Grojogan Sewu

Grojogan Sewu means a thousand cascades, and the main fall drops about eighty metres down a rock face on the western flank of Mount Lawu above Tawangmangu, in forest at around a thousand metres where the air is noticeably cool. Reaching the base means going down roughly a thousand concrete steps from the entrance, which is easy and pleasant on the way down and a hard climb back in the humidity. There is a pool at the bottom used for swimming, smaller falls along the route and a picnic area. Macaques live in the forest and are practised at taking food. It has been a recreation site since the Dutch period and is heavily developed with stalls, and the Tawangmangu area is a hill resort for Solo with sate kelinci - rabbit satay - as the local dish.

What you'll find

• An eighty-metre fall - dropping down the rock face into a swimming pool.
• About a thousand steps - the descent from the entrance and the climb back.
• Cool hill forest - a thousand metres up on the flank of Lawu.
• Bold macaques - working the paths and stalls for food.

When to go

May to September; weekdays for space. Half a day.

What to expect

The climb back up is genuinely hard in the humidity. Weekends are crowded and the path is lined with stalls. Macaques snatch food and bags. Flow drops in a dry spell.

Nearby

Tawangmangu is at the entrance; Mount Lawu and Candi Sukuh are above.