Tour of Kayangan

Kayangan is a natural tourist attraction which is located at approximately 25 kilometers on the west side of the city of Yogyakarta, precisely in Pendoworejo, Girimulyo, Kulonprogo. The tour of Kayangan is located on Menoreh hillsides area that has become the pride of Pendoworejo village community. This tour presents a panorama of nature in the form of a meandering river’s channel which is adorned by the beauty of the typical rocks of the mountains and a towering cliffs that makes travel in Kayangan more interesting. In addition a tour of Kayangan also offers the beauty of the spreading green rice fields. There is no longer possible to found such a view in urban areas, thus providing a touch of beautiful scenery. 

Kayangan is not just offer a tour of natural beauty that can be imaged through the eyes, but it is also has a very important role in supporting the community life and has become part of Pendoworejo residents’ life. "Kayangan Dam" became a source of civic life, the dam was made by Mbah Bei Kayangan who was a follower of the courtiers of Prabu Brawijaya whom ran with his two followers, Kyai Diro and Kyai Somaitra. It was said on the story that they ran away from Majapahit to entered into what is now Pendoworejo Village, Girimulyo, Kulonprogo. Mbah Bei by local residents is also considered a forerunner to the hamlet of Kayangan. In his escape, Mbah Bei taken a rest and also “bertapa” in the confluence of the River Ngiwa and Gunturan. On his hermitage Mbah Bei Kayangan gets “wangsit” to clear land for settlements, rice fields and the fields in the area. Mbah Bei also had the initiative to build the dam manually to fulfill the needs of water supply during the dry season that brought substantial benefits to the fertility of the land around the dam. The dam also brought prosperity to many people who live around Kayangan dam, especially in agriculture. 

"Like pearl under the murky water" maybe it's the right phrase to describe the current condition of Kayangan. The beautiful panorama of natural beauty is seemed to be a forgotten pearl. Lack of support from the government to preserve this tour is to be a big dilemma. The government should be able to take advantage of this tour to become one of the attractions in Kulonprogo area which is it could be the source of life for the villagers of Pendoworejo. However, the Kayangan river and Kayangan dam will remain a pearl that will always giving a benefit to the village community of Pendoworejo.