Yogyakarta’s Destination

Lies 18 miles (29km) inland from the southern Java coast and near Mount Merapi (9,551 feet /2,911m). In the 7th century, the locality formed part of the Buddhist kingdom of Savendras, which was contemporaneous with the Srivijaya Empire of Palembang (Sumatra). It was probably included in the later Kediri and Singosari kingdoms that ruled the region successively. At the end of the 13th century, the Hindu Majapahit Empire rose up in eastern Java, and what is now Jogja passed under its rule. In the early 16th century, central Java had two Muslim kingdoms, Demak and Pajang, which were incorporated into the powerful Muslim kingdom of Mataram by Senapati Ingalaga (reigned 1584–1601). The Dutch became established in the region in 1602. After numerous conflicts, Mataram subdued the state of Surabaya in eastern Java in 1625 and gained general supremacy in the territory. In rebellion against Dutch intervention in Javanese politics, Sultan Hamungkubuwono I moved his court from Kota Gede to Jogjakarta. Mataran in 1755 and renamed the town Jogja. The British captured Jogja in 1811, and Sultan Hamengkubuwana II was deposed and exiled. In 1816, the Dutch repossessed the island of Java, and in 1830, Dutch colonial rule was firmly established in the sultanate. After the period of Japanese occupation during World War II, the Republic of Indonesia was formed. The national capital was moved to Jogja when the Dutch occupied Jakarta in 1946; it was moved back to Jakarta in 1950 upon independence, and Jogja was given the status of a special district in the Republic of Indonesia.

Yogyakarta City

Lies 18 miles (29km) inland from the southern Java coast and near Mount Merapi (9,551 feet /2,911m). In the 7th century, the locality formed part of the Buddhist kingdom of Savendras, which was contemporaneous with the Srivijaya Empire of Palembang (Sumatra). It was probably included in the later Kediri and Singosari kingdoms that ruled the region successively. At the end of the 13th century, the Hindu Majapahit Empire rose up in eastern Java, and what is now Jogja passed under its rule. In the early 16th century, central Java had two Muslim kingdoms, Demak and Pajang, which were incorporated into the powerful Muslim kingdom of Mataram by Senapati Ingalaga (reigned 1584–1601). The Dutch became established in the region in 1602. After numerous conflicts, Mataram subdued the state of Surabaya in eastern Java in 1625 and gained general supremacy in the territory. In rebellion against Dutch intervention in Javanese politics, Sultan Hamungkubuwono I moved his court from Kota Gede to Jogjakarta. Mataran in 1755 and renamed the town Jogja. The British captured Jogja in 1811, and Sultan Hamengkubuwana II was deposed and exiled. In 1816, the Dutch repossessed the island of Java, and in 1830, Dutch colonial rule was firmly established in the sultanate. After the period of Japanese occupation during World War II, the Republic of Indonesia was formed. The national capital was moved to Jogja when the Dutch occupied Jakarta in 1946; it was moved back to Jakarta in 1950 upon independence, and Jogja was given the status of a special district in the Republic of Indonesia.

Sultan Palace

Kraton Jogja’s Sultan Palace The Sultan’s Palace, or Kraton, with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture, lay in the center of the city. It was founded by Pangeran Mangkubumi I. He chooses the right site for the building, right between the Winongo River and the Code River, a swamp area that dried up then. The Sultan’s Palace stretches from the north to the south. The front yard of the Sultan Palace is called Allun-Allun Utara (North Square), and the back yard is called Allun-Allun Selatan (South Square). The design of this historical building demonstrates that the palace, the obelisk (the Tugu, the column), and the mount Merapi are positioned in one line. It is believed that the axis is blessed. In the old days, Sri Sultan used to concentrate his mind on this axis before leading meetings, making decisions, or giving orders to his people. Each part of the building has its own name. The palace meeting is called Pagelaran. It is the place where the formal meeting of the Kratons’s officials is held. Manguntur Tangkil Hall is the place where the Sultan has his set. This hall is in Siti Hinggil. Siti means ground or land, while Hinggil means high, so it is called Siti Hinggil because the place where it was built is higher than any other ground around it. It was once a tiny island in the swamp. The front gate is called Danupratopo. Two giants, called Gupalo, guard it. One is called Cingkorobolo, and the other is Boloupoto. The two statues are perceived as protecting the palace from any harm or evil. The main part of the Sultan is called Purworetno, which is also where the Sultan performs his duties. Besides Purworetno, there are two-story buildings called Panti Sumbago. This biuding is the Sultan’s private library. The building where the Sultan lives is called Gedong Kuning.
The palace was founded by the first Sultan, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono, who fathered a line of Jogjakarta kings. Relevant to the name, the Sultan Palace has its own rules, self-governing systems, and traditional customs that are still preserved up to the present. Lying in the center of Jogja city, this palace is the main tourist attraction in Jogja. The palace is now the dwelling place of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, who is also the Governor of Jogjakarta Special Region. As the palace of Jogjakarta kings, physical or non-physical, it has sacred symbols, complete with divinity, value, culture, philosophy, history, and humanity. There is a museum displaying souvenirs from the Sultan’s guests, especially from a board called the Souvenir Museum, as well as a museum of Batik collections and a museum Wayang (puppet). Equally interesting are the various forms of traditional art activities, such as shadow puppet shows, classical dances, and gamelan performances, which are still performed in the court and open to the public.

