Kiskendo Cave

This cave, which was named Guo Kiskendo by the local people, was found firstly by a  hermit named Ki Gondorio  in 1700‘s. The hermit was also the first cave keeper. According to the local  story, one night the hermit had a dream of entering a cave that looked like a  palace. In the dream, Ki Gondorio got a guidance to name the 15 rooms in the  cave. After he woke up, Ki Gondorio followed the guidance that he saw from the  dream.

Despite there is a story like  above, the local people have their own versions. Some say that the cave came  from the wayang world. The version tells that once upon a time, Kiskendo cave  was a kingdom ruled by a king named Mahesosuro. Some other say that the cave is  the duplicate of another cave in India.

Until now, the local people still  think that Kiskendo cave is a sacred place. This relates to the myth or legend  it brings, the places inside the cave that are often used for some ascetic  activities or meditation, and the rules that forbid anyone to litter the cave,  insult or damage it, and do immoral activities inside the cave.

Tourists can search the story line  of Kiskendo cave that is being related to the wayang story (Ramayana epic)  which is carved to the relief in front of the cave.

Kiskendo cave is a complex of  tourism object which consists of a few places. Rumor has it, this relates to  the legend that came with the cave, which is Kiskendo Kingdom. There are 15 areas in the cave, they are:

1. Lidah Mahesosuro (Mahesosuro Tongue), is a rock that has a tongue. People say       that this rock was King Mahesosuro‘s tongue which was cut by Subali to prevent him from being risen from the death.
2. Pertapaan  ledek (Ledek Retreat), is a place for artists to meditate for gaining  success in their job. 
3. Pertapaan Santri Tani (Farmers Retreat), is a place for farmers to meditate and pray for good harvest. Farmers around the cave in the old times often lived in this place.
4. Pertapaan Subali (Subali Retreat), is a place Subali meditated before fighting against Mahesosuro and Lembusuro (ox-headed man)
5. Sumelong, is a hole that leads to the top of the cave. Myth has it that Subali used  the hole (it is in the middle part of the cave) to get out from the cave  since Sugriwo closed the way out of the cave.
6. Lumbung Kampek, is a place to keep valuable things from the Kingdom of  Kiskendo Cave.
7. Selumbung, is a rice barn of the Kingdom of Kiskendo Cave.
8. Gua Seterbang (Seterbang cave), is a cave that still becomes the part of  Kiskendo cave. People say that this cave connects to the Indian Ocean (south of central java).
9. Keraton  Sekandang (Sekandang Palace), is the center of Kiskendo  Cave Kingdom. In this place, Subali fought against Mahesosuro and Lembusuro.
10. Kusuman Retreat, is a place of meditation to gain a higher status.
11. Padasan, is the well at the time of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom
12. Sepranji,  is the center of animal farming at the time of Kiskendo Cave Kingdom
13. Babat  Kandel, is rocks that look like human‘s intestines. According to the local story, this babat was Mahesosuro‘s intestines that were thrown by Subali.
14. Sawahan,  is a place to plant rice.
15. Selangsur,  is a place where the soldiers of Kiskendo Kingdom fought Subali.

Besides the 15 places above, there are other objects near the complex of Kiskendo Cave, they are Sumitro Cave (about 50 meters), Grojogan Sewu (a waterfall with of 20 meters height), Watu Blencong  (around 250 m above Kiskendo cave), Mount Krengseng, Watu Gajah, and Mount Kelir (limestone mountain shaped like a sail, about 4,5 km from Kiskendo cave). 

Kiskendo cave is located at the area of Menoreh mountain which is part of the administrative territory of Dusun Sukamaya, Jatimulyo Village, Girimulyo Sub-district, Kulon Progo District, D.I Yogyakarta Province. This cave is at the south western part Wates, the capital city of  Kulon Progo District, and is about  800 meters height above the sea level.
To get to the cave location which is about 35 km from the city of Yogyakarta, tourists can take the bus from the Center Terminal of Giwangan Yogyakarta. From the terminal, the tourists can choose the bus with Yogyakarta-Sentolo route or Yogyakarta - Wates route that costs IDR 10.000 (February 2008). Usually, the buses that operate in those routes have dark color and smaller in size compared to the city bus. 

From Terminal of Giwangan, it takes 40 minutes. Do not forget to tell the conductor to put you down in the Ngeplang three-junction. From the junction, tourists have to take another bus with Samigaluh or Nanggulan route. This costs Rp. 15.000 and 50 minutes travel to get to the Kiskendo cave.

Source : wisata melayu.com