bunga Abadi) thrive in the sub-alpine regions, enhancing the park’s breathtaking scenery.
RINJANI MULANG PAKELEM CEREMONY
Every year, Hindu devotees gather for the Mulang Pekelem ceremony, a tradition that dates back to the 18th-century Balinese invasion and settlement of Lombok.
In late 2006, more than 500 worshippers came to Segara Anak Lake, which sits 1,998 meters above sea level inside the 3,700-meter-high crater of Mount Rinjani. Hindus consider this sacred lake spiritually significant, and it also serves as a pilgrimage site for Lombok’s majority Muslim population.
The 2006 Mulang Pekelem ceremony took place on November 5, just before the Hindu Galungan and Kuningan festivals in late November and early December. Devotees gathered at the lake to offer prayers and symbolic gifts of gold, silver, and copper—crafted into fish and prawn shapes—to honor the gods. Hindus perform this ritual before each rainy season (December to March) to seek peace, prosperity, and protection for the community.
According to tradition, after the Hindu settlement in West Lombok, a devastating drought and epidemic struck the population. Guided by an apocalyptic vision, the king established these sacred ceremonies to restore balance and harmony.
This year, followers from Bali, Java, and Lombok united in this timeless spiritual practice, keeping the tradition alive.
Experience the rich biodiversity and deep cultural heritage of Rinjani National Park—a destination where nature and tradition intertwine beautifully.
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