Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
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Silence greets every step that enters the mouth
Batu Hapu Cave
.From the natural gaps in the walls and roof, sunlight filters in slowly, reflecting gently on the pale limestone surface.
The light feels like it filters through time, bringing anyone into a natural space that is calm, cool, and almost sacred.
Batu Hapu Cave is located in Batu Hapu Village, Hatungun District, Tapin Regency, South Kalimantan.The location can be reached around 31 kilometers from Rantau City or around 37 kilometers from the historic site of the Oranje Nassau Mine.
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Access to the cave is relatively easy, it can be accessed by two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles.
The name ‘Hapu’ comes from the local language which means white, referring to the dominant color of the cave walls.White is not just visual, but a marker of a very long geological journey.
Scientifically, Batu Hapu Cave was formed from Berai Formation limestone which is around 16-36.5 million years old, in the Oligocene to early Miocene period, when this area was still in shallow sea with a depth of less than 30 meters.
With the top of the cave at an altitude of around 120 meters above sea level, Batu Hapu Cave has a large mouth and a spacious interior.In the interior, stalactites, stalagmites, cave curtains and other karst ornaments decorate the space, formed slowly over millions of years by water droplets and time.
“When you go inside, the atmosphere is different. Calm and cool, suitable for nature tourism, as well as education,” said the Head of the Batu Hapu Cave Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), Pardiyana, quoting Antara, Saturday (20/12).
From natural fertilizer to tourism
Long before it was known as a tourist destination, Batu Hapu Cave has long been used by local residents.Farmers take bat droppings from the bottom of the cave as natural fertilizer.
On the ceiling of the cave, thousands of bats hang, forming a unique ecosystem that is still maintained today.
This cave is a habitat for various types of bats that have not been fully identified.Local residents recognize at least three colors of bats, white, reddish brown and black, which live side by side in the dark space of the cave.
Changes in the function of the cave began to be felt since the arrival of transmigrants in the 1980s.Over time, this area is slowly being looked at as a recreation area.Batu Hapu Cave even became a location for people’s entertainment, one of which was a Malay orchestra performance.
Pardiyana and a number of other residents have been involved in pioneering and maintaining this cave since 1987. If previously this area had not been organized, now conservation efforts are being taken more seriously so that the cave remains sustainable and provides benefits to the community.
Since 2022, tourism management will be carried out in a more organized manner.The Batu Hapu Cave Pokdarwis, which consists of 16 people, actively cares for the area, maintains cleanliness, and accompanies tourists.The construction of parks and supporting facilities by village officials also increased the number of visits.
Tourists come not only from within the country, but also from various countries such as Australia, Italy, Portugal and India.With an entrance ticket of IDR 5,000 per person, Batu Hapu Cave is a pocket-friendly natural tourist destination.
Part of the Meratus Geopark
The potential of Batu Hapu Cave is increasingly strengthening after being designated as part of the Meratus Geopark.In 2018, this area along with 53 other sites officially became a National Geopark.
Batu Hapu Cave is listed as the 44th site and is on the northern route, which represents the formation process of the Meratus Mountains.
International recognition came when UNESCO designated Meratus Geopark as a member of UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp).The certificate was received by the Governor of South Kalimantan Muhidin, accompanied by the Indonesian Ambassador to France Mohamad Oemar, in Paris on June 3 2025.
The Head of Batu Hapu Village, Mardiono, said that the geopark status had a big impact on the village.
“The existence of the Meratus Geopark provides many benefits. Batu Hapu Cave is increasingly well known, not only at the national level, but also internationally,” he said.
However, he admitted that there were still challenges, especially regarding capital for developing tourist areas.He hopes that geopark status can raise collective awareness in the community to protect this area as a shared heritage.
Behind the geological facts, Batu Hapu Cave also holds local legends.Local people believe this cave was formed from the ship fragments of a disobedient child who was cursed by his mother, Nini Kudampi, a poor widow.The story coexists with scientific explanations of natural processes millions of years ago.
In the belly of the Meratus Mountains, Batu Hapu Cave stands as a witness to the Earth’s journey, uniting nature, history and culture.The white light that penetrates through the rock crevices is not just a visual beauty, but a symbol of hope, that this geological heritage will continue to be preserved and provide meaning for future generations.
(tis/tis)
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