The Gunung Kemukus, or Sex Mountain, in Indonesia is attracting thousands of Muslim pilgrims to have sex with strangers and eventually get good fortune.

This is what SBS Dateline Patrick Abboud reported after he was granted the rare opportunity to probe into the secrets of the ancient mountain located in Central Java, Indonesia.

Based on the legend dating back to the 16th century, the pilgrims believe that performing sex rituals and praying to the adulterous prince Samudro will bring wealth and good luck.

Abboud says that every 35 days, the person has to perform sex seven consecutive times for the ritual to work. He said that a variety of people participate in the ritual - married men, housewives, government officials, and prostitutes.

He told news.com.au that thousands of Indonesian pilgrims travel across the archipelago to the Sex Mountain believing that sex out of wedlock, at this mountain, will bring them good luck.

This is surprising for a country and religion that consider sex out of wedlock as taboo.

"The Islamic religion forbids it, but they don't want to know that," says Sex Mountain expert Professor Keontjoro Soeparno. "They're more interested in profit, they leave religion behind."

Legend reveals that the ritual started when a young Indonesian Prince, Pangeran Samodro, had an affair with his stepmother.

The two ran away and went to Gunung Kemukus. They were caught and killed while having sex and buried on top of the mountain.

"There is a shrine there now and because they didn't get to finish the act, others believe that if you do, fortune will come to you, most people like poor farmers who want to get ahead in life," Abboud said.

He added that the ritual doesn't take place anywhere else in Indonesia or the rest of the Muslim world. He considers the ritual as a Javanese blend of religious ideals - with Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist influences.