KUTA LOMBOK

Kuta (sometimes spelt Kute) is the ain tow and tourism centre on the south coast of  Lombok, and is the hub for exploring the fantastic shouthern beaches and the many points of interest in the region.

Loated around 60 k south of Mataram and about one and half hour's drive from Senggigi, Kuta makes for wonderful day trip from other points in Lombok, or an alternative holiday destination for travellers exploring Lombok.

Since the Lobok Internationa, Airport opened in late 2011, many of the major road have been upgraded and the main road to Kuta is very good. The new airport is located only 25 minutes drive north of Kuta and has made acess to the south very easy.

The drive down to the south coast is an interesting rural tour of small villages and farming communities. Fields of tobacco, corn and peanuts line the roadsides and farmers till the fields using antiquated ploughs pulled by large water buffalo.

Just before arriving in Kuta, the road passes two traditional Sasak villages namely Sade and Rambitan. On the east side of the road is Rambitan, a village that caters to tourist and has authentic cluster of thatched Lumbung, or rice barns, and traditional hoomes made of thatch and bamboo, with hardened cow and buffalo dung floors.

Nearby, on the hilltop, is one of the oldest mosques in Lombok, Mesjid Kuno. The smll building with a thatched roof is considered holy and many believers make pilgrimages to pray here.

Slightly furthure south is Sade, an hiltop village with more Lumbungs and traditional homes. Both villages have been renovated an cater to the tourist market, but are still interesting examples of traditional Sasak architecture and communal living within the compounds, where lifecontinues as it has for centuries.

Kuta itself is small town with hotels, home-stays and backpacker's hostels that cater mainly to the thousands of surfers from around the world who are drawn to the area every year to surf the left and 

right hand breaks out in the bay.

There is good variety of accomodation restaurant and facilities for travellers and with investment taking off- more options are opening all the time. There are plans for luxury beachfront resort in central Kuta this year and smaller developments are already under construction.

Take from Lombok Guide page 60 (Tourism Information)