Lombok Waterfalls and Historical Heritage

The furthest from the entrance, but definitely the most magical, Benang Kelambu Waterfall looks like something that belongs in the South American rainforest. With water seemingly appearing from the bushes and tiers of falls in four different places, it was beautiful. Some tracks are paved on the way down, but others not, so when there are steep slopes, it can be slippery, especially in the wet season. There are two medium sized pools at the bottom of the falls that have been made for swimming and relaxing in the pit of the natural source. Can it get much more tropical?

In central Lombok, there is the stunning Benang Stokel Waterfalls, greeting you with five different waterfalls to discover. Here you will find a collection of three separate waterfalls flowing into one very shallow pool. This overgrown area is a beautiful site to see; however, it is very shallow, making it hard to swim. Just nearby is an 11-metre waterfall into a canyon, however, pay attention to the abundant wildlife present here, with green tree snakes and other reptiles happily hiding.

Lingsar Temple brings a symbolic harmony between Hindu and Islam religions in Bali and Lombok. Set amongst luscious green rice fields, the temple was built in 1714, it has been renovated with a stunning garden and lotus pools surrounding it. The temple features three buildings - gaduh, kemalig and perisaman. Different junctions through the temple have been built to honour different gods. The junction in the east is to honour the god in Rinjani Mountain, the west to worship god in Agung along with two united that symbolise both Rinjani and Agung Mountain. In the Wektu Telu area, you will find the famous pool of water home to holy eels. It is considered good luck if you see them, and they can be lured out of the water with hard-boiled eggs, which are available to purchase from stalls outside the temple. Continue on from here and there are nine fountains to purify and heal illness. This is considered to be one of the holiest temples in Lombok and it was built under the reign of King Anak Agung Ngurah.

Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is roughly circular, with a "tail" (Sekotong Peninsula) to the southwest, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) across and a total area of about 4,514 square kilometres (1,743 square miles). The provincial capital and largest city on the island is Mataram.

The King of Mataram built Pura Agung Narmada in 1727, and it now holds a rich history and strong cultural significance to locals. In the dry season, the park is still used as a resting place by the royal family. Now Pura Agung Narmada has become a destination for locals to explore, swim or picnic at and this three-hectare park is very sacred for Hindus. Starting in the upper area of the park sits a stone step pyramid. There is also Balai Petirtaan, where water springs follow directly from Mount Rinjani and to enter the chamber, a yellow sash must be worn. It is believed that the water from the springs below is the water of immortality.