HALLOSUMEDANG – Mount Tampomas in Sumedang may not be as high or as popular as other mountains in West Java, such as Mount Gede or Pangrango, but make no mistake, the experience of climbing Tampomas truly leaves a unique impression. With an elevation of about 1,684 meters above sea level, Tampomas offers a beginner-friendly hiking trail, but it still holds its own challenges.
When I first heard about Mount Tampomas, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. My friends and I decided to hike this mountain as practice before attempting higher mountains. We thought, “Ah, this will be easy.” However, as with most hikes, things don’t always go according to plan.
We started our journey from Cibeureum Village, which is one of the popular starting points for the climb to the summit of Tampomas. From here, hikers can already feel the beautiful rural atmosphere, with views of rice fields and green gardens that refresh the eyes. I remember how peaceful the morning atmosphere was when we started hiking, the fresh air and birdsong accompanying our steps at the beginning of the journey. It was one of those moments that made me feel truly connected to nature.
However, the further we climbed, the terrain began to show its other side. Although the path was not too steep, there were some challenging sections, especially around the pine forest which was quite dense. Here, we had to be more careful because the path was a bit slippery after the rain the night before. Even so, the calm forest atmosphere with the distinctive aroma of pine trees kept us motivated to continue our journey.
One of the things that makes the climb to Tampomas interesting is the presence of historical sites along the hiking trail. One of them is the large stones believed to be remnants from the megalithic era. Some of these stones are said to have specific functions in traditional rituals or local history. I myself don’t really understand the history in depth, but seeing those stones in the middle of the journey gave me the feeling that this mountain holds many stories older than we can imagine.
After about 3-4 hours of climbing, we finally arrived at Puncak Sangiang Taraje, the highest point of Mount Tampomas. At the summit, the gentle breeze that brushed our faces felt like a reward after the effort we put in. From here, the view was amazing—the vast landscape of Sumedang stretched below, with the Jatigede Reservoir visible in the distance. I was mesmerized by the expanse of green that was so calming. It felt like all the tiredness from the climb was immediately erased by this view.
However, as with most hikes, the ascent is exciting, but the descent always has its own challenges. At that time, we were a bit late in descending and ended up having to walk in conditions that were starting to get dark. Although we had brought flashlights, the path we took felt more difficult because some parts of the trail were narrow and filled with tree roots. There was one moment where I almost slipped on a rocky path because I wasn’t focused enough. The lesson I learned: never underestimate a climb, even if it seems easy.
After all those challenges, the experience of climbing Mount Tampomas turned out to be more memorable than I imagined. I learned a lot from this climb—from the importance of physical and mental preparation to appreciating the richness of nature and local history that we may often overlook. Tampomas may not be as high as other mountains, but its climb teaches us that nothing is too “easy” in nature. Each trail has its own uniqueness, and every mountain has a story we can learn from, if we are willing to open ourselves up and enjoy the journey.
For those of you looking for a short but meaningful adventure in Sumedang, climbing Mount Tampomas is the right choice. In addition to offering beautiful scenery, this climb also gives us the opportunity to better understand local history and experience peace in the outdoors. So, when are you going to try climbing Mount Tampomas? I guarantee that the experience there will bring many surprises and valuable lessons.
