Indonesia lombok. Indonesia, Lombok Island: in search of "white sandy beaches"

Lombok Island, which is part of the Indonesian islands, is a place where tourists from different countries go to spend time without the fuss and crowds. Holidays in Lombok, Indonesia are affordable prices, beaches, entertainment, attractions for those who appreciate a leisurely pastime surrounded by exotic natural beauties.

There are several options to visit the island of Lombok:
1. By ferry or boat. Round the clock ferry service is organized from the nearest island of Bali. The starting point is the port of Padang Bay, the place of arrival in Lombok is the port of Lembar. Travel time is 3 to 6 hours. The ticket price is IDR 80,000 per person. There is no clear timetable for ferries, the average interval is 2-3 hours.

2. By plane. From the same island of Bali, you can go to Lombok by plane. The ticket will cost from 40 euros. Air travel from Indonesian Jakarta will cost at least 90 euros. New airport The island has been receiving international flights since 2011. Direct flights link Lombok with Singapore and Malaysia. The cost of a round-trip ticket from Singapore is from 360 euros.

You can take a taxi to the resting place from the airports or the port of Lembar. The price is most often negotiated with the taxi driver. The main rule is to bargain.

By the way, a bus runs from the international airport to the popular tourist area - Senggiji. Ticket price 20,000 rupees. For comparison, a similar route by taxi will cost 160,000 rupees.

Lombok Island: features of recreation

The main direction of recreation is a calm, measured pastime on the beach.
However, rest on the east and rest on west coast has differences.

Tourist areas and beaches

Resort Senggigi

The resort area in the western part of Lombok is located 50 km from the international airport. The western part of the island differs well developed infrastructure. Walking through local shops, you should pay attention to products made of silk or fabric using gold and silver threads. No less valuable are the masterpieces of local potters.

The beaches of Senggigi

The beaches of this resort area- the best in Lombok. The sand here is gray-beige, and the grains of sand reach the size of a black peppercorn. The beach line is wide. There is a feeling of emptiness. Large hotels designed for foreign tourists have their own territory on Senggiji beach. Each such site is equipped with everything necessary for a quality holiday on the coast. Near central beach The resort is located popular among Indonesians beach - Kerangdangan.

Eastern part of the island

An ordinary tourist who prefers comfort rarely visits the east coast of Lombok, but surfers in the village of Kuta are frequent guests. Despite the complete absence of any tourism infrastructure, there are several decent guesthouses and comfortable hotels here. The beaches of the eastern part of the island are characterized by lighter, almost white, sand. In addition to areas ideal for surfers and windsurfers, there are beaches that are well suited for families:

• Mavun Lagoon, located among the hills with lush vegetation.
• Novotel Hotel Beach - Pantai Putri Nyale.
• Tanjung A'an Beach, the water here is a deep turquoise color.
• Air Guling Bay is the closest to Kuta and is an ideal place to relax with children.

Things to do in Lombok

The nature of the island has created several interesting objects that are worth a visit while relaxing on Lombok in 2020. Among them:

1. Rinjani volcano, almost 4000 meters high. Climbing the volcano takes a whole day. During the ascent, meetings with representatives of the local fauna are not uncommon. Such an excursion is a great opportunity to see the picturesque mountainous areas. At the top is a beautiful volcanic lake.
2. Sendang Gila Waterfall, located a 30-minute walk from Senaru village, is the most beautiful waterfall on the island. By the way, after walking up the river for about an hour, you can see another waterfall - Tui Kelep.
3. Lake Danau-Segara-Anae.

Vacationers on east coast you can walk through the many hiking trails this part of the island.

In addition to natural parks, Lombok has historical and cultural sites.

