| Ticket price: Free, Operational hour: 08.00-16.00 WIB, Address: Cikanyere, Kec. Sukaresmi, Kab. Cianjur, West Java.; Folder: Location Check |
The Carmel Valley is a house of worship for Catholics and at the same time a natural tourist attraction in Cianjur. Maybe you wonder why a place of worship is a tourist destination worth visiting. Of course everything has a reason, especially if not from the attractiveness that is owned. Its location at an altitude makes the atmosphere beautiful and cool.
As is known, Catholicism is a religion that has many Orders. More than dozens of Orders found in Indonesia, one of which is the Carmelite Order. Each region has its own house of worship, but it cannot be denied that Cianjur is the one most visited by Catholics.
Apart from its cool atmosphere, the location of the Karmel Valley is far from the hustle and bustle of the city. This makes it a quiet place, perfect for retreat or seclusion. Even if there is sound, it’s mostly just the sounds of animals singing and the whispers of trees blowing in the wind. This sound actually makes worship activities more focused or solemn.
The Allure That Carmel Valley Has
It has been 20 years since this place of worship and tourist attraction has been established. During that time this place became the main destination for Catholics. Not only from Cianjur, but in Jakarta and its surroundings. All can not be separated from its appeal, here are some of them!
1. Cave of Mary in the Valley of Carmel
The main attraction of the Carmel Valley is the Cave of Mary. Its main function is as a place of seclusion. Because the location is not far from the main places of worship, it is not difficult for you to reach it. Unlike most caves, this place is in the open and has a small hole.
In the hole there is a statue of Mother Mary which is equipped with holy water. Apart from being a place of seclusion, Goa Maria is also frequently visited by tourists who want to get peace or just to get drinking water by the side. Travelers who want to reach it must pass through the stairs, but not too high.
The reason why this location is a favorite for retreats is because of the peaceful atmosphere. Beside him there is a shrub tree that seems to protect from the sun. In addition, beautiful flowering plants also decorate. Birds chirping and the sound of the wind blowing greeting the leaves add to a more peaceful atmosphere.
2. Silent and Silent Atmosphere
Overall, the Carmel Valley has an atmosphere of silence and silence. For this reason, many are interested and want to visit it. This house of worship, which was founded in 1988, was first built by Father Yohanes Indrakusuma. He is one of the important figures of the Carmelite Order.
The choice of location in Cianjur Regency is not without reason, this is because the nature is still beautiful and the air is cool. Moreover, the location of the altitude is estimated to reach 900 meters above sea level, of course you can imagine how the weather is. As far as the eye can see, the color green is always obtained, except for buildings that stand firm, of course.
3. Available Retreat Packages
The main purpose of building the Carmel Valley is indeed for a place of worship. But there is a reason why he chose a quiet location, which is nothing but a place of retreat. The simple meaning of retreat itself is an activity or activity of isolating oneself. Each of them has different goals, one of which is to distance themselves from the world.
In addition, another common goal is to get inner peace. Although this place is not the only house of worship in Cianjur, there are other advantages as its attractiveness. Those of you who want to be more calm in worship can choose the retreat package provided by the committee.
4. Spiritual Shop
For some people, the appeal of the Carmel Valley in the form of a Spiritual Store may not really matter. But for those who want to get spiritual objects, of course it is different. This shop provides a variety of worship equipment or other items that are still related. For example, crosses and statues are mandatory objects for Catholics.
In addition, you can also find suitable items as souvenirs. In this place there are also spiritual reading books and tapes of spiritual songs. Its location in the main building makes it easy for visitors to reach it. More precisely next to the cafeteria, please stop by if you happen to be hungry.
Address and Route to Location
The Carmel Valley is far from the city center, so it takes quite a trip to reach it. The location is relatively low in population, to be precise in Cikanyere Village, Sukaresmi District, Cianjur Regency, West Java. The distance from Cianjur Square is about 2q5 kilometers. With that distance, it takes at least 45 minutes to arrive at the location.
The best route if you come from the city center is to go to Jalan Raya Ciawi – Cianjur first. Then head towards ZAD IQBS Middle School and continue the journey to the Ciherang area. The easiest direction is to go through the main road or highway because there are many benchmarks that you can use.
The next goal is to Jalan Hanjawar, to be precise after you find the T-junction near the Sate Maranggi Sari Asih depot. Continuing along this road, the journey to the Valley of Carmel is still long and full of twists. Always be careful because there are some roads that are not in good condition.
Not long after, you will arrive at Jalan Mariwati, use SMAIT Insan Mandiri Arrahman as the main benchmark. From this point on there is almost no standard that you can use, please ask the locals if you are still confused. When approaching a new location there is a signboard, follow it until you arrive at the location.
When you find a statue of Jesus at a gate that is similar to a garden, it means you have arrived in the Carmel Valley. Please find a convenient parking location, because the area is very large. Visiting this place does not cost much because the entry ticket is free.
Fees are only required for motorized vehicle parking. Think of it as a replacement for parking lots and also services for maintaining vehicles to make them safer. Because it is a public place of worship, you can come at any time. However, it is only natural that on Sundays and certain celebrations it will be more crowded.
Interesting Activities to Do in the Carmel Valley
The most common activity when in a place of worship is praying. This also applies to the Valley of Carmel, but of course not only that. There are various other activities that can be done here, here are some of them!
1. Retreat or Exile
The first activity you can do here is a retreat or retreat. A comfortable and beautiful atmosphere is guaranteed to make this activity even more solemn. The calm atmosphere because of the natural umbrellas from the trees makes the heart feel cool and peaceful. You just have enough concentration and focus on the goal of isolating yourself.
There are many choices of places that can be used for this retreat. In fact, almost all the location points can be used. For example, next to the main building, there is a small forest in which there are facilities for retreats. Apart from that, there is also no place known as Maria’s Cave, which is certainly suitable because the atmosphere is calm.
2. Attend Mass
Like places of worship for Christians in general, the activities that are usually found are during mass. The Karmel Valley still routinely holds this worship activity. If your goal is only to worship, then make sure to come on Sunday. Apart from that, there are usually other spiritual events that you can take part in on certain days.
3. Visit the Cave of Mary
The next activity is to visit Maria Cave. This activity should not be missed when you visit here. For Catholics, Mother Mary is a role model that must be emulated. Even if you just see the statue, you can pray and isolate yourself in this place. The quiet atmosphere further supports worship in order to remain solemn.
4. Shop for Souvenirs and Food
Before heading home from the Carmel Valley, don’t forget to take the time to go to the Spiritual Shop. According to the information provided earlier, you can get various kinds of needs to support spiritual activities at home. Crosses of various sizes are found in this shop, as well as statues that might interest you.
If you’ve got the item you want, stop by the cafeteria next to it is also necessary. Many types of delicious food are available that will spoil your tongue. Not only local food or typical Cianjur food, there are also western culinary offerings that are no less enjoyable.
Facilities Available in the Valley Area
Valley of Carmel facilities are not much different from places of worship for Catholics in general. Here, you can find a large parking area, clean toilets, and a canteen to fill your hungry stomach. Because as a place of worship, there are also many facilities for salting oneself, please adjust it according to the desired conditions.
The variety of tourist objects in Indonesia can not be counted. There are nature tourism, education, games, history, and many others. The Carmel Valley is one example which is a religious tour for Catholics. Various attractions make it visited by many tourists from various regions.
