West Nusa Tenggara is one of the 27 provinces into which Indonesia is divided administratively. It consists of two main islands, they are Lombok and Sumbawa and a few of small islands around them, all of which are between
8 5’ and 9 5’ south the Equator.
The Province is about half way along the archipelago, from 11545’ East Longitude. Its neighbors are Bali on the west and Komodo island as well as Flores on the east.
With regard to the fly of the crow, Lombok is about 80 kilometers from east to west and about the same kilometers from north to south. Unlike Lombok, Sumbawa, ignoring its deeply indented coast, is close to 300 kilometers from east to west and 100 kilometers from north to south. All measurements are of the widest scale.
Mt. Rinjani in Lombok, which is 3726 meters high, is one of the highest mountains in Indonesia and a lake named Segara Anakan exists within its crater.
Mt. Tambora, which is the highest mountain in Sumbawa, is 2850 meters high. It had violently erupted in 1815. the fact that the rivers which are generally flow from north to south, from the inland mountains to the coast, proves the none of them is very long.
As far as our knowledge is concerned, the earliest community in west Nusa Tenggara has been, in average, small kingdoms, known as the Sasaks in Lombok, the Sumbawans in west Sumbawa, the Bimans and the Dompuese in East Sumbawa. They still believe in animism and they are agriculture people.
After the 16 th century, Moslem spread from Java toward the east and approximately by the end of the 17 th century the Balinese began to enter Lombok from the west.
Therefore, after a few decades, there was a possibility to set up a Hindu Kingdom so as to expand the Islamic Sultamates to the other parts of the province.
The Bali-Hindu temples and the Lombok’s court are originated from the second decade of the 18 th century. Besides, the buildings left by the Sultamates of Sumbawa and Bima belonged also to the same period or even a bit later.
Although there are only a few relief’s left from the old Kingdom of animism, they have indeed made some contribution to their culture.
Based on the1980’s census, the total population of the province is around 3 millions, however, only about 2 millions remain in Lombok. The original inhabitants of these island are three distinct group of people, each with their own dialect and customs. They are Sasak of Lombok and the Sumbawan while the Biman and the Dompuese speak Biman of Sumbawa.
Many Bali-Hindu people emigrated over 250 years ago and settled down in Lombok. Mostly have lived in the west part of the island. The National Language, Indonesia, is presently widely spoken, especially among young people who have been educated at school. Apart from the Bali-Hindus, most people in the province have adhered to the Islam, there are a few Christian families, though.
There are now six Regencies, which are the Sub-division of a Province, they are West Lombok with the capital of Mataram, Central Lombok with the capital of Praya, East Lombok with the capital of Selong, Sumbawa with the capital of Sumbawa Besar, Dompu with the capital of Dompu and Bima with the capital of Bima.