The main attractions of Lombok

1. Narmada Water Park is a large-scale landscape and architectural complex founded in the 19th century. There are many springs and lakes in the park. The Fountain of Youth is also equipped here, the water from which, according to local residents, contributes to its extension.
2. The Pura Kalasa temple is a vivid example of Hindu culture, located on the territory of Narmada Park.
3. Mayura Water Palace, built in the middle of the 18th century. A walk through the territory of the palace park is an opportunity to enjoy interesting sculptural objects, fountains and admire the picturesque lake.
4. Villages of craftsmen, among which are: the village of weavers - Sukarare, the village of Penuyak, where clay products are made, and the village of Suradi, its inhabitants make bags and jewelry from palm leaves.

The presence of interesting cultural sites, the Indonesian flavor and the absence of a large concentration of tourists on the beaches make it possible to organize a calm and quite diverse vacation. Lombok Island, Indonesia is a suitable place for families with children, lovers of water activities and connoisseurs of secluded beach holiday.

Solitude and Lombok are practically synonymous words. Tourist infrastructure is most developed in the western part of the island of Senggigi. There, tourists will be able to do nothing and shop with full dedication. The island is famous for its pottery, silk and fabrics with gold and silver thread, handmade by local craftsmen.

Excellent surfing can be found on the other side of the island, in the resort of Kuta (not to be confused with the resort of the same name in Bali).

How to get to Lombok

The island of Lombok can be reached in 2 and a half hours by comfortable express boats. By air, you can fly here in half an hour, on a daily flight Bali - Lombok - Bali. You can fly to Lombok and directly - from Singapore or Jakarta.

Search for flights to Denpasar (nearest airport to Lombok)

Rules of conduct and safety

If you are going to visit some remote rural areas on your own, it would be prudent to take care of finding a local guide. Often the inhabitants of such places do not know not only English, but also Indonesian, so it will be possible to communicate with them only in the Sasak language.

In addition, in some places on Lombok, morals are quite strict. If you're planning to visit the countryside, religious sites, or government offices, it's best to wear something more modest. Women on a trip would do well to have a pareo with you - you can put it on if you decide to leave the beach for a while in one swimsuit, besides, it perfectly protects from the sun and wind.

Be careful with local alcohol. On the island, things are not particularly favorable with him, so if it seems to you that you feel worse, it is better to consult a doctor just in case (however, in case of a slight ailment the next morning, it is probably not necessary to go to the hospital).

Be sure to bring insect repellant with you. It is unlikely that you will be bitten by malarial mosquitoes if you rest on one of popular resorts, but it's still pretty sad to itch until the very end of the trip because of one small mistake.

And, what about local traditions - in Lombok it is customary to take off your shoes when entering someone's house (and even to the reception rooms of some companies) and it is not customary to give your left hand or pass something with your left hand to someone with whom you are not too close. Failure to comply with these two rules is considered very rude here.

Holidays on the island of Lombok

Shopping: shops

Pottery, silk and woven products with gold and silver thread, handmade by local craftsmen, are the main souvenirs from Lombok.

Beaches

The island's best beaches are in the Sengjiji area: they are wide, clean and with a blessedly low amount of frying and steaming. A distinctive feature of the Lombok coast is beaches with grains of sand the size of a pea of ​​black pepper in gray-beige color. A handful of such sand is another important souvenir that is taken away from Lombok.

Kitchen

The word "lombok" is Indonesian for "chili pepper", but the local cuisine is generally not as spicy as one might think.

One of the island's most popular dishes is called ayam taliwang. The locals can't agree on exactly which recipe should be considered authentic, but the most common variation of the dish is chicken in a rather spicy tomato sauce with lots of spices. Its taste can be both mild and very spicy, so it's best to check when you order.

One of the things not to be missed when visiting Lombok is the local traditional massage.

The main food of the inhabitants of the island and an obligatory item on the menu of any cafe is rice with various additives. In terms of the amount of rice consumed, the islanders are hardly inferior to the Japanese, and the additives are quite diverse. In addition to vegetables (this is a mandatory part of the program), nuts, fish, chicken, meat or tofu can be added to rice, and as a condiment, you will probably be offered sambal sauce, which is based on ground red pepper.

