The Mount Papandayan tourist area in Garut Regency, West Java, was recently blanketed by an unusual natural phenomenon. Air temperatures in the mountain region reportedly plummeted to as low as 1 degree Celsius, causing a layer of frost to form on the surface of plants and grass.
This phenomenon was observed from the Pondok Saladah area to the Edelweiss Garden. The layer of ice crystals was clearly visible adhering to the vegetation, especially in the early morning before direct exposure to sunlight. This rare moment was captured in a video that went viral on social media and attracted widespread attention.
Sepi Sopian, a local guide who recorded the event, revealed that this was a rare occurrence during his time working at Papandayan. He stated that the extreme cold was felt from the start of his hike at 04:00 WIB while chasing the sunrise.
"I have been a guide at the Papandayan Nature Tourism Park for quite a long time, but frost phenomena like this are very rarely encountered. Even after climbing almost every week for the past two years, this is the first time I've seen the grass freeze in this location," Sepi said when asked for comment.
Although freezing cold weather is a common occurrence for hikers, the appearance of frost—similar to the phenomenon seen in the Dieng Plateau—has become a unique attraction for visitors. To date, the event remains a hot topic among the hiking community and local residents due to its unusual nature in the area.
