IO – Prau is a stratovolcano situated on the Dieng Volcanic Complex in the Dieng Plateau, specifically between the borders of Kendal Regency and Wonosobo Regency in Central Java. This stratovolcano is one of many in the Dieng Volcanic Complex and is relatively low at only 2565 MAMSL making it suitable for beginner climbers. The view is beautiful from atop Prau, which does not have a crater, and because it isn’t classified as a mountain, it is often called “Teletubbies’ Hill” by climbers and tourists.
This time adventure was not planned. It started from a friend’s story of Prau’s beauty, which piqued my interest in traveling there. By the end of the week, I had bought a Rp 140,000 bus ticket and had left Jakarta, arriving in Dieng at around six in the morning. I then enjoyed breakfast at a food stall while breathing in the cold Dieng air. After breakfast, I continued on to the base camp to register to climb Prau.
I chose to climb via the patak banteng path, as it was the most popular and most accessible. The route took around 2.5 – 3 hours to finish. After leaving the villages, 500 m to 1 km later I came across a beautiful view of neat terraced green rice fields owned by locals. After 15 more minutes of climbing I reached the first post.
After reaching the first post, I continued my journey to the second post which was already inside Prau’s forest area; the forest was dominated by a variety of cypress and pine trees. The path to the second post was not too steep, making the journey to the third post much more manageable. From the second to the third post, the path started to steepen and would continue to become more steep and slippery as a result of rain.
The journey from the third post to the Teletubbies’ Hill was very tiring but was worth it for the beautiful view which was also filled with neat lines of daisies. Daisies grow in cold areas and are part of the Asteraceae family.
The sun started to set as I reached the Prau basecamp and colorful tents could be seen across the hill’s surface. Prau was indeed very crowded when I decided to visit. The fog started to descend, and the air became colder, so I decided to start moving to keep warm. I busied myself by installing my tent so I could sleep under the night full of stars. Prau does not have a water source, so climbers must bring their own water for the trip.
When morning came, I woke up to enjoy the sunrise while keeping company with Dieng’s brisk climate. Dieng highlands are known for their cold temperature so climbers should bring the appropriate attire.
My exhaustion was compensated for in full by the beautiful view atop of Prau, helping release the stress of work and life in the capital. Prau is perfect for tourists who wish to fill their weekend with a small challenge presented by nature herself and for those looking for a beginner climbing experience. (Mahrayuni)