Prices in restaurants and cafes in Lombok are highly dependent on their location. Lunch at a restaurant in one of the popular resorts will be quite expensive, and the dishes offered there will be adapted to European cuisine. In other places, you can find many small restaurants called warung, which are more oriented towards the locals. If you are interested traditional cuisine they are exactly what you need.

Alcoholic drinks can be bought almost everywhere, but since the majority of the population of Lombok is Muslim, in some areas (particularly in Praya) there is a ban on the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants. Also, alcohol is heavily taxed throughout Indonesia - it could very well be that a bottle of wine ends up being the most expensive meal on your order.

Popular hotels in Lombok

Entertainment and attractions of Lombok

Here are held interesting excursions to Rinjani volcano, Sendang-Gila waterfall and Danau-Segara-Anae lake. In the sea in the neighborhood are three coral Gili Islands: Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan, with white sand beaches, bays with clear water and coral reefs. You can get to the nearest of them in 15 minutes by ferry - this is perfect place for picnics, diving and snorkelling. In addition, there are several villages-museums of Lombok Aboriginal Sasaks on the island.

One of the things not to be missed when visiting Lombok is the local traditional massage. You don’t even need to go anywhere for this, you can get a massage right on the beach, under the relaxing sound of the waves. In addition to the fact that this massage is extremely pleasant, it is believed that it has an excellent therapeutic effect. It is still one of the main methods of treating many diseases among Sasak healers and is very popular among all segments of the island's population.

Fishing is another traditional entertainment on the island. There are many places where you can rent a boat with all the necessary equipment and go fishing in the sea - for a day or longer. It's very relaxing, but be careful - you should keep an eye on the weather forecast and don't swim too far.

And if you want more active rest- on the island there are excellent bike tours for you, where you can stretch your muscles after lying on the beach while the guide tells about local attractions.

Lombok Island, is located in Indonesia between the islands and Sumbawa, and is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands in the Malay archipelago. City Mataram is the main administrative center of the island. 40 km from it there is international Airport, though the number of overseas flights is less. They fly in and. The distance from Mataram Airport to Senggigi is 55 km. You can get there by Damri Damri buses - it's convenient and inexpensive. A new international airport was built in the city of Praya Praya - this is to the south.

Lombok has two seaports one in the southwest of the port of Lembar, the other in the east of the island. You can get to Lombok from other islands, Sumbawa, Flores by ferry, ship (more on that in the next article). There are also private boats and boats, which are also engaged in transportation.

I bought a ticket for 159 thousand rupees, and not for 200, as requested by the husband of the hostess. Travel Tip - Never give money up front. The girl with whom I went on the ship warned that there would be a lot of people and that you need to take care of your things very much, which of course bothered and did not let you relax.

My budget for two incomplete days.

I traveled from the port to Senggigi for 60 thousand rupees + accommodation with a light breakfast 65 thousand * 2 nights = 130 thousand rupees. For all this time I spent 50 thousand rupees on food, including cake and coconut. Drove again to the port 50 thousand rupees.

In continuation of my "great" journey through Indonesia and South East Asia I traveled further east to see the volcano on Flores Island. swam on

Lombok is a picturesque island in Indonesia, part of the Malay Archipelago. On the south side it is washed by the waters indian ocean, and on the north side - the waters Pacific Ocean. Located 100 km east of Bali and separated from it by the Lombok Strait. Since the opening of the international airport in 2011, Lombok has become one of the favorite holiday destinations for tourists from all over the world.

The total area of ​​Lombok is 5435 sq. km. The length of land from north to south is 80 km, and from east to west - no more than 70 km. The highest point of the island is the peak of the Rinjani volcano, located at an altitude of 3.72 km above sea level.

