 Borobudur Temple
The name “Boroudur” is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit words “Vihara Buddha Uhr”, (Buddhist Monastery on the Hill). The Borobudur Temple was built in the eight century by the Syailendra dynasty and is located at Magelang 90 km southeast of Semarang or 42 km northwest of Yogyakarta. One of the world’s famous temples, it stand majestically on a hill overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. Borobudur is built of grey andesite stone. It rises in seven terraces, each smaller than the one below it. The top is the great Great Stupa, standing 40 meters above the ground. The walls of the Borobudur are sculpted in bas-relief, a total length of six kilometers. It has been hailed as the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist relief in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit, each scene an individual masterpiece. The monument has been completely restored and was officially opened by the President on 23 February 1983. The restoration took eight years to complete, funded by the Government of Indonesia with aid from UNESCO and donations from private citizens and foreign governments.
Lying in the shadow of the aptly named "Fire Mountain", (2914 meter-high active volcano, Mt. Merapi), is the seat of the once mighty Javanese Empire of Mataram, Ngayogyakarto Hadiningrat. Yogyakarta Yogya) came into being in 1755, when a land dispute split the power of Mataram into the Sultanates of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo). Prince Mangkubumi built Kraton of Yogyakarta and created one of the most powerful Javanese states ever. The Kraton is still the hub of Yogyakarta's traditional life and despite the advances of the 20th century; it still radiates the spirit of refinement, which has been the hallmark of its art and people for centuries.
Yogyakarta is one of the supreme culture centers of Java. Full Gamelan orchestras keep alive the rhythms the past, classical Javanese dances entrance with visions of beauty and poise, shadows come to life in the stories of the wayang kulit and a myriad of traditional visual art forms keep locals and visitors alike spellbound. Yogya has an extraordinary life force and charm which seldom fails to captivate. Contemporary art has also grown in the fertile soil of Yogyakarta's sophisticated cultural society. ASRI, the Academy of Fine Arts, is the center of arts in the region and Yogyakarta has given its name to an important school of modern painting in Indonesia, best illustrated by the renowned impressionist, the late Affandi.
The province is one of the most densely populated areas of Indonesia. It stretches from the slopes of mighty Mount Merapi in the north to the wave-swept beaches of the powerful Indian Ocean to the south. Daily air services connect Yogyakarta to Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali, while regular trains ply similar routes and thousands of buses offer easy accessibility by rood. |
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| Malang |
| Ninety km south of Surabaya lays Malang, one of the most attractive hill towns on Java. A strong sense of civic pride is evident from the well maintained and elaborately painted becaks, the groomed main square, and clean buildings and streets. The cool climate is a welcome respite from Surabaya. Twenty km from Malang on the southern flank of Mt. Arjuna, are Selecta and Songgoriti, popular hill resorts with hot springs. Nearby Batu is famous for its apples and flowers. Sports facilities at Selecta include horse riding, swimming and tennis. |
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| Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace |
| The palace court with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture lies in the center of the city between the Winongo and Code Rivers. The palace grounds, courtyards and buildings stretch from north to south, in line with Mount Merapi. One passed through the palace meeting hall, the Pagelaran, where formal meetings of palace officials are held, to the Manguntur Tangkil hall where the Sultan holds audience. The palace today retains the atmosphere of a by-gone era through the installations of life-size wedding and palace meeting dioramas, traditional Javanese gamelan orchestras, antiques and heirlooms that adorn the royal buildings. |
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| Mount Kawi Fortune Hunting |
| This sage’s grave on Mt. Kawi is a famous pilgrimage site for those who seek to increase their worldly blessings. Possessing an intensely Javanese atmosphere, with frequent wayang and gamelan performances, the grave itself is built on a hilltop. On both sides of the long stairway leading to the top is an assortment of sacred springs, Chinese houses of worship, flower and souvenir stalls and other interesting sights. |
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 Water Castle
Just west of the kraton, are the ruins, pools, arches and underground passages of the former pleasure gardens, the Water Castle. Built in 1758 by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, the central courtyard with the nymph-baths has been restored. The Water Castle is located in the old part of the City within walking distance from the Bird Market. A number off batik workshops line the avenue leading to the pleasure garden’s entrance. |
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 Sari Temple
600 m northeast of the Kalasan temple sits the slender and beautiful Sari Temple, formerly a Buddhist sanctuary (Vihara) where Buddhist priests used to live, meditate and teach their followers. |
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| Imogiri |
| Imogiri, the official cemetery of the royal descendents from Yogyakarta and Surakarta,is about 17 km southeast of Yogyakarta and easily accessible by the bus or car. The tombs lie within three main courtyards perched on a hilltop. Entry into the smaller courtyards housing the tombs of the princes is allowed only by visitors wearing traditional Javanese dress, which can be hired on the spot for a modest fee. Monday 09.00 - 12.00 and Friday 13.00 – 16.00). The cemetery is closed during the Moslem month of Ramadhan. |
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 Prambanan Temple
This magnificent Hindu temple derives it name from the village where it is located, seventeen kilometers east of Yogyakarta. Locally known as the Loro Jongrang Temple, or the Temple of thr Slender Virgin, it is the most magnificent and beautiful Hindu temple in Indonesia. Prambanan is believed to have been built by King Balitung Maha Sambu in the middle of the ninth century. Its parapets are adorned with bas-relief depicturing the famous Ramayana story. It has eight shrines; the three main ones are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu 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 Ramayana ballet is performed on an open-air stage during the full moon in the months from May to October. |
