Kawah Putih or "White Crater is located in Cidiwey and a tourist spot situated on the top of Mt. Patuha, approximately 35 km from south of Bandung. Kawah Putih is one of the two craters which make up Mt. Patuha, the height is about 2,430 m above sea level. The temperature is often quite chilly around 10 oC, can reach up to 5 oC in the night, The color of the lake sometimes change from bluish to whitish green / pale turquoise depending on the oxidation state or concentration of sulfur. Even the sand and rocks surrounding it have been also changed into whitish color through interaction with the acidic water (or possibly mineral precipitation)
Kawah Putih
The beauty of Kawah Putih or “White Crater” was discovered by Dr. Franz Wihelm Junghuhn, an Dutch Botanist from Germany. He did research in the area, and found a beautiful crater lake as volcano contains lava and strong smell of sulfur. There was formerly a sulfur mine although the production has ceased now, but the entry points to various tunnels of mining activites still can be seen at several points around the area. Kawah Putih represents a relatively stable volcanic system with no record of any magmatic or phreatic activity since A.D 1,600. There are tracks around the lake and through nearby the forest including to the peak of MT. Patuha. Visitors can walk around the lake area or sit in the various shelters.
Kawah Putih
A range of facilities have existed now near the lake such as ample parking and public toilets. There are also entrepreneurial vendors sell trinkets, baverage and food, some resorts near the lake provide hot spas. The lake is surrounded by the tea plantation, you also can find many strawberry plantations on the way to Kawah Putih. People can pick up the fruits from the bush.
Strawberry Garden
Strawberry Garden
The cost of entry to the site is Rp.15,000 for Indonesian Citizens, charges for foreign visitors are slightly higher. Visitors who prefer driving their own vehicles up to the crater must pay a significantly higher charge (Rp. 150,000 per vehicle plus tickets for passengers). Tickets are issued by the state-owned forestry firm Perhutani and it is included insurance while in the area.
NP: If you are not keen with the strong odor of sulfur, you might want to bring along masker or shawl.
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