Lombok is part of the province of Nusa Tenggara. The territory of the island is divided into 4 districts (kabupatena):

• West.
• Oriental.
• Northern
• Central.

The administrative center is the city of Mataram - the largest settlement of the province, located on the western coast of the island. All the main infrastructure is concentrated here: hospitals, restaurants, offices, schools, shopping centers, post offices and government agency.

The population of Lombok is 3 million people. More than 80% of the inhabitants are representatives of the Sasak ethnic group. They live mainly in the northern, eastern, southern and central regions islands. The remaining 10% of the population are Balinese. They live mainly in the western part of Lombok.

The official language on the island is Indonesian. In the villages, almost all residents are also fluent in Sasak and Balinese. In Mataram you can meet many people who know spoken English. Usually these are street vendors, tourist guides, employees of bars, restaurants and hotels.

Climatic conditions

The climate on the island is subequatorial. The rainy season is observed from October to April. Tropical showers on Lombok are not uncommon, but each of them lasts an average of no more than 1 hour. About 1600 mm of precipitation falls per year. The dry season in Lombok lasts from the beginning of May until the end of September. This is the best time for diving, snorkeling and beach holidays.

Humidity is high, as the western equatorial and eastern tropical monsoons dominate in this climatic zone. The temperature of the surface waters of the ocean reaches 25 degrees Celsius, and in some areas even up to 30.

Beaches

Pink Beach or Tangsi Beach

This beach is one of the main attractions of the island, as the sand here is not white, but pink. It acquired an unusual shade due to the fact that water constantly erodes coastal corals and, during high tides, brings their smallest particles to the shore.

Pink Beach is divided into 3 small zones, which are located not far from each other. This is the calmest and quietest beach in Lombok, as there is only 1 hotel here, consisting of 20 small villas scattered along the coast. Not far from the beach there are several stalls where locals sell coconuts, natural juices and various seafood dishes.

The ocean floor in the Pink Beach area is dotted with coral reefs, so the beach is popular not only among beach lovers, but also among divers.

Senggigi

Quiet cozy beach with a length of about 1 km, located in the western part of the island of Lombok. Suitable for lovers of a relaxing holiday. On Senggigi you can rent a sun lounger or gazebo, enjoy meals local cuisine in a cafe, rent a surfboard or diving equipment. The water here is clean and very warm. The sand is dark, volcanic.

Kuta

Beach in the southern part of the island, very quiet and secluded place. The sand here is pure white, coarse-grained. People often rest on Kuta with children, as there are many shoals, low waves and warm water. Along the beach is the central promenade, which was completely renovated in 2017.

Attractions and entertainment

Volcano Rinjani

The last eruption here was recorded in 1996, but the volcano is still considered active. Lombok regularly hosts trekking tours to its summit. Together with a local guide, you can climb to the very edge of the crater at a height of 2700 meters and bathe in hot underground springs. Fans of extreme recreation can go even further and climb to the very peak of the mountain. The cost of the trip ranges from 110 to 220 dollars, the journey will take 2-3 days.

This is not a water park at all. water slides as many might think. The park has a large swimming pool. Botanical Garden, Royal Residence And Hindu Temple Pura Kalas. The legendary "fountain of youth" is also located here. It is believed that the water in it has rejuvenating properties. Entrance to the park costs 10,000 rupees (about $1).

Pura Meru temple complex

It was erected in 1720 during the reign of Anak Agunda. On the territory of the complex there are 33 holy relics, symbolizing the worship of three gods: Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Religious ceremonies are regularly held in the main temple. Near the gates of the complex, you can see the drums, the beating of which notifies the locals about the beginning of worship. Entrance is free, but according to tradition, tourists leave small donations for the upkeep of the temple.

Sindang Gila waterfall

It is difficult to get to it on your own, as there is a high risk of getting lost. The waterfall is located in the middle of the forest and reaches a height of 500 meters. Immediately below it is a large clean lake, in which anyone can swim. Every day, local guides lead small tours to this place for a nominal fee. amazing place.

