Kelok 23 Yogyakarta, Stunning Sunset Panorama Over the Indian Ocean
KOMPAS.com – There is a new road in the Special Region of Yogyakarta that is going viral. Videos and photos are widely circulated on social media and attracting many viewers.
The road is the Jalur Jalan Lintas Selatan (JJLS) Kelok 23, which was opened for trial use on Monday (9/14/2026).
Kompas.com also didn’t want to miss out and took a direct test drive through this new route on Wednesday (9/16/2026).
I visited there in the early afternoon approaching late afternoon and arrived after Asr prayer around 3:00 PM WIB.
The entrance to JJLS Kelok 23 is on Jalan Parangtritis, precisely after the Kretek Bridge and before entering the Parangtritis Beach area.
JJLS Kelok 23 connects Jalan Parangtritis with the Bantul-Girijati route. Previously, people had to travel along the edge of Parangtritis Beach to reach these two areas.
However, JJLS Kelok 23 is not the official name of this route. Still, the road is indeed quite winding and steep.
Nevertheless, the condition of this new road is very smooth. During the trial phase, only motorcycles and cars are allowed to pass.
Kompas.com attempted to drive all the way to the end of JJLS Kelok 23. It turned out that the far end of the road is still under repair.
There is a rest area along JJLS Kelok 23 where motorists can stop and park their vehicles.
KOMPAS.com/ANGGARA WIKAN PRASETYA Aerial View of Kelok 23 Yogyakarta Route (9/16/2026).
At this rest area, visitors can eat and drink at food stalls while enjoying the view of the Indian Ocean.
Visitors can also climb the lookout tower to observe the beautiful panorama facing the Indian Ocean.
In the afternoon, around 4:00 PM WIB, JJLS Kelok 23 started getting busy with tourists. The later the afternoon, the busier it became.
The crowd is understandable because the beauty of this route is best seen in the late afternoon, especially during the sunset moment.
On September 16, 2026, the afternoon sun was already over the ocean as it approached sunset.
