Address : Desa Bleberan, Kecamatan Playen, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta
Gunungkidul is a karst area with many caves. There are the vertical caves (Javanese people call it luweng) and also the horizontal ones. Among the many caves which have been explored by researchers, there is one that has been popular since 300 years ago. It is called Rancang Kencono Cave, located in Bleberan Tourism Village, Playen.
Rancang Kencono Cave has inner wide space of 20 m x 20 m which was the meeting spot of Pangeran Diponegoro and Sentot Prawirodirjo to arrange the strategy to attack the Dutch. According to “Legenda & Budaya Desa Bleberan” published by the local government of Bleberan Village, Rancang Kencono Cave was found in 1720. Back then, there are Mataram soldiers named Kyai Putut Linggo Buwono and Kyai Soreng Pati escaping from the Dutch. In their escape they took rest in the cave.
The cave was secure and it was spacious that they decided to stay there for some times. Over the time, Mataram soldiers conggregated in this cave to make plan for the attack to the Dutch. That is how the name Rancang Kencono derived from. The word rancang in Javanese language means ‘to plan’, while kencono means ‘precious gold’. Thus, ‘rancang kencono’ can be interpreted as a cave used for planning for good intentions.
Some Mataram soldiers also meditated for wisik/ wangsit (the Javanese term for ‘guidance’) from God in the cave. Inside the cave there is a small chamber of 3 x 3 m with a very narrow gap. The chamber was used for meditation.
When the war was over, Rancang Kencono Cave was no longer used for any activity what so ever. It was abandoned. There were only local people who visited it sometimes. Over the time, people were aware of the historical values of the cave as a potential worth developing. Moreover, the Culture and Tourism Agency of Gunungkidul Regency also promoted Rancang Kencono Cave as one of the regency’s main historical tourism destinations. Therefore, the surrounding locations of the cave start improving themselves to welcome tourists.
The scent of karst and teak is strongly felt as you arrive at the cave’s front yard. This is because Rancang Kencono is situated in the middle of karst hills and teak wood. Not far from where you park your vehicle you will find a nook covered by a big Terminalia edulis tree of hundreds of years. To get to the nook base which is the entrance to the cave, you must first descend numbers of steps.
One distinctive feature of Rancang Kencono Cave compared to other caves is the spacious chamber in the middle of it. This chamber is usually used for informal discussion and camping. Local people even use it to play badminton. The 20 x 20 m width and 12 m height chamber is not at all dark since it gets enough sunlight.
Rancang Kencono Cave does not have many ornaments, only stalactite hanging on the cave’s ceiling. The absence of stalagmite makes it easier for visitors to hold activities in it. Daredevil tourists with no claustropobhia can enter the meditation chamber. To get to this chamber visitors must pass through a narrow space, thus, those having big body are not suggested to pass this space. The meditation chamber is dark and there is a picture of Indonesian flag on one of its wall.
After exploring Rancang Kencono Cave you can continue your trip to the other tourism objects located nearby, such as Sri Gethuk Waterfall at the bank of Oyo River or 1 km from the cave. It is said that there is a path connecting Rancang Kencono Cave and Sri Gethuk Waterfall.
Rancang Kencono Cave is located in Menggoran II Hamlet, Bleberan Village, Playen District, Gunungkidul Regency, Special Province of Yogyakarta.
Tourists are suggested to take their private vehicles since there is no public transportation heading for Bleberan Village. All public transportation stop at Playen Regency area.
Departing from Yogyakarta, there are two routes to take to reach Rancang Kencono Cave. The first route is Yogyakarta – Piyungan – Patuk – Gading T-intersection – Playen – Bleberan. This is the main route that tourists take when visiting Gunungkidul Regency. The second route is Yogyakarta – Imogiri – Panggang – Playen – Bleberan.
The road is overall well-asphalted, although there are few broken sections here and there. However, 5 minutes to Rancang Kencono, visitors must pass through a land passage covered with karst. So, it is not suggested that visitors take a low ground clarence-car . It will be better if taking a motorcycle or an off-road car.
Visiting Rancang Kencono Cave, tourists will be charged Rp 3,000. If you wish to continue your trip to Sri Gethuk Waterfall you are not charged with additional fee. The parking fee costs Rp 1,000.
F. Accommodations and Other Facilities
As a developing tourism destination, Rancang Kencono Cave is preparing itself with supporting facilities such as a camping ground. Gunungkidul Art Festival was once held in this camping ground. Camping devotees can call the local administrator of Bleberan Village for more information on the terms for using the facility. In addition to the camping ground, there is a fishing pond surrounded by gazebos located just a few minutes from the cave.
Text: Elisabeth Murni
Photo(s): Collections of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Apri Widiastuti
(Primary data and various sources)