Indonesia is a country with many beautiful islands. One of the most famous is Lombok Island, located in the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province.

Lombok Island is a frequently visited destination by international tourists. Not only international tourists, but the island is also a favorite of domestic tourists due to its extraordinary natural beauty.

Lombok offers many interesting things to discover, one of which is its unique culture. Beyond culture, the island’s history is also a fascinating aspect.

Many believe the origin of Lombok Island’s name is related to chili peppers. Lombok is the word for “chili” in various regions of Indonesia. This assumption stems from the abundance of chili peppers there or the famous spiciness of some of Lombok’s culinary delights. It turns out the island’s name has nothing to do with chili peppers.

Lombok in the Past

Quoted from desasepit.web.id, during the Majapahit era, Lombok was one of the targets of the Palapa Oath of Prime Minister Gajah Mada, who referred to Lombok as Tanah Sela, Sasak Adi, Sasak Mirah. Some believe that Sasak originated from the early arrival of humans, who became the forerunners of the Sasak tribe, on rafts called Saksaks. Others believe that the word Sasak comes from the description of Lombok Island, which at that time was a dense and crowded jungle, especially with bamboo.

The existence of this bamboo forest was indeed described by Robert Wallace, a British scientist, during his adventures through Lombok in the mid-19th century. Meanwhile, the name Lombok is believed to originate from the Sasak language, meaning “straight,” reflecting the general innocence of the ethnic group, though it may seem overly pretentious. According to the Babad Lomboq, the oldest kingdom to rule the island was the Laeq Kingdom. In Sasak, “Laeq” means “past time.” However, the Babad Suwung mentions that the oldest kingdom in Lombok was the Suwung Kingdom, founded by King Betara Indera.

This kingdom later declined and was replaced by the Sasak Kingdom, which established the Sasak Kingdom from the 9th to 11th centuries. Several other kingdoms are recorded in Lombok, including Pejanggik, Langko, Bayang, Sokong Samarkaton, and Selaparang. The Selaparang Kingdom existed in two periods. The first Selaparang Kingdom was a Hindu kingdom, and its rule ended with the arrival of the Majapahit Empire expedition in 1357. The second Selaparang Kingdom was an Islamic kingdom, whose rule ended in 1744 after being conquered by the combined forces of the Karangasem Kingdom, Bali, and Arya Banjar Gelas, a royal family that betrayed Selaparang.

Bali’s rule gave rise to a strong Balinese culture, particularly on the western side of Lombok. This is evident in dances and architectural remains, such as the Cakranegara Palace in Ampenan. In 1894, Lombok was freed from Karangasem’s influence after the Dutch East Indies intervened following a Sasak rebellion. From then on, Lombok remained under Dutch East Indies control. After the Japanese invaded Indonesia around 1942, Lombok automatically came under Japanese control in the eastern region. After World War II, Lombok was part of the State of East Indonesia and joined the Republic of Indonesia in 1950.

Lombok Island is part of West Nusa Tenggara Province and consists of four regencies and one city: Mataram City, West Lombok Regency, Central Lombok Regency, East Lombok Regency, and North Lombok Regency.

Currently, Lombok Island is known as a tourist destination. Like Bali, before the pandemic, Lombok Island was a destination for international tourists. Several famous tourist attractions on Lombok Island include Senggigi Beach, Seger Beach, Gili Twangan, Sembalun, Tetebatu, Pink Beach, and Kuta Beach and Mandalika.

Nicknames for Lombok Island

According to the official website of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Lombok ranked first among the world’s best halal tourist destinations according to the 2019 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), earning the island the nickname “Island of a Thousand Mosques.” This nickname remains Lombok’s preferred nickname, and continues to be used to this day.

The nickname “Island of a Thousand Mosques” originally emerged after Effendi Zarkasih, Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, visited Lombok in 1970 to inaugurate the Cakranegara Grand Mosque. Impressed by the sheer number of mosques on the island, Effendi spontaneously declared that Lombok was the Island of a Thousand Mosques.

This is the origin of the name Lombok. Not derived from the word “cayenne,” meaning “spicy,” but rather from the word “lombok,” which means “chili,” meaning “spicy.” Lombok has deep meaning and philosophical significance.