Two domestic tourists enjoy the freshness of the Sumber Pitu Waterfall in the village of Dawet Krajan, Tumpang district, Malang regency, East Java, in the middle of last month. Sumber Pitu is one of a number of waterfalls in Malang that have attracted the attention of many tourists.
Malang regency, East Java, has at least 30 waterfalls, which locally are called coban. One of them, which is hidden in the western foothills of Mount Semeru and could become a mainstay of tourism in the regency, is Sumber Pitu.
It was 10:45 a.m., but clouds had been hovering over the village of Duwet Krajan, Tumpang district, in East Malang. The tired legs caused by climbing the small incline of a short 1-kilometer path, which divides the residents\' lands, were immediately paid off by the sight of a little spring trickling out the end of a bamboo stick.
A small yellow board with an inscription, "Sumber Air, Sugeng Rawuh", which was made by students of a university in Malang while doing community work in 2015, was posted nearby. In line with its name, "Sugeng Rawuh", which in Javanese means "welcome", visitors were told they had already entered the target area. Meanwhile, the sound of the falls on the valley floor could be heard more clearly.
After inspecting the tiny spring, the journey was continued. After passing a bamboo gate and several small twists in the part, a waterfall of a height of 30 to 40 meters was seen on one of the cliffs. The desire to immediately feel the cold water took hold.
The feeling of the freshness of the waterfalls led to an intention to further venture in search of what else was available there, including other water sources. It was given the name Sumber Pitu (seven springs) because there are seven water sources in that place.
After walking across a bamboo bridge among volcanic rocks over a river, the springs gushed from the cliffs right behind a small hill with a number of bamboo stalls. Like in the main waterfall, the water emanating from the cliffs is cold and clear.
The water flow at Sumber Pitu is fairly heavy, as compared to other springs visited by Kompas, such Sumber Brantas in the village of Sumberbrantas, Bumiaji district, Batu, from where water flows across dozens of regencies in East Java.
It is not surprising that the water emerging from several springs fills tanks belonging to a regional drinking water company. Some of the rest is allowed to flow downstream.
"The waterfall is cool, almost the same as Cuban Rondo (Pujon), even though in Cuban Rondo the wind is stronger," said Septian, 25, a resident of Pakin, Malang regency, who was visiting Sumber Pitu for the first time. Septian, who came with four friends, wanted to see the beauty of Sumber Pitu.
Until his visit he had only received information about Sumber Pitu from social media. Septian said Sumber Pitu was beautiful, but added that the road from the village needed to be improved, especially as about a quarter of it was unpaved and turned muddy during the rainy season.
Irfan Mauludin, 16, a resident of Malang city, said something similar. Irfan came to the spring with his friend, Rifki Atala, 16, by mountain bike. Both departed at 7 a.m. and reached the location at 10 a.m.
"The view is nice, still unspoiled. We not only get to see the natural atmosphere, but also the activities of the people in the farmland. However, the access road needs to be improved," said Irfan, who is a student of senior vocational high school SMK in Malang. Irfan, who was also at Sumber Pitu for the first time, said the waterfall is like Coban Jahe in the village of Pandansari Lor, Jabung district.
The location of Sumber Pitu is also very strategic as it is on a major route in Malang. It is not far from the road from Tumpang to Mount Bromo and Mount Semeru. Not far to the west is Jago Temple.
Managed by local people
Kajat, 29, a resident of Duwet Krajan, said that Sumber Pitu is managed by local people. "The bamboo gate was made by local communities. Near the waterfall, there is also a parking lot managed by the local people," he said.
The head of the Malang Regency Tourism and Culture Office, Made Arya Wedhantara, said the local administration only helped provide the access road and with its promotion.
"It has become the policy of the local administration that all tourist attractions would involve local people as the managers, be it in a village or district. There are others that are managed by state forestry company Perhutani," he said. Malang regency, Made said, is rich in natural tourist attractions. The local administration publicizes the waterfalls.
