Fun things to do in Bengkulu Province

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Bengkulu has a number of traditions which still continue in Bengkulu people life, one of the cultural assets is the Tabot/Tabut (an Arabic word which means the coffin), and it is an interesting attraction to enrich your experiences particularly to observe one of Indonesian's unique tradition and culture.

Tabot or now is called Tabut festival, the highlight of the Bengkulu people cultural calendar is the colorful and interesting Islamic festival, staged nearby Fort Marborough - Bengkulu city. The festival highlights music, traditional and new creation dancing contest, Bengkulu song contest, bazaar, telong-telong contest, effigies, and many more in the Bengkulu square. At the end of the festival the effigies are carried through the streets with much merriment and traditional music, and are finally tossed to the grave of Sheik Burhanuddin.

Tabut festival is held annually from 1st to 10th of the month of Muharram (Islamic Calendar). Because the date is fixed by the Islamic lunar calendar, it moves forward 10 days each year. The next Tabut festival will be held from November 15th to November 25th 2012.

It takes place at Bengkulu square to honor and recall the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandchildren, Hassan and Hussein, at the tragic battle of Kerbala-Iraq, against Yazid people.

Tabut ceremony originated from the Iraqi Shiite, brought to Bengkulu by workers (from Madras – India) who were constructing the fort Marlborough for the British East India Company. The first Tabut ceremony in Bengkulu was carried out by Sheik Burhanuddin (also known as Imam Senggolo) was from India in 1685. Sheik Burhanuddin married the woman of Bengkulu, after he passed away the Tabut ceremony was then inherited to their children, including amongst others those who assimilated with the indigenous Bengkulu inhabitants. This ceremony has been going on for quite a long time, about 3 centuries. Because of the long period, this ceremony is considered as a traditional ceremony of the Malay tribe of Bengkulu.

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Rainforests of Bengkulu province are home to both the world's tallest flower, known locally as Kibut or bunga Bangkai (Amorphophalus Titanum) and the world's largest flower Rafflesia Arnoldi.

The lili-like "Kibut" or bunga Bangkai is one of Bengkulu's floral emblems, it is one of the plants which are protected by law in Indonesia. This sensitive plant grows only once a year in primary undisturbed rainforest. It is a really rare and a unique plant, when it throws up a spectacular flower spike than can stand over 2 m (6.5 feet) high. The flower is a rich red, with a huge yellow stamen protruding from its core.

Kibut is found in many areas in the rainforests of Bengkulu province, normally in Kepahiang (60 km from Bengkulu) and in Taba Penanjung (45 km or 28 miles from Bengkulu city center) on the slopes of the Bukit Barisan Mountains, the most accessible being close to the main road halfway between Bengkulu and Curup.

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Rainforests of Bengkulu provinceare home to both the world's largest flower Rafflesia Arnoldi and the world's tallest flower, known locally as Kibut or bunga Bangkai (Amorphophalus Titanum). There are 16 species of Rafflesia, Rafflesia Arnoldi is the largest. Its flower attains a diameter of nearly a meter can weight up to 7 kg.

The Rafflesia Arnoldi which is known locally as "bunga Rafflesia" is one of the plants which are protected by law in Indonesia. It is a really rare and a unique plant. It lives as a parasite on the Tetra stigma vine, as its host. Its petals grow to 50 cm long and 2.5 cm thick. The unique of the Rafflesia is it has no observable root or stem, and no leaves. It is a parasitic plant since it has no chlorophyll and haustorium. Nutrients and water are obtained from host cell. This bizarre flower is pollinated by flies attracted by its scent. The buds take many months to develop. It stays in bloom up to 14 days and can be seen during wet season between August - November. This sensitive parasitic plant grows only once a year in primary undisturbed rainforest.

The Rafflesia Arnoldi was discovered by British Lieutenant which was appointed as Governor of Bencoolen (Bengkulu) Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and British botanist Dr. Arnold in the year of their arrival (May 1818), in Lubuk Tapi – South Bengkulu, hence the plant’s botanical name. It is now known as the official symbol of Bengkulu province.

The Rafflesia, the world's largest flower is found in many areas in the forests of Bengkulu province, normally in Taba Penanjung (45 km or 28 miles from Bengkulu city center) on the slopes of the Bukit Barisan Mountains, the most accessible being close to the main road halfway between Bengkulu and Curup. The Rafflesia also might be found in several locations in Bengkulu province:
1.Pagar Gunung, Kepahiang county.
2. Tebat Monok, Kepahiang county.
2.Talang Ulu, Curup, Rejang Lebong.
3.Suban hot spring, Curup, Rejang Lebong county.
4.Taba Rena, Curup, Rejang Lebong county.
5.Lubuk Tapi, South Bengkulu county.

Contact me if you want to get info about Rafflesia blooming at:
kurt_reyhans@yahoo.com

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Rajo Lelo Botanical Garden covers an area of 1,122 hectares. It is a conservation research station located in Desa Tanjung Terdana, Pondok Kubang - Central Bengkulu County. Bengkulu, 16 km from Rajo Lelo, is the closest city of any note and is the place to go for transport, supplies, ATMs and internet. It’s nice to spend a day in the park listening to the mating calls over the hills and watching the rain forest life swing and sing around. Most visitors come to conduct botanical researches, explore the Bengkulu countryside, hike up, watch birds or hunt for wild boars. This park receives a lot of rain throughout the year, but rain showers tend to lessen in frequency and duration from March to June. Unfortunately, the park facilities are poorly maintained, and this park still needs more and better facilities. There’s no regular transport route service to get here, you need to rent a vehicle. Permits to the park (donation) can be arranged at Rajo Lelo conservation post about 10 minutes drive from the main entrance. In theory you will need a photocopy of your passport and a permit document from the Forestry dept. but this is rarely required.
There is a hotel “ Tahura hotel” situated on the hill about 100 meters before the park main entrance.

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Driving inland from the humidity of northern Bengkulu, you gradually leave the rice terraces behind and ascend into the cool, damp hill villages around Kemumu. Palak Siring waterfall is located in Northern Bengkulu regency, about 40 km (24.9 miles) from Bengkulu city center. This lovely area is a good place to relax and use as a base for hiking around the clean small river and surrounding hills. If you don’t want to do hiking you can do some walking around to see to panorama or swimming (nearby the waterfall site) and enjoy your lunch. You can stay there or easily day trip from Bengkulu.

Kemumu lacks of tourists, though Sunday and public holidays are crowded with local visitors. Admission per person Rp. 2,000, and no parking fee. Unfortunately this beautiful place lacks of adequate facilities.

BINTUHAN is capital of KAUR District, a small town of Bengkulu, which lied at the southern end with a beautiful Beach facing Indian ocean, a stop over when we enter Lampung Province By Land, but now the road is bad, so it take long time toget there

NORTH BENGKULU is a district under the Bengkulu Province Administration, a small regency with the population about 300, 000 peoples, long ago under the Transmigration program by the Indonesian Government, Java Peoples was transmigrated to this remote area, after many years, this site become a popular town supporting Bengkulu, primarily with their Harvest of Rice, Vegetables and other Horticulture, THE CAPITAL OF nORTH bENGKULU IS ARGAMAKMUR

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When Sir Thomas Stamford Rafless Ruling Bengkulu, a botanis Josepph Arnoldi discovered a big beautiful Flower at the Rainforest of this Region, thence the Flower call by RAFLESIA ARNOLDI, as a nomenclature. Until now the Flower of Rafflesia Arnoldi become a Mascot of Bengkulu Province