Selomangleng Cave in Kediri Regency, East Java Province

A famous cave resides in Kediri Regency and the name is Selomangleng. In terms of region, it belongs to Pojok Village at Mojoroto Sub-District. The location is considered strategic, as it resides near to the downtown and Airlangga Museum. Thus, everyone (including the locals and tourists) is able to reach the cave without hassles. In terms of name, “Selo” means a rock while “Mangleng” means tilted. The locals named it due to the unique landscape where the cave is located. For the information, it resides on the foot of Klotok Mountain. As for tourist activities, people come to the cave for photography, exploration, and learning history.

The Nuance
Selomangleng Cave is considered more unique than other caves out there. The most significant feature is the presence of stone piles, surrounding the entrance of the cave. Some of them are even carved! As for the nuance, it depends on where tourists conduct an exploration. At the exterior part, tourists would be astonished by the rocky landscape. Also, along the way to the entrance, a Dwarapala Arca or Statue resides. It has a small size and imperfect condition, though. Inside, it is both dark and damp. Moreover, the smell of incense is quite strong there.

Exploring Selomangleng Cave
As mentioned above, the cave is located on a hill. Have no worries. It doesn’t require much time to reach the site. A short trekking is enough to get there and tourists can enjoy a beautiful panorama along the way to the cave. Once arriving on the site, they may see the piles of rocks and the Arca right away. Before entering the cave, therefore, it is recommended to take photos of those unique objects.

The real fun starts once tourists get in the cave. One thing, it is recommended to carry a flashlight and wear proper footwear during the exploration. The damp and dark nuance would give an uncomfortable feeling to visitors, after all. It is also better to come with a local guide who knows the route well. For the information, the cave has three chambers. The main space is located right in front of the entrance. From the main chamber, tourists may find small holes (located on both right and left) that lead to other spaces.

These days, Selomangleng Cave has turned into a prime vacation spot for everyone. In fact, visitors can find a bathing pool in that area. They must pay some money to use the facility, though. Another recommended activity is to learn history. It is said the cave once became Dewi Kilisuci’s hermitage site. This woman gave up the world affairs and became an ascetic instead.

Nearby Attractions

• Maskumambang Mountain
• Kebangsaan Monument
• Sunflower Garden
• Watu Bengkah

How to Get There
From Surabaya City, tourists can take Surabaya – Mojokerto Highway first. Later, they may continue the trip to Kediri City by taking Mojokerto – Kertosono Highway. For the information, the distance is 120 km, so the trip would take around 2 hours. Once tourists arrive at Kediri Regency, they must take Raya Kediri – Pare Street in order to reach Selomangleng Cave. This trip takes approximately 47 minutes, as the distance is 29.8 km. It can be either faster or slower depending on the traffic, though.

Where to Stay

• Salma Hotel
• Coconut Hotel
• Lotus Garden Hotel