Kelimutu Lake is part of the Kelimutu National Park and one of Flores Island's beautiful attractions. In addition to the charms of Komodo Island, Pink Beach, Rinca Island, and Padar Island, which are included in the Ministry of Tourism's priority tourist destinations, Lake Kelimutu's beauty is known in Indonesia and around the world.
Do you still remember the image on the old Rp5,000 banknote? That image represents another natural wonder in eastern Indonesia. Yes, the beauty of Kelimutu Lake, the stunning lake with three distinct colours, is located on Flores Island, NTT.
About Lake Kelimutu
Lake Kelimutu, also known as Mount Kelimutu or Three-Colored Lake, is one of Indonesia's natural wonders. It is located in eastern Indonesia, specifically in Pemo Village, Kelimutu District, Ende Regency, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, about 66 km from Ende Regency.
This lake covers an area of approximately 1,051,000 square meters and has three lakes of different colours. Above it are hills, so we can enjoy the beauty of this lake from the top of the hill.
The beauty of Lake Kelimutu was first discovered by a Dutchman of Lio descent, Van Such Telen, in 1915. The lake became increasingly known worldwide after it was painted by Y. Bouman in 1929.
Kelimutu itself comes from the words Keli and Mutu. Keli means mountain, and Mutu means boiling. This lake has a water volume of approximately 1,292 million cubic meters and has three colours: red, blue, and white. These three colours are constantly changing.
According to science, this change results from a chemical reaction caused by minerals in the water and gases from the volcano. It also depends on natural conditions or weather, as well as the acidity levels around the lake.
The blue lake, which I see more accurately as turquoise, is known as Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai. This lake is a gathering place for the souls of young men and women who have died.
The red lake, known as Tiwu Ata Polo, is a gathering place for the souls of people who have died and committed many crimes during their lifetime. Meanwhile, the white lake, known as Tiwu Ata Mbupu, gathers the souls of older adults who have died.
Lake Kelimutu or Mount Kelimutu, located at an altitude of 1,639 meters above sea level or about 5,277 feet, is a volcanic mountain that last erupted in 1968. This volcano erupted 11 times between 1830 and 1996. On February 26, 1992, Lake Kelimutu or Mount Kelimutu was designated the Kelimutu National Nature Reserve. The state protects its condition.
Access to Kelimutu National Park
To get to Lake Kelimutu, you can fly from Jakarta to H. Hasan Aroeboesman Airport, the only airport in Ende Regency. Upon arrival at Ende Airport, you can continue your journey to Moni Village, the closest village at the foot of Mount Kelimutu. You can rent a four-wheeled or two-wheeled vehicle. Yesterday, I decided to rent a four-wheeled vehicle even though only two of us were there.
The journey is about 50 km from H. Hasan Aroeboesman Airport, or about an hour's leisurely drive to Moni Village. From Moni Village to Kelimutu National Park is about 15 km.
Entrance Ticket Prices
As of May 2023, the entrance ticket price to the Mount Kelimutu National Park area is IDR 20,000 per person for domestic tourists. Meanwhile, for foreign tourists, it is IDR 150,000 per person. Parking fees for two-wheeled vehicles are IDR 5,000.00, and for four-wheeled vehicles, IDR 10,000.00.
Kelimutu National Park Facilities
Some of the facilities available around the Kelimutu National Park area are:
- Entrance Ticket Gate
- Toilets
- Parking area for two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles.
- Gazebo for resting.
- Food and beverage stalls.
- Guide services.
- Accommodation around Moni Village.
Many also offer photo sessions in this area with traditional attire or cultural artefacts, such as swords. Before taking photos, please ask about the price first to avoid misunderstandings.
My Experience Visiting Lake Kelimutu, Flores
Last year, around May, I travelled around East Nusa Tenggara for the second time. While my previous trip in 2016 lasted almost a month, last year's trip was only about two weeks, with the destination being Ende Regency and its surroundings.
One of the tourist destinations I visited was Lake Kelimutu, also known as Mount Kelimutu, Kelimutu National Park, or the beautiful Three-Colored Lake. Around 4 a.m., I left the hotel to head to the Three-Colour Lake. It was raining heavily when we left, but my friend and I continued in our four-wheeled vehicle. The journey took about 30 minutes from where I was staying.
We arrived around 4:30 a.m. at the entrance gate. There was an entrance gate guarded by Kelimutu National Park staff. From the gate to the parking lot took about five minutes.
Since the rain was still falling quite heavily, we stopped to drink tea at one of the local coffee shops that were already open. Finally, around 5 a.m., my friend and I started hiking.
My friend wanted to enjoy the sunrise, even though it was uncertain whether it would appear due to the rain. However, at least we were at the peak around 7 a.m., when the sun was supposed to rise, even though the sunrise might not appear.
Contrary to the local community's beliefs, the lake's changing colours indicate that many ancestors who have passed away are gathering there. When the lake's colour changes, the local community performs a ritual offering for the spirits who have passed away and gathered at the lake.
During the trip to the lake, I was accompanied by a guide who was a member of the local community. He told me many stories about the lake's history. From him, I learned that each lake colour has a meaning and power related to the indigenous culture of the Flores tribe.
The journey from the parking lot to the central peak takes 30-60 minutes, depending on walking speed. Wearing raincoats, we began walking, accompanied by local guides who showed us the way. It was a pleasure to chat with the local people, and our horizons broadened.
We learned about the local customs, their way of life, and more. From these local guides, I learned a lot about being grateful for every blessing that God has given us, including the local guide.
Along the way, he explained the history of Lake Kelimutu. It was more or less as I described above. He has been a local guide for Mount Kelimutu for many years. My friend and I strolled. One of my travelling characteristics is never rushing to reach tourist destinations. I always enjoy every second of my journey.
In the middle of the trip, the rain began to subside. Kelimutu began to brighten up, even though it was still foggy after the rain. The path was relatively narrow at the beginning of the trip. After about ten minutes, we found that the path flattened out and widened.
It was already almost 5:30 p.m. Since my friend and I were taking time, it took us almost an hour to reach the summit. We took lots of photos along the way. Along the road, we found several Kelimutu Welcome monuments with information written on them. Before reaching the summit, we also found a small path leading to one of the Kelimutu lakes.
The journey to the summit was quite steep, but the path was evident because it was open terrain. So, along the way, we could clearly see a desert-like expanse filled with steep rocks.
Near the summit, the path had been neatly constructed as stairs. You have to climb about 200 steps to enjoy this colourful lake. It is safe, but I recommend trekking shoes to reach the summit. The stairs and steep rocks can hurt your feet. Lakes one and two are close to each other. The third lake is located below, so there is a special path to see the third lake before reaching the summit.
A monument marks the summit of Lake Kelimutu. Tourists can take photos at this monument as proof of their visit. We can also see all three lakes from the top of the monument. Unfortunately, the lakes did not change colour when I visited, perhaps because it was not the right season. According to my guide, two. Two lakes were blue or turquoise, while the third was blacky green. I am not sure.
No tourists violated the rules while at the summit, as there are designated areas that cannot be stepped on, as determined by Kelimutu National Park for visitor safety. After taking several photos at this beautiful lake, at around 9 a.m., we finally decided to descend and continue our journey to several other tourist destinations on Flores.
That was my experience visiting the tourist destination of Kelimutu National Park, also known as Kelimutu Lake, Three-Colored Lake, or Mount Kelimutu. Feel free to use whichever name you prefer. Has anyone else visited this tourist destination? If so, please share your experience in the comments section.
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