Mayura Water Palace

Building this architectural complex was completed in 1744. Previously, the Balinese court was located in this building, but at the end of the 19th century the building was destroyed during bloody battles with the Dutch army. In the 20th century, the palace was partially reconstructed, and a luxurious park complex with many fountains and statues was laid out around it.

Best hotels

Hotel (5 stars). Small but very beautiful and comfortable hotel. It has a large swimming pool and a restaurant overlooking the ocean. The hotel offers a spa and cooking classes, where guests will learn how to cook authentic local dishes. Some suites have private pools under open sky.

Hotel (4 stars). Each room has its own balcony and air conditioning, and the apartments are beautifully decorated. The hotel is located on the first coastline, That's why walking tour the beach will take no more than 4-5 minutes. Two swimming pools are open for visitors: children's and adult. There is a spa, massage parlour, and a private tennis court.

Novotel Lombok Resort & Villas (4 stars). From the windows of the apartments you can enjoy a beautiful view of the ocean. The hotel is located next to the beach, so the walk to the ocean takes no more than 10 minutes. The distance from Novotel Lombok to the international airport is 42 km, which is very convenient, since the journey by car takes less than half an hour. Each room has a bar, safe, air conditioning. Three swimming pools, two restaurants and a kids club are open to guests.

Hotel (4 stars). The hotel is located on the first coastline, just 900 meters from the beach, there is a private beach area. The hotel has a bar with refreshing drinks and a restaurant, a spa with hot tub and an outdoor pool. Guests can rent bicycles, cars, canoes and deep-diving equipment for a reasonable fee.

Hotel The Suites Lombok (3 and 5 stars). For guests on the territory of the hotel there is a fitness room with modern exercise equipment, an outdoor pool overlooking the ocean, as well as tour agency. Water sports enthusiasts can rent canoes. The apartments have outdoor terraces, satellite TV and free Wi-Fi. The restaurant serves Asian, Chinese and American cuisine. There is a separate menu for vegetarians.

Transport

On Lombok you will find the following modes of transport:

• Bemo routes. They are passenger vans of various sizes. Roomy bemos serve long-distance intercity routes, while small vans transport people within just one locality.
• Chidomo horse carts. This type of transportation is still used in all parts of the countryside. In cities, chidomo are also found, but more as a means of recreational walks for tourists.
• Ferries. The island has several ports, all of which are served by large and small ferries. This transport runs around the clock and makes it possible to get from Lombok to Sumbawa, the Gili Islands or Bali in a few hours. The disadvantage of this method of transportation is that the cabins are often stuffy and there are no air conditioners, and being on the open deck is not always allowed. weather.
• Taxi and motorcycle taxi. One trip costs from 10,000 to 60,000 rupees.
• Tourists can also rent a car for 150-200 thousand rupees per day. This is about 500-700 rubles. It is also possible to rent a motorbike, it is much cheaper.

How to get to Lombok from Bali?

You can get from Bali to Lombok Island in the following ways:

• by plane;
• on a ferryboat;
• on high-speed boats (speedboats).

There are up to 8 flights from Bali to Lombok every day. The duration of the flight will be only 25 minutes, and this pleasure will cost 500,000 rupees (about $ 50). Air tickets can be purchased on the website Aviasales.ru. It shows all the available options of different airlines.

Ferries from Bali to Lombok run around the clock. They sail from the Padang Bay pier, located on the east coast of Bali, and moor at the port of Lembar Harbor on the island of Lombok. The trip lasts from 4 to 6 hours, depending on weather conditions. The fare is $3, ferries depart hourly.

The fastest way to get from Bali to Lombok is to get there by speedboat (speedboat). The trip will take only 1.5 hours and will cost about 200,000 rupees (about $15). The service is provided only by private transport companies. Boats depart from Sanur Beach and Padang Bay Pier.

