A. Overview
Visited Cilacap, Central Java, is less impressive peek before the existence of historical sites Benteng Pendem. This fortress is the former headquarters of the Dutch defense is built in stages between the years 1861-1879 M. Fort that has knowledgeable about this 6.5 hectares, is located at the south end of Bay Beach Penyu and the passage Nusakambangan.
This fortress found in 1986 by M in the local community hidden in the ground and covered in shrubbery. Discovery of this historic building and then called Benteng Pendem. After a year and cleaned by the condition of the building, this historic site and was opened to the public in 1987 M. The findings indicate Cilacap this fortress is one of the important city in the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia. For quite a strategic location with the passage Nusakambangan which is a major gateway ports in the region.
According to the story of the local community, after leaving the Dutch city of Cilacap, the fort was used as the headquarters of the Japanese defense around 1942 M. M in 1949 this fort was also the headquarter war military troops from the unit Loreng Banteng in Central Java.
B. Specialties
Benteng Pendem specialty is the structure of the building consists of the parts that are complete enough. Inside the fort there are several rooms which consist of 60 rest rooms, a warehouse of weapons, tunnels, space-out, prison space, meeting rooms, space ammunition, medical clinic space, space officer, kitchen, space shoot, and 13 places important defense surrounded by iron fences. Each room, there is the tunnel that can connect between one space to the other room. Despite the building seem simple but this fort can accommodate as many as one army battalion.
Fort of 6.5 ha is quite unique. The uniqueness of the building appears on the hidden deep in the ground about 3 meters, so it was not visible from a distance. On the front of the fortress, surrounded by a moat and high river made. First trench at the time of this function as the tower and at the same time as the protective fortress from enemy attack. While the artificial river as a transportation ship’s passage to the fortress Nusakambangan.
From the trench, the visitor can see the beautiful natural beach and Gulf of Penyu ago thatch fishing boat in the strait Nusakambangan. Then in the evening, visitors can also see the beautiful lights of the city lights are visible Cilacap brilliance from afar.
C. Location
Pendem fortress is located in Kecamatan Cilacap Selatan, Cilacap regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia.
D. Access
For the tourism history Benteng Pendem, travel can be started from the Terminal or from Cilacap Cilacap city center. If a visitor trips start from the terminal, you can ride public transportation such as bus transportation or go to the city’s location. However, for visitors who start the journey from the center of Cilacap, there are lots of taxis or rental cars that can escort visitors to the location of the time with more than 20 minutes.
E. Ticket Price
Visitors who wish to enter into tourism Benteng Pendem be the ticket prices vary. Normal adult day visitor tickets are Rp 3,000 for the morning and evening, while in the afternoon of Rp 4,000 per person. For children, on a normal charge of Rp 2,500 in the morning and evening, while in the afternoon of Rp 3,000. If tourists visit the Benteng Pendem on holidays, the list price of more expensive tickets will be between Rp 500 to Rp 1,000, for both adults and children (February 2009).
If you want to enjoy other facilities such as bike games all Terrain vehicle (ATV) and others, visitors must remove the additional fee of Rp 50,000 or Rp 10,000 for 3 times in a round of mini-circuit. Tourism opened at 09.00-18.00 WIB each day.
F. Accommodation and other facilities
Tourism in this area there are bebagai types of facilities such as places of rest, gazebo, children’s play facilities, fishing pond, relaxing garden decorated with a number of sculptures dinosaurs, and all motor sport facilities Terrain vehicle (ATV).
Unfortunately, in the areas of tourism Benteng Pendem is not yet available facilities such as hotels and restauran. However, not far from the tourist area, there is peginapan managed population, food stalls, mini market, a stall telecommunications, kiosk vendors and coconut sugar. From this kiosk, visitors can see the process of making coconut sugar directly.
