Heri Sisworo
Kampung Cai Ranca Upas is one of the most popular camping grounds in the Bandung area. Located in Ciwidey, this tourist destination is at the heart of South Bandung resort area with Patuha Resort, White Crater, Cimanggu, and Patenggang Lake Nearby.
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Unlike most camping sites in Bandung that usually located in pine forests, Kampung Cai Ranca Upas has a rather vast flat grassland. It is, however, surrounded by rich green tropical forest in Ciwidey Highland. But this campsite is more than just a place to spend a night in a tent. Here are some facts regarding Kampung Cai Ranca Upas Ciwidey.
Location
Kampung Cai Ranca Upas is located in a protected forest with several endemic vegetation like Kihujan, Kitambang, Pasang, Kurai, Hamirug, Huru, Puspa, and Jamuju. Sitting on 1,700 meters above sea level, the air here is cool and refreshing. The wind can be quite strong during clear nights, creating a lovely and memorable night.
Administratively, Kampung Cai Ranca Upas is located in Jalan Raya Ciwidey Patenggang KM 11, Alam Endah, Bandung Regency. This site is about 50 kilometers from downtown Bandung, reachable in about two hours’ drive. Roads leading to this site are already good and well maintained.
History
Ranca in local language means swamp, indicating that this grassland used to be a vast wetland. Upas is believed to be originated from a Sundanese word that means a guard/ranger.
There is a myth that the area used to be guarded by a Dutch ranger that is so devoted to his job, he died doing his job and became some sort of a legend here. Locals report that sometimes they can still see him around this area.
Ranca Upas was then managed by Perhutani, a state-owned forestry service. From the beginning, Ranca Upas was designed and marketed as a camping ground with lovely air and magnificent night scenery. It didn’t take long for this place to have a great reputation among nature lovers in the surrounding area.
Huge camping area
Ranca Upas has a very huge camping area, capable of hosting of up to ten thousand people easily even though there is no record of this site hosting visitors at full capacity. The place is immensely huge that you can just pick any place to set up a tent, away from other campers if you want to.
During the day, you can explore the whole area. You will find a protected forest with its natural vegetation, a lovely pond, and beautiful hilly panorama. Even in the middle of the day, the air is still fresh here, around 17-20 celcius. During the clear night, you can enjoy the stars, watch the Milky Way dominate the sky.
Deer captivity
Another reason to visit Kampung Cai Ranca Upas is the deer captivity in this area. The Javanese Deer (Cervus Timorensis) freely roam the large captivity area, and they are fully protected by law. The deer are already accustomed by visitors and won’t be shy to come over. You can buy carrots and other vegetables to feed the deer here, and you will be surrounded by the deer in no time.
Whether you are a nature lover who actually want to camp here or just to enjoy the lovely scenery, Kampung Cai Ranca Upas is a great place to visit. This place is definitely worth visit if you are already in South Bandung. Next