Lombok island on the map

On this map, I marked the exact location of Lombok Island.

Lombok is often referred to as Bali's little brother. Holidays here will appeal to lovers of a calm environment, quiet beaches and wildlife. It is better to visit Lombok during the dry season (from May to September), as during this period the weather conditions are very good, it rarely rains and there are practically no storms.

The name "Lombok" means "hot pepper" in Indonesian. It was born in connection with the shape of the island: in its outlines, it really resembles a kind of pepper with a curved tail. But in the figurative sense of the word, Lombok throughout its history was very "sharp" for both the rulers of the island and for the European colonizer of this region - Holland.

History of the island

As anthropologists suggest, the Sasaks, who make up the majority of the population of Lombok, migrated from the island. It is also assumed that from India and Burma in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. But this is in theory, according to some indirect signs and information, no archaeological excavations were conducted on the island. The first fragmentary information about life on the island dates back to the 9th century. According to this historically very vague picture, it turns out that the Sasak principalities from the very beginning fell under the influence of the Balinese. This already looks like the truth. The islands are adjacent in the Malay Archipelago, and although they are almost equal in area, Bali, more developed both economically and culturally, has always been a powerful "big brother" in relation to Lombok, but most importantly - more influential. According to more reliable, albeit scattered, information from Bali, the local Lombok principalities from the 11th century. came to the Balinese in complete submission. The same sources testify that the Lombok principalities were at enmity with each other. Independence from the Balinese was achieved in the 13th century. only one local principality - Selaparang, and he managed to subjugate not only Lombok, but also part of the island of Sumbawa. In 1357, Selaparang was attacked by the Javanese principality of Majapahit, which also had colonies on the island of Sumbawa, used as a bridgehead. However, soon the Lomboks managed to drive the invaders out of their territories.
More accurate data on life on Lombok date back to the 17th century. By this time, relations between the Lomboks (Sasaks) and the Balinese had taken a friendly form: marriages were made, and not only dynastic ones. And then the colonizers appeared on the historical stage. These were the Dutch who sought to gain a foothold in the Lesser Sunda Islands. In 1667-1668. there were serious clashes between the Dutch detachments and the Lomboks. As a result, the Dutch were forced to leave Lombok, but the possessions of the principality of Selaparang on Sumbawa were seized. However, in 1674, the Dutch East India Company managed to conclude an agreement with the princess of the principality, in the form of a trade, in fact a political one, which, of course, did not please the Balinese. The Bali Principality of Karangasem had long had plans for Lombok, and in 1740 he managed to carry out his plans of conquest. No one remembered the recent idyll between the Balinese and the Lomboks during this period.
About 150 years later, relations between them became so aggravated that the Lomboks began to seek protection from the Dutch. They responded with weapons in their hands and in 1894 expelled the Balinese from the island, not failing, of course, to establish their power over it. The island became part of the Netherlands East Indies (and then almost all of present-day Indonesia was it) and from now on had to pay exorbitantly high taxes to the mother country. Realizing that they were trapped, the Lomboks now rebelled against their recent protectors, but suffered a series of defeats. As a result, the island was devastated. During the Second World War in 1942-1945. The Dutch East Indies, including Lombok, were occupied by Japan. The Dutch resisted but were defeated.
