Dieng Plateau: Highlands of Steam and Ancient Shrines

The Dieng Plateau sits high, a cool landscape of volcanic vents, lakes, and temples. Fields of potatoes and cabbages stretch across slopes, steam rises from sulfur vents, and lakes shimmer in colors of emerald, turquoise, and gold. Among them, ancient Hindu temples — some of the oldest in Java — stand quietly, their stones weathered yet enduring. Mist drapes the plateau, adding mystery to shrines dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Walking trails lead past villages, children greeting you with smiles, farmers tending fields in volcanic soil. The air smells of earth, sulfur, and pine. Dieng is less spectacle than presence — a reminder of Java’s deep antiquity, its blending of earth’s power and human devotion.