There are several traditional interpretations of the word Dieng, like “Dawn Horizon”, “Abode of the Gods”, “Strange and Beautiful Place”. Dieng Plateau is situated more than 2,000 meters above sea level in the heart of Java, and it is believed to be site of an ancient volcanic crater, which formed a lake after a violent eruption long ago.
Nowadays the area is flat and surrounded by hills. The immediate vicinity remains fertile and unstable, and you can find there all kinds of natural phenomena, like craters with boiling mud, hot lakes, colored lakes, steaming rivers of black water, deep wells, cave and underground channels, gas vapor hissing from between fissures in the rocks, and everywhere the smell of sulfur.
There are also some of the Hindu temples of Java in this area. These eight small monuments, which are not higher than 50 feet, stand on a crater floor among sulfurous fumes. Inscriptions have revealed that the temples date from the eight century and were a religious center for about four hundred years. Since the nineteenth century many students and scientist are interested, because the site has abundance of stones and other artifacts. Some are displayed in a small museum in Dieng village. Also the Shivates temples, at a height of more than 6,000 feet, are impressive.
Dieng is well known for its dried beans, oil extracted from the gondo puro plant (which excellent for massage), and highly valued medical herb known as Purwaceng. Purwaceng is carefully protected by the local people, and generally it is only available through poaching. The plant is said to have magical power, particularly in its ability to increase the male potency. It can be compared to the Chinese ginseng root.
The road to Dieng Plateau passes through tobacco plantations and a beautiful mountain scenery. Geographically, Dieng is situated in the center of a volcanic ridge, which runs along the entire length of the island, dividing it into the Northern and Southern part.
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