Ongakan Hill in Kediri Regency, East Java Province

Spending a vacation on highlands is always alluring, especially for those who love adventure. As long as tourists find a good location, they would have a good experience. In this case, Kediri’s Ongakan Hill can be a good choice. Some people also call it Kura-Kura Hill! The location is in Besowo Village and it belongs to Kepung Sub-District. As for the allures, the site offers a heaven-like panorama (especially seen from the top of the hill) and a rejuvenating nuance for relaxation. The thing is tourists must pay an entrance fee before exploring the hill.

The Nuance
After arriving at the gate, tourists should conduct trekking in order to reach the top of the hill. The pathway is steep, but it appears quite natural and beautiful. The distance between the main gate and the trekking spot is 2 km, so it would be a little bit tiring for some people. The real fun begins when tourists start trekking to the peak. They can only see green tall trees and lush bushes along the way to the destination. The nuance is quite peaceful and refreshing, as well. As for the landscape, the route is both hilly and terraced.

Exploring Ongakan Hill
Tourists’ prime purpose to visit Ongakan Hill is indeed an exploration or trekking. These people want to see the wild forests and beautiful panoramas of highlands directly. Despite the challenging trekking route, the trip would be quite memorable and fun for everyone (even for beginners). The refreshing air and peaceful atmosphere would eradicate tiredness right away. The good news is tourists can find good facilities in that area, including gazebos, viewing posts, and parking area.

After reaching the top of the hill, the best views welcome everyone. Both Kediri and Malang City can be seen clearly from up there. The views of nature are quite amazing, too! On the horizon, both mountains and hills astonish tourists. As long as tourists find the best spot for sightseeing, they won’t get disappointed. The thing is the heat of the sun can be a little bit discomforting up there, so everyone should visit the hill only during a good time (which is either in the morning or afternoon).

Photography also becomes a popular thing to do in Ongakan Hill. People choose the best objects as their background and take photos of them either using a digital camera or smartphone. What is next? According to the locals, many tourists come to the hill in order to visit other nearby natural attractions like Gajah Mungkur Waterfall, Pine Forest, and Parang Putih Cliff! Thus, don’t forget to drop by in these places later.

Nearby Attractions

• Kelud Mountain
• Teletubbies Hill
• Kampung Anggrek
• Gajah Mungkur Waterfall
• Parang Putih Cliff

How to Get There
The distance between the capital of East Java Province (Surabaya City) and Kediri City is 120 km. That means the trip may take around 1 hour and 59 minutes. It can be done fast by taking Surabaya – Mojokerto Highway first. Next, tourists should take Mojokerto – Kertosono Highway. Once reaching Kediri, the next destination would be Besowo Village at Kepung Sub-District where the hill is located. This trip only takes about 41 minutes, as the distance is 16.4 km. The best route to take is Teladan Street, actually. Also, it requires a short trekking to reach the top of the hill later.

Where to Stay

• Layar Villa