The Forgotten European Pleasure Place, Situ Garunggang Bandung

The Forgotten European Pleasure Place, Situ Garunggang Bandung - Before being known as the iconic shopping area in the Flower City of Bandung, Cihampelas was formerly a Dutch settlement. The area is calm and the cool air, characteristic of North Bandung, makes the meneers and ladies feel at home living there

To cure Europeans' homesickness for their hometown, Zweband Tjihampelas (Tjihampelas Baths) as the first swimming pool in Indonesia was once built there. But did you know that around Cihampelas there was also a water recreation area for other Dutch people?

Place tour it is called Situ Garunggang. It is possible that the name of this tourist spot is not familiar to the ear, even for the local Cihampelas group. His name is not as famous as Situ Bagendit in Garut or Situ Patengan in Bandung Regency.

Member of the Bandung Arch Research Front T Bachtiar said that at least the name of Situ Garunggang was printed in a colonial era travel guide recorded by SA Reitsma and WH Hooglend (1927).

"In the manual entitled Gids van Bandoeng en Midden-Priangan, Reitsma and Hooglend wrote, if on the east side of Jalan Cihampelas, slightly down (south) from the factory, there is a narrow road to the east. After walking for a while, there is Situ Garunggang or Empang Cipaganti," said Bachtiar to detikcom, Tuesday (24/11).

In the past, Cihampelas entered a territory called Garunggang. If you look at the map of North Bandung (Bandoeng-Noord) made by Topografische Dienst (Batavia) in 1931, the name Garunggang can still be found. Its position is in the bend of the Cikapundung River between Sukajadi - Cihampelas.

"The name Garunggang is really original from Sukajadi to Ci Kapundung (Cihampelas)," he said.

Bachtiar quoted Prof.'s writing. Drs. Wojowasito (1998), in Kawi language, garunggang means empty and empty. During the initial period of territory occupation, the situation was completely quiet. However, this quiet atmosphere later became the busiest water recreation area on the edge of Cikapundung.

The depth of Situ Garunggang, said Bachtiar, reaches three meters. This lake is used by the community for excursions by boat. However, tourists are not recommended to swim in the lake, because the water is not clean. "If anyone is taking a shower, it's because they want to do fun games in the water," he said.

For those who want to go boating in Situ Garunggang, adults are charged a ticket of 25 cents for 1/2 hour while children are charged half that, which is 12.5 cents. Visitors can also rent a boat to paddle alone at a price of 5 cents.

Unlike Situ Gumuruh or Situ Tarate which is created naturally because it is the remnant of a natural lake in the Bandung Arch, Situ Garunggang is the result of human excavation.

Bachtiar said that at that time the construction of roads and buildings was being carried out simultaneously with the relocation of the capital city of Bandung Regency from Karapyak to Balonggede, Bandung City.

"On May 25, 1810, based on Herman Willem Daendels' warrant, Regent Wiranata Kusumah II then moved the capital city of Bandung Regency from Dayeuhkolot to the current position of Bandung Square," he said.

To fulfill the need for building materials for special government buildings in Bandung, H Sobandi, who is said to be the owner of the place, asked the government for permission to use his place to collect sand and stones.

“Over time, a large hole remained in that place, the depth of which reached three meters. more. The business of reclamation of the remaining sand and stone excavations is by making large ponds, which are popularly known as ponds or lakes," he said.

The physical presence of Situ Garunggang has now turned into housing. Handoyo (65), a local resident, explained that he had ever swam there or the lake.

"My memory is quite vague, I used to say Situ Gojali. When I was little, I remember that except for swimming, some used the water to raise tilapia fish, but it actually existed before," he said.

Source : detik.com