Banyuwangi's De Djawatan Benculuk attracts visitors to magical woods

Banyuwangi's De Djawatan Benculuk attracts visitors to magical woods

pic. google.com

Visitors to Banyuwangi in East Java may want to stop by De Djawatan Benculuk, a sprawling green area with unique, towering trees. 

Located 45 kilometers from the Banyuwangi city center, the area measures some 6 hectares in size.

"This area is owned by [state-owned forestry firm] Perhutani. The locals call it the forest in the city. The trees here are trembesi trees," Puji Widodo, the Perhutani's local forest ranger told kompas.com recently.  

Puji added that the De Djawatan Benculuk area had been developed [for recreational purposes] over the past three months and was now maintained in cooperation with the Banyuwangi Tourism Agency. Puji said it previously served as a teak wood area.

"The trembesi trees are more than 100 years old," he said.

The De Djawatan Benculuk area management has prepared several photo spots for visitors. Two of the spots are elevated to afford a good view of the trees as well as on old trucks on the ground for photographs.

pic. google.com

Footpaths are also set out for visitors who want to walks around the woods. The area is already popular for pre-wedding pictures and as a picnic destination. 

Celin, 26, a visitor from Jember, said she had found out about the park on Instagram. She had come to visit it with some friends from university. 

"I had originally thought it would be just average. When I came here, it turned out to be even better than on Instagram. It's like [being in] the Lord of the Rings," Celin said, referring to the fantasy movie. (liz/kes) 

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