Birds market

Known as Pasar Ngasem, It is located on the north side of Taman Sari. This market provides hundreds of types of tropical birds. In Javanese culture, birds symbolize men’s world. This is why the transaction of birds is quite frequent at Pasar Ngasem. Birds, which are available at Pasar Ngasem, are mostly chirping birds, such as perkutut, kenari, etc. Yet, there is also another species of racing speed flyer, such as the dove. This market also provides dogs, rabbits, snakes, and some other pets.

Tamansari

Tamansari Water Castle is located on the street, about 500 meters south of Jogjakarta Palace. Tamansari is a park that once was a recreational place for the Sultan and the royal family. There were many facilities built in this complex, including a bathing pool, man-made islands, an artificial lake, and a floating mosque. Nowadays, this park and castle are no more than a collection of ruins. Tamansari was built by Sultan HB I and has functioned as a royal recreational park since the Sultan HB III period. The remainder of the complex that can be seen are Gapura Panggung (the main entrance gate on the east side), Umbul Kawitan (the bathing pool), Pamuncar, Gapura Agung (the western gate), Sumur Gumuling, Plengkung Taman Segara, Pulau Kenanga, and Pulau Panembung.

Handicrafts

Handmade Batik

Batik is an art of painting that is technically done by using wax. It is presumed to be non-original Jogjanese art since it is also found in other regions. The oldest batik center is Wukirsari in Imogiri. It has become a center of batik since the Jogja Sultanate (Kraton) existed (around the 1800s). Classic batik motives were produced here. At this time, the batik painters are not only producing exclusive batik ordered by the Kraton family but also producing batik with traditional motives and classic colors for common people. Batik with painted motives can be found in the Taman Sari Batik Center. It is around the remaining rest area of the Kraton family, Tamansari. You can find batik in cloths, table runners, napkins, decorative paintings, etc. Taman sari batik is peculiar; it has a bright color and various motives, which are totally different from classic batiks that have a flora and fauna motif only. Tamansari Batik has some motives for Jogja scenery, to include the andong (traditional cart), pedi cab, mask, houses, etc.

Silver Ware home Industry

Silver craft had grown since Mataram Islam existed in Kotagede (in the 1600s). At that time, Panembahan Senopati brought the silver and gold craftsmen from Bali to Kotagede to make royal decorations and ceremonial equipment. The silver crafts business had a prosperous era during the 1930s and 1940s, when some companies got orders from Europe and exported their products to the Netherlands and other European countries.

Borobudur Temple

Buddha in Borobudur is a magnificent Buddhist monument constructed between 750 and 850 AD, when Central Java was still a Buddhist kingdom. Long abandoned, the first re-discovery and appreciation of Borobudur began in 1815 under Raffles, who was the Let.Gov. of Java during the brief period of British rule. The real work of total reconstruction of the thousands of stones and relief took place under the Indonesian government, which, with the assistance of UNESCO, completed a 10-year restoration projection in 1984. Today, Borobudur is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site with levels and 1460 carved stone reliefs telling the story of Buddha and representing the steps from the earthly realm to Nirvana. Located only 42 km from Jogja, Borobudur is best seen in the early morning or at twilight.

The Other Nearest Buddhist Temples
Candi Pawon
Candi Mendut

Prambanan Temple

The Hindu temple Prambanan, this magnificent Shiva temple, derives its name from the village where it is located. Locally known as the Loro Jonggrang Temple, or the temple of the “Slender Virgin,”  it is the biggest and most beautiful Hindu temple in Indonesia. Seventeen kilometers east of Jogjakarta, it is believed to have been built by King Balitung Maha Sambu in the middle of the ninth century. Its parapets are domed with a bas-relief depicting the famous Ramayana story. The first open-air theater on the southern side of the temples was built in 1960, and the new one on the western side of the temple was built in 1988. During full moon evenings in the month from May to October, the Ramayana ballet is performed right here. The complex of Prambanan lies among green fields and villages. It has eight shrines, of which the main ones are dedicated to Shiva, Visnu, and Brahma. The main temple of Shiva rises to a height of 130 feet and houses the magnificent statue of Shiva’s consort, Durga.

