Watu Payung in Gunung Kidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region

A special vacation spot like Watu Payung Geo Forest should be everyone’s choice when spending holidays in Gunung Kidul later. This conservation forest is located in the west end of Gunung Sewu Geo Park. The prime allure is the presence of various species of flora. Moreover, the site offers many beautiful panoramas. In terms of name, “Watu” means a rock while “Payung” means an umbrella. As the name suggests, the locals gave the name due to the presence of such unique rock in the forest. So, where is the location? The site resides in Girisuko Village and belongs to Panggang Sub-District. It also resides on karst hills, actually.

The Nuance
As mentioned before, Watu Payung consists of various types of flora. The view of mountains can be seen clearly, too! Not to mention the famous Oyo River cuts across the landscape. Still, the most noticeable feature is the presence of an umbrella-like rock, which can be seen well from the viewing post. As for the scenery, green mountains and hills would be the best ones. Aside from the panorama, the site also offers a rejuvenating nuance! In the morning, moreover, the atmosphere becomes more comfortable. It is because the site is surrounded by thick white clouds and fog!

Exploring Watu Payung
For the information, Watu Payung shares two different areas. These include Panggang and Semin Sub-District. That means tourists can get to either of these in order to enjoy the panoramas. Both of the locations look beautiful, after all. In terms of appearance, it looks similar to that of Mangunan fruit garden hills. One thing, in order to conduct sightseeing and photography, tourists should reach the top of the highland. This is why everyone should come with good stamina.

The prime allure in Watu Payung is none other than the umbrella-like rock. Tourists can only see it from afar (at the viewing post). Aside from watching it, everyone can also take photos of the rock. The location of the viewing post is at the top of the hill, though. Once again, it requires trekking to reach it. For a more comfortable ambiance, in this case, tourists should only come either in the morning or afternoon.

Watu Payung also features some facilities including wooden ornaments, which often become a background for selfies. Have no worries. Visitors may also find toilets and other types of facilities. These include resting spots and a small mosque. For a better exploration, though, everyone should consider hiring a villager or local guide who knows the site well.

Nearby Attractions

• Turunan Stone Park
• Naga Cave
• Sri Gethuk Waterfall

How to Get There
First, tourists must get to Yogyakarta City. For those coming from outside the province, they can reach the city by airplane. Here is an example. A flight from Jakarta City (Soekarno – Hatta International Airport) to Adisucipto Airport may take around 1 hour and 10 minutes. Once arriving at the airport, tourists should take Nasional III Street and head to Gunung Kidul Regency. The distance is 44.8 km, so the trip would take around 1 hour and 9 minutes. From Gunung Kidul, tourists must reach Raya Panggang Wonosari Street and head to the forest right away. This trip usually takes around 1 hour, as the distance is 42.3 km.

Where to Stay

• Dika Jaya Homestay
• Griya Limasan