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 Kalasan Temple
This unique Buddhist temple is located some 26 km east of Yogyakarta, on the south side of the main road between Yogyakarta and Solo. It was built in honor of the marriage between king Pancapana of the Sanjaya Dynasty and a Princess of the Cailendra Dynasty, Dyah Pramudya Wardhani. It is elaborately ornate, with finely carved reliefs preserved with “vajralepa”, from the sap of a local tree. |
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 Mount BROMO
Many local and foreign travelers make the trek for the mystical experience of watching the sunrise from the crest of the Bromo volcano. A pony ride from the village of Ngadisari takes you over a sea of sand to the foot of the volcano. Ascend the 50 steps to reach the rim. On the vast expanse of sand, formerly a caldera, there are two volcanoes; the extinct Batok which ia a perfect cone and Bromo. Volcanic sulphur fumes and smoke still emanate from the depths, and when the God of Bromo begins to rumble, the surrounding population quickly brings their offerings. The annual offering ceremony of Kasada is held on the 14th day of Kasada, the twelfth month in the Tenggerese calendar year. It is a dazzling event where villagers from the surrounding areas bring their humble offerings to the holy volcano. |
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| Surabaya |
| A booming city of over 3 million people, Surabaya offers many good hotels, shopping centers and plentiful sources of entertainment. Its well-stocked zoological garden includes several species of Indonesian fauna: orang utans, komodo dragons and a collection of nocturnal animals. Kalimas is an old traditional harbor for the world famous Bugis schooners, which can still be seen in all their former glory. Across the Madura Strait, half an hour by ferry from Surabaya is the island of Madura, famous for its unique bull races. |
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| Discovering East Java |
| East
Java is one of the Republic of Indonesia's 27 provinces, occupying an
area of some 48,000 km2 just south of the equator. Including the island
of Madura, it accounts for a little more than a third of Java's total
land surface and supports a population of almost 33,000,000
inhabitants. To the east, across a narrow strait, lies the island of
Bali; to the west are the provinces of Central Java and the Special
Region of Yogyakarta. |
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 Ijen Crater (Kawah Ijen)
Kawah
Ijen is the world's largest highly acidic lake and is the site of a
labor-intensive sulfur mining operation in which sulfur-laden baskets
are hand-carried from the crater floor. Coffee plantations cover much
of the Ijen caldera floor, and tourists are drawn to its waterfalls,
hot springs, and dramatic volcanic scenery. |
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| Purwodadi Botanical Garden |
| Founded
in 1941 for the study of plants growing under relatively dry
conditions, lie about 30 kms northeast of Malang, just off the Surabaya
to Malang main road. They cover an area of about 85 ha (212 acres). |
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| Natural Beaches in Jogjakarta |
At the south of Yogyakarta, you will meet beaches. The closest beach is
Parangtritis. There are also more natural beaches in the Gunungkidul
region, like:
* Krakal * Baron * Wedi Ombo * Congot Beach, the Nuance of Fisherman Beach *Depok Beach, enjoy Seafood Cuisine from Fresh Fish * Drini Beach * Glagah Beach, from Lagoon Scenery to Agro Tourism * Kukup Beach * Ngrenehan Beach * Parangkusumo Beach, the Love Beach Jogjakarta * Parangtritis, the Most Popular Beach in Jogjakarta * Sadeng Beach, Visiting the Estuary of the anient Beangawan Solo River * Sepanjang Beach, The Old Kuta Beach * Siung Beach, Having 250 Routes for Cliff Climbing * Sundak Beach, Dog and Sea Urchin Fight which Result a Blessing * Trisik Beach, Enjoying the Nuance of Coastal Village * Wedieombo Beach, Fishing from the Coral Hill, etc. |
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Boko Sunrise. Seeing sunrise from the top of Tugel Hill
Bukit Tugel or Tugel Hill provides you with the most beautiful scenery of sunrise in the beginning of New Year. You can also see the grandeur of Merapi Mountain, Prambanan Temple and tens of other temples. |
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 BOROBUDUR Sunrise
Borobudur sunrise is the only view of sunrise in Nirvana that human beings can enjoy. You can see the sun rising between two famous mountains in Java Island decorated with glowing magma. |
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| Making Silver in Kota Gede |
| Now, not only you can buy the worldwide famous silver handicrafts of Kotagede but you can learn how to make them. Some places offer you such a rare opportunity at long duration as you wish. |
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 Javanese Chinese Inscriptions
Javanese-Chinese inscription that is located at back of Traju Mas Hall in the Kingdom complex, even though small in shape, turns to keep deep memory. |
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| Beringharjo Fried Rice Deliciousness Culinary |
| Enjoying the taste of Beringharjo Fried Rice is just as occupied as listening to a plate of story around the harmony of Javanese and Chinese cultures in Indonesia, especially in terms of culinary, not just its deliciousness. |
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| Parisj Van Jogja |
| Some areas in Yogyakarta turn to have the same name as other areas such as Bandung and Kuningan in West Java. Typical humor of Djokdja can also be found in some names of certain areas in Yogyakarta, such as Pakistan and Paris. |
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| Gamelan, the Javanese Orchestra |
| Gamelan is the music created by integrating voices of gong, kenong and other Javanese music instruments. Soft music that reflects the life harmony of Javanese people will soon greet and calm the soul down once someone is listening to it. |
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| Ramayana Ballet |
| Ramayana Ballet is a drama typical javanese dance. This dance-drama is a marvelous visualization of legendary epos in Javanese culture, Ramayana. Performed in an open stage, Ramayana ballet invites you to enjoy the story in a set of typical Javanese dance accompanied by gamelan music. |
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| Borobudur Masterpiece Dance Drama |
| Upon the finishing of the temple, Gunadharma incorporated into Borobudur temple and stayed at Menoreh forever to keep the temple physically and spiritually. Gunadharma also kept on giving inspiration about life and society's life. |
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