On August 17, 1945, the independence of Indonesia was proclaimed, but literally on the same day the Dutch restored colonial control in Lombok. Three more years of protracted negotiations and armed skirmishes followed, before an agreement was concluded between the Netherlands and Indonesia on Lombok in 1949: it became Indonesian.
The island of Lombok competes with Bali to this day, now - in the field of tourism.
Someone likes the brighter, ceremonial and comfortable Bali, someone likes the more provincial and less pretentious Lombok. Surfing and diving on both islands is almost equal, the service is the same, and the climate in Lombok is somewhat drier than in Bali: a relaxing holiday in a quiet "paradise", as tourists who prefer hot countries like to say, is guaranteed. For the inhabitants of the island themselves, life on it has not always been, and is, paradise. During the period 1957-1965, under President Sukarno, the communists, including those on Lombok, received support, and the poor islanders really liked the communist ideology. Under the next president, Suharto, in 1965-1998, the communists, on the contrary, began to be severely oppressed and imprisoned. Despite this and the severe droughts of 1966 and 1973, on the whole, this period is now regarded by the Lomboks as favorable. It is not easy to understand them, because it was under Suharto that they massively, due to hunger and repression, left their native island. In their assessment, if you delve into the essence of this contradiction, the main role was played by the important circumstance that in the 1980s. mass construction of hotels and other tourist infrastructure began. As soon as everything built was working, they slowly began to return to Lombok. And then a new shock struck: in 2000, in the capital of the island, the city of Mataram, violent clashes with the enterprising Chinese began, provoked by the Balinese (but not local, but who had come specially from Bali, as the Sasaks believe). Those on the island, though nothing at all about both the Sasaks and the Balinese, but they somehow managed to quickly take over the tourism business. And he, this business, which had just begun to fledge as a competitor to Bali, naturally collapsed. Only by the end of the 2010s, the warring parties somehow still managed to agree to act for mutual benefit, and now tourism is the main economic pillar of the island.
The main problem of Lombok is the lack of fresh water. The main reasons for this are the reduction in the area of ​​forests due to their uncontrolled deforestation and regular droughts. The most recent catastrophic drought occurred in 2010, when all districts of the island were declared a natural disaster zone. It is not such a rare case when a person has to walk several kilometers to bring home a bucket of water. About desalination plants sea ​​water so far, they are talking on the island only as plans for the future: they, these installations, require too much electricity, and the energy on the island is also not good. And again, with a living reproach, the same Bali, there fresh water of acceptable quality flows not only from the tap, but also in the pools.
Islam began its victorious march on the Indonesian islands in the 13th-15th centuries, it was brought by Arab seafarers from the Middle East and Indian Muslim merchants, whose retinue certainly included preachers of a new faith for the islanders. Today, most of the inhabitants of Lombok are Muslims, and Islam here, although of a distinctly pronounced Sunni persuasion, has a significant difference from all other varieties of this religion, it is customary to pray in Lombok not five times a day, but only three times. This Islam is called: “Islam of vetu body”, that is, if translated literally, “three times a day Islam”, it is especially widespread in the north of the island. What is the reason for such a deviation from orthodox norms, it is difficult to say, the rest of the Islamic world considers the Lomboks on this basis to be “fake” devout Muslims, but they are completely indifferent to this assessment. Maybe because they adhere simultaneously with Islam to the ancient beliefs of their ancestors in pagan gods, good and evil spirits, and they do not order to worry about such trifles as duties and canons.

