Mataram Highlights

OVERVIEW

Become familiar with the most intriguing landmarks in and around Mataram and come away with a broad cultural understanding of Lombok. Just outside the provincial capital, you will find Lingsar Temple, an 18th-century Hindu shrine that also welcomes people of other faiths. It is said to be good luck if you can lure one of its pond eels to eat a hard-boiled egg, which vendors sell nearby. For a glimpse into the creative side of the island, you will browse Sesela Art Market, a center for fine wooden handicrafts. Furniture inlaid with polished shell fragments is the specialty, while pearl jewelry is the most popular merchandise at a shop nearby. Still, few places lend more insight into the culture than the Nusa Tenggara Barat Museum. Its collection contains a remarkable variety of artifacts such as divining stones that ward off evil, ethnic wedding costumes and Chinese pottery from the 10th century.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See attractions that best represent the cultural diversity in Mataram, the provincial capital.
• Shop for local merchandise such as handmade wooden crafts and pearl jewelry.
• Visit Lingsar Temple, a Hindu shrine that welcomes people of other faiths, as well.
• Browse a museum with thousands of unusual artifacts that reflect the local culture.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.