Central Java Points
• Yogyakarta • Solo • Sukuh Temple
• Kasunanan Palace
• Sangiran, The Lands of Mistery
• Semarang • Ambarawa Museum
• Sendratari Ramayana • Wayang Kulit
• Ramayana Ballet
• Borobudur Masterpiece Dance Drama
• Gamelan, the Javanese Orchestra
• Boko Sunrise • BOROBUDUR SUNRISE
• Borobudur Temple • Prambanan Temple • Sari Temple • Kalasan Temple • Batik Course
• Making Silver Handycraft in Kota Gede • Javanese Chinese Inscriptions • Boko Trekking • Merapi Golf
• Silver Course • Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace • Water Castle • Imogiri • Beringharjo Fried Rice
• Parijs Van Jogja • Natural Beaches in Jogjakarta
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.
Solo
A pleasant city with a lively character, Solo is also called ‘The City That Never Sleep’. One can always find something to eat or buy, as vendors of all kinds and small food stalls remain open 24 hours. Home of two royal houses wit centuries of power and influence over the city, Solo today remains distinctly Central Javanese with an elegance all its own. It is one of the major centers of batik and other Javanese fabrics, and souvenir hunters may find exquisite “object d’art” and ornate trinkets in the local markets. Those interested in old Javanese culture and the art should not miss Solo.
Sangiran, The Lands of Mistery
In 1891, Eugene Dubois, a French and anthropologist discovered fossils of Pithecanthropus Erectus, or ‘Java Man’. 1930 and 1931 marked the discovery of fossils of a man from the Pleistocene Period. In mid 1980, scientists were startled by the discovery of a complete 4m tall elephant.
Semarang
Semarang is situated on Java’s northern coast and is called the capital of Central Java, as it lies just about halfway between the extreme east and west coasts of the island. From Candi Hill you get amazing views of the port, the lowlands and green paddy fields, the city itself and the surrounding mountains. The environs around Semarang are perfect for day trips and side-excursions. In the older part of the city, near the harbor, you can still find an interesting collection of buildings dating back to the Dutch colonial era and the Dutch East Indies Company. The city offers evening performances of Wayang drama played by live actors, actresses and dancers at Ngesti Pandowo Theatre. For sport fans there are tennis courts in all major hotels and 2 golf courses located in the town’s suburbs. For short trips out of Semarang within radius of about 60 km, the recommended places are Jepara, Kudus and Demak.
Ambarawa Museum
Jro Kuta Palace is located on Kumbakarna Street, Denpasar, about 100 m of Maospahit Temple. This palace has unique building complex such as Ancaksaji, Semanggen, Ranggi, Pewaregan, Saren Raja, Saren Kangin, Paseban, Pamerajan Agung, and Pekandelan which is a kind of fortress to protect the main part of the area.
Sendratari Ramayana
Sendratari Ramayana is the Java's finest example of storytelling in stone in which the epic is egrved on the wall of Siwa Temple in the complex of Prambanan sanctuaries.
Wayang Kulit
Wayang Kulit or Leather Puppet, the Masterpiece of Javanese Performance Art. This perfomance art has been more than five centuries of age. Presenting the story of Ramayana and Mahabharata, this overnight performance serves the proper space to spend the night, reflect and understand Javanese life philosophy.
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.
Borobudur Masterpiece Dance and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
1. Krakal
2. Baron
3. Wedi Ombo
4. Congot Beach, the Nuance of Fisherman Beach
5. Depok Beach, enjoy Seafood Cuisine from Fresh Fish
6. Drini Beach
7. Glagah Beach, from Lagoon Scenery to Agro Tourism
8. Kukup Beach
9. Ngrenehan Beach
10. Parangkusumo Beach, the Love Beach Jogjakarta
11. Parangtritis, the Most Popular Beach in Jogjakarta
12. Sadeng Beach, Visiting the Estuary of the anient Beangawan Solo River
13. Sepanjang Beach, The Old Kuta Beach
14. Siung Beach, Having 250 Routes for Cliff Climbing
15. Sundak Beach, Dog and Sea Urchin Fight which Result a Blessing
16. Trisik Beach, Enjoying the Nuance of Coastal Village
17. Wedieombo Beach, Fishing from the Coral Hill, etc.
