Pasar Kembang in Bekasi City, West Java Province

There is a unique place to visit in Bekasi City, which is called Pasar Kembang. In terms of name, it means the Flower Market actually. Well, as the name suggests, tourists can find many locals who sell flower petals in that area. The location is in Bojong Rawalumbu Village and it belongs to Rawalumbu Sub-District. For the locals, the market accommodates them to buy flower petals which they are going to use for “Nyekar” or making a pilgrimage (especially when Ramadan is coming near). As for tourists, the market itself offers a unique nuance and a distinct experience on where they can spend a vacation.

The Nuance
Pasar Kembang is a traditional market, so it doesn’t feature sophisticated facilities. What tourists may find is only a group of sellers operating by the roadside and sitting under an umbrella. The ambiance is unique, though. This explains the market also attracts outsiders and tourists regardless of the time, especially during weekends. Still, most visitors are the locals. They come to the location to buy flower petals and other items used for Nyekar. The best part is everyone is able to bargain and get a cheaper price for those products!

Exploring Pasar Kembang
So, what can tourists do in Pasar Kembang? The main reason why the site attracts travelers is the unique product sold in the market. Instead of selling vegetables or other common products, this one sells mainly flower petals used for pilgrimage. It has become a common culture that villagers put those petals on their deceased family’s tomb, after all. What are those petals? The locals call it “Kembang 7 Rupa” or 7 varieties of flowers. These include white rose, red rose, tuberose, ylang-ylang, white cempaka, jasmine, and jasminum nitidum.

Not only tourists can watch the trading activity done by both sellers and buyers at Pasar Kembang, but they can also buy those products directly! They don’t have to use those petals to conduct pilgrimage, though. These products can be simply a souvenir that tourists buy during a visit in Bekasi City. Another common thing to do in the market is photography. That means visitors may take some photos of the nuance and even the sellers!

The good news is all sellers offer their products at a cheap price, so everyone doesn’t need to spend much money to get the products. In fact, it is possible to get a more affordable price by bargaining. For foreigners, they need to be able to speak the Indonesian Language and conduct an excellent bargaining skill though. Have no worries. They can look for a help from a tour guide to do so. Another tip is related to the time of visit, which is the best before or during Ramadan.

Nearby Attractions

• Situ Gede
• Columbus Waterpark
• Go Wet Waterpark
• Pancasila Sakti Monument

How to Get There
From Bandung City, a trip to Pasar Kembang takes approximately 2 hours and 9 minutes. It is because the distance is 131 km. For a faster trip, though, it is recommended to take Purbaleunyi Highway and Raya Pantura Street.

Where to Stay

• Sakura Nayuta Guesthouse
• Merapi Merbabu Hotel
• Win Grand Hotel
• Gandamanah Hotel