The Nearest Other Temples
Candi Kalasan
Candi Sambisari
Candi Sewu Plaosan
Candi Sojiwan and Ratu Boko

Ramayana Dance

This drama dance has been performed for a very long time by people around Prambanan Temple every full moon. The Ramayana is performed without dialogue but with dance and gamelan accompaniment only. The story was taken from the relief of Prambanan Temple. And now, this ballet is regularly performed on the grand stage built by the government in the Prambanan compound and other places.

Merapi Volcano

Located on the northern side of Jogja, when the weather is clear, a spectacular sight of the panoramic view that covers the surrounding forest of Plawangan and Kaliurang and the rolling green countryside that fades into the distant misty horizons of the blue Indian Ocean can be seen easily. It is better to do mountain climbing during the dry season (April–September). There are two paths of mountain climbing to the top of Merapi. The easier way is the north path, through Selo and Boyolali Center Java. The most difficult path is from Kinahrejo (9 km from the mountaintop, but you will need around 8 hours to climb to the top due to the difficult path).

Dieng Plateau

Dieng plateau lies at 2093 m altitude above sea level and about 20 km S.W. of Wonosobo. It has a cool climate; in the afternoon, the climate is fresh and will be very cold at night. The average temperature is 15 °C; usually, it will turn to 0 °C or even lower in July and August. Beside having a beautiful scenery with temples that were built by the Caylendra Dynasty in the mid-8th century, once, you can take a tobacco walk in Sindoro Mountain, Wonosobo, or a tea walk in Teh Tembi Plantation, etc. Wonosobo is a city with a fresh climate in a highland that is surrounded by four mountains, such as M. Sumbing (3.371m), M. Sindoro (3.162 m), M. Bisma (2.365 m), and M. Ragajembangan (2.177m). The nature of beauty can be seen all the way to the area, which has a high frequency of rain, especially on the north side, which can reach up to 1.500 mm per year. The beauty of Sindoro and Sumbing can be enjoyed in the early morning from Kledung Pass and Restaurant. The Tobacco Walk in Tobacco Season or the Tea Walk at Tambi Tea Plantation can be preserved here at any time.

Sukuh and Cetho temples

Candi Sukuh The temple of Sukuh is one of the many Hindu relics in Central Java. Located on the western slope of Mount Lawu, 91`0 meters above sea level and 7km from Karangpandan, Sukuh was built in the 15th century, just before Moslems penetrated throughout the island of Java. It is also usually called “the most erotic temple in the world. Sukuh has a unique structure that also shows Indonesian original elements. more prominent rather than mostly Indian temple elements. It is a holy structure for the Siva religion that, in Indonesia, is symbolized by the phallus, which is visualized in real life as a man’s sexual organ. The architecture alone sets Sukuh apart. It is a stepped, truncated pyramid, and it looks very much like the Mayan temples of Yucatan and Guatemala in central America. The temple is a spiritual monument with complete reliefs that are really enchanting and rare.

Gedong Songo Temple

The temples were built between AD 730 and 780, except for the first one encountered along the path leading up to the others, which may be 30 years younger. The mane for the complex is not the original one, nor it literal count of the structures; the number 9 has numerical significance in java culture. The temples are more or less evenly spaced between 100-200 meters apart on individual plateaus or ridges projecting horizontally from the mountain.

Ratu Boko Heritage Site

At the complex of Ratu Boko heritage site, we can find variety inheritance of archaeological sites. Every structure is arranged in good harmony and surrounded by fence. There are many gates connecting the fence completed with stairs, terrace and trail. Besides those sacred buildings, there are also other building s like ponds and caves. The name Kraton given by the local community around that area indicates that Ratu Boko site was the living area and the center of government as well at that time. Ratu Boko site was built by Rakai Panangkaran in 792 AD and called Abhayagiri Wihara. Rakai Panangkaran built Abhayagiri Wihara after resigning from his throne. He ruled from 764 784 AD and then continued by his successor who is in fact his son, Rakai Panarabwan. Fifty-three-year lather (856 AD), the name Ratu Boko had changed into Kraton Walaing which proclaimed by Rakai Walaing pu Kumbhayoni who recognized as the Vasal King. He ruled from 856-863 AD and called himself as the descend of Rakai I Hulu. Some opinion said that the process of renovation could become attraction for the tourists, because it is a rare occasion for tourists to see the renovation process lively.

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