general information

Island of the Malay Archipelago.
State affiliation: Indonesia.

Administrative affiliation: Western Province.
Administrative division : 4 districts (kabupatena), the Matarama agglomeration with its surroundings is separated into a special administrative unit - the municipality (kota), equal in status to the district.

Administrative center: Mataram.
Languages: Indonesian, Sasak, Balinese, Sasak-Balinese.
Ethnic composition: Sasaks - about 85%, Balinese - about 10%, others (peoples of Indonesia, mestizos of these peoples, as well as Chinese, Javanese, Indians, Arabs) - about 5%.
Religions: Islam - 96%, Hinduism - 3%, Buddhism - 1%. There is also a small number of Christians, mostly among the Chinese (Catholics and Protestants).

Currency unit: Indonesian rupiah.

Largest cities: Mataram - 402,296 people (2010), Selong, Pringabaya, Sugian.

Main ports: Lembar, Labukan-Lombok.

Major airport: Lombok International Airport (Mataram).

Numbers

Area: about 5435 km2.

Population: 3,166,685 (2010).

Population density: about 582.6 people / km 2.

The most high point : Rinjani (3726 m).

Climate and weather

Equatorial monsoon.

Average annual air temperature: from +26 to +35°С.
Average annual water temperature: from +26 to +27°С.
Average annual rainfall: 1600 mm.
Rainy season: November to March.

Economy

Minerals: deposits of tin, lead, iron, manganese, zinc, silver and gold have been explored.

The main source of income is tourism.

Industry: extremely insignificant - several small textile and food processing enterprises, ship repair docks.

Agriculture: cultivation of rice, corn, cotton, vegetables, coffee, breeding of goats, poultry.

Fishing.
Cultivation of artificial pearls.

Traditional crafts: pottery, weaving, beekeeping, beekeeping.

Attractions

■ Volcanic mountain Rinjani, alpine lake Segara-Anak in its caldera, hot springs on the slopes ( national park Rinjani volcano).
■ Gili islands of coral origin, a popular diving spot.
■ waterfalls: Otakokok, Sindang-Jila, Thiu-Kelep, Betara Penyang.
■ Hindu Temple Pura Meru(1720, the largest religious building on the island).
■ Pura Lingsar Temple(1714), dedicated to the so-called three-time Islam and the Hindu god Shiva.
■ Narmada Water Park(built for the royal family in the 19th century), on its territory there is a Hindu temple Pura-Kalasa, a swimming pool, a "fountain of youth", a chain of small lakes and springs.
■ Mayura Water Palace(1744).
■ Traditional artisan villages: sukarare (silk weaving according to ancient technologies), pringasela (making national clothes), suradadi (weaving from palm leaves), penuyak (pottery).
■ Gili beaches, Sinjane, Sinjiji.

Curious facts

■ The most common type of transport on the island is the two-wheeled chomboko carts, which are used in the everyday life of the islanders for their intended purpose, in tourist clusters - for unhurried walks of the guests of Lombok.
■ According to Lombok etiquette, when entering a house (and even some offices, which is usually warned in advance), it is supposed to take off your shoes. It is categorically impossible to pass anything with your left hand, and even more so to extend it to another person - this is the height of indecency, if not defiant behavior.
■ The Mayura Water Palace, unlike the “rest home” of Narmada Park, was built not for a pleasant pastime and entertainment among the water so valued in Lombok, but as a place of royal justice. In 1894, the palace was badly damaged as a result of the battle between the Dutch and the Balinese, and now this name is understood rather as a simple park, decorated, however, not only with garden sculptures and altars, but also with cannon vents.
■ Between the islands of Bali and Lombok passes - the western biogeographic border of the transition zone between the Asian and Australian flora and fauna of our planet.
■ One of the main actors during the confrontation between the Lomboks and the Dutch in 1894 was our compatriot Vasily Panteleimonovich Malygin, a native of Moldova, a mining engineer by profession. The Dutch considered him a Russian spy, but they did not understand one thing - what does Russia need in these parts? Malygin is indeed a mysterious figure in many respects. It is not clear, first of all, what prompted him to plunge headlong into this story. This is if you think from a rational point of view. And if we assume that Maligan, as he was called on the island, is the one in whom "the spirit of adventurism has not died away", then everything is lined up. One of his "ignition of water" is worth something. To win over the local raja, Maligan said that he could perform a miracle - ignite the water. Making complex passes with his hands over a vat of water, reciting incantations, he imperceptibly threw a piece of sodium into the vat. An outbreak followed, and Maligan became the Raja's first adviser. Then he obtained weapons for the Lomboks, for which he bought a ship, raised them with incendiary speeches to revolt, sat in an Indonesian prison, disappeared and appeared either in Odessa or Singapore, escaped from police surveillance in his homeland. There are also stories about an extraordinary romantic love story associated with him. But no one knows when he died and where he is buried.