For those who have seen my Instagram posts about the hand structure overlooking the valley, this is the new Instagram place to be for those who are visiting Yogyakarta. Situated about an hour away from the city and a winding ride up the mountainous roads, Pinus Pengger in Bantul is a pine forest area with unique sculptures made from the trees itself, turning the whole place into a photogenic mini theme park. Entrance fee is Rp 2500 (25 cents in SGD) and parking for motorbikes is Rp 2000 or for cars it is Rp 10000. It is a very affordable place to visit for some cool fresh air, away from the simmering heat of the city.

An area still relatively unknown to foreign tourists, Pinus Pengger is a prized attraction among locals. The most iconic photo spot is an art installation in the form of a giant hand with a beautiful panoramic view of the city of Yogyakarta in the background. Random photo spots litter the pine tree forest, each conveying a deep message from the artists behind the sculptures. Even though the queue for the hand structure was long when we reached there at 10am on a Sunday, the queue was orderly and people waited patiently for their turn to take photos. There was a park personnel there to help to take photos, instructing you on how to pose. Some people took individual shots, followed by various permutations of group shots, much to the ire of those queuing behind. Nevertheless, after queuing for 20 minutes or so, it was finally our turn to take pictures.

Besides the famous giant hand structure, there are also other installations such as giant brooms, bird cages and semi-circular shapes resembling arches. There was a tree arch where people can climb up a mini ladder to pose at one of the ‘windows’ in the tree branch. There are also platforms for tree top walk, hammocks tied between two trees for relaxation, some food stalls and a display of entangled roots.

After having our fair share of photos taken at Pinus Pengger, we headed to Puncak Becici which is a short drive away on the other side of the hill. This place has a viewing platform of the village below, with neat rectangular patches of rice fields. It also has similar pine tree structures such as this C shape installation and another one with a small wooden piece overlooking the valley definitely. Definitely not for the faint-hearted if you are afraid of heights.

Puncak Becici is known for its beautiful panoramic views. You can see rows of green trees growing from a height against the backdrop of Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu. Not only that, if the weather is sunny you will be able to see the distant view of the southern coastline of Central Java. The Bantul area is transformed into a different kind of scenery when evening approaches. Golden rays colour the evening sky with a mixture of white clouds. Puncak Becici provides several viewing booths that you can enjoy that beauty. Enjoying dusk on a stretch of pine forest with a loved one will be an unforgettable experience. Some of the locals even spend the weekend camping in this pine forest to enjoy the facilities.

Similarly, the entrance fee for Puncak Becici is Rp2500 per person, Rp 2000 for motorbike and Rp 10000 for cars. 

The Bantul region is developing for tourism and there are several sites catered to visitors. Besides Pinus Pengger and Puncak Becici, there are several other areas waiting to be explored, from waterfalls to hills and other panoramic viewpoints. Due to time constraints, we could only visit the two main attractions in the area.

Travel tips:

• – Renting a bike is the easiest way to get here. There is no public transport going around this area.
• – Go there as early as possible. It is nice to spend more time there – not many people except for the caretakers, the sound of the hummingbirds and fresh wind.
• – It gets a little crowded in the late afternoon as people go there to witness the sunset. At Panca Wara viewpoint, when it gets really busy with many visitors, they send out queue numbers for taking photos. 2 minutes are allocated to each person, with a maximum of 3 people standing at the hand structure. No jump shot allowed.

Address:

Hutan Pinus Pengger:  Desa Terong, Kecamatan Dlingo, Kabupaten Bantul, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta.

Becici Peak : Gunungcilik RT. 07 / RW. 02, Muntuk, Dlingo, Gn. Cilik, Muntuk, Dlingo, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta 55783, Indonesia