The top of Rindjani, 3726 metres, is one of the most high-top points in Indonesia outside of the Papua. The name ‘Rindjani’ might come from an Old Javan term of ‘Immortals’ or “All Great.” According to Sasak legend, a princess named Anjani, daughter of the Supreme God, lives on the mountain. And it's belike that is old times the Sasaks believed that the most important spirits lived on Rindjani, a belief also adopted by the local Balinese.
The panorama from the tip of the caldera on Mt. Rindjani can unquestionably be the highlight of a trip to Lombok and perhaps all Indonesia. The climb isn't well-to-do, but neither is it in particular hard. The usual time for the round trip, including a descent to Lake Segara Anakan in the caldera, is 3 daytimes and 2 nighttimes.
The most better view are at dawn, and at one time you get past the timberline, it can get terribly hot when the sun is up. It will take you anyplace form 1 to 3 hrs to reach the caldera rim, which is at 2600 metres. Steps and rails help at the most steepish parts. The clearness of the panorama, and how far you will be able to see, depends on the amount of atmospheric haze on any particular day, but under good conditions it’s come-at-able to see Sumbawa to the east, and perhaps even Mt. Agung, in The Island of The Gods, to the west.
The spot breathes magic as well as beauty. It’s no wonder that both Wetu Telu and Balinese consider this the dwelling place of spirits. The Balinese come here during a yearly rite held in conjunction with the Narmada temple east of Cakra, and throw little (real) gold trinkets into the lake. The large artificial lake at Narmada was worked up to resemble crescent-shaped Segara Anakan lake.
The Wetu Telu come to the mountain to pray on full-of-the-moon nighttimes, bringing with them mystically powerful objects-such as a Kris knife wrapped in white cloth-which then acquire an extra measure of potentiality because of the visit here.
