YOGYAKARTA AND BEYOND

Sultan Palace
The Sultan's Palace or Kraton, with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture, lay in the centre of the city. It was founded by Pangeran Mangkubumi I. He choose the right for the site of the building, right between Winongo River and Code River a swamp area that dried up then. The Sultan's Palace stretches from the north to south. the front yard of the Sultan Palace is called Allun-All;un Utara ( North Square) and the back yard 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 positioned in one line. It is believed that the axis is blessed. In the-old times Sri Sultan is used to concentrated his mind long this axis before leading meeting, making decision or giving order 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 are 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 called Siti Hinggil because the place where it built is higher than any other ground around it. It was once a tiny island on the swamp. The front gate is called Danupratopo. Two giants called Gupalo guards it. One is called Cingkorobolo and the other is Boloupoto. The two statues are perceived may protect the palace from any harm or evil.The main part of the Sultan is called Purworetno, aplce where the Sultan performes his duties. beside Purworetno there are twostory buidings callled Panti Sumbago. This biuding is the Sultan's privates library. The building wher the the Sultan lives 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 custom that is 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 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 symbol, completed with divinity, value, culture, philosophy, history and humanity. There are a museum displaying souvenirs from The Sultan's guests especially from the a board called Souvenir Museum, as well as a museum of Batik collection and museum Wayang (puppet). Equally interesting the various forms of traditional art activities such as shadow puppets shows, classical dances and gamelan performances are still performed in the court and open to the public.
Birds market:
Know as Pasar Ngasem. It is located at the north side of Taman Sari. This market provides hundreds type of tropical birds. In Javanese culture, bird symbolize of men's world. This is why, transaction of birds is quiet frequent at pasar Ngasem. Birds, which are available at Pasar Ngasem, are mostly chirping bird, such as perkutut, kenari, etc. Yet, there is also another species of racing speed flyers such as dove. Thismarket also provides dogs, rabbits, snakes, and some others pets.
Tamansari :
Tamansari Water castle is located on the street about 500 meters south of Jogjakarta Palace. Tamansari is a park, which once was a recreational place for the Sultan an the royal family. There were many facilities built in this complex including a bathing pol, man-made islands, an artificial lake, and floating mosque. Nowadays this park and castle is no more than a collection of ruins. Tamansari was built by Sultan HB I and has functioned as a royal recreational park until The Sultan HB III period. The remainder of the complex which can be seen are Gapura Panggung (the main entrance gate on the Eastside), Umbul Kawitan, (bathing pool), Pamuncar, Gapura Agung (the Western Gate), Sumur Gumuling, Plengkung Taman Segara, Pulau Kenanga and pulau Panembung.
Handicrafts
Batik
Batik is an art of painting which technically done by using wax. It is presumed as non-originally 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 Jogja Sultanate (Kraton ) existed (around 1800s).Classic batik motives were produced here. At this time, the batik painters are not only producing exclusive batik ordered by Kraton Family, but also producing batik with traditional motive and classic color for common people. Batik with painted motives can be found in Taman Sari batik Center. It is around the remain of rest area of Kraton family - Tamansari. You can find batik in cloths, table runners, napkins, decorative painting, etc. Taman sari batik is peculiar, it has bright color and various motives which totally different from classic batiks that have flora and fauna motif only. Tamansari Batik has some motives of Jogja scenery, to include the andong (traditional cart), Pedi cab, mask, houses, etc
Silver
Silver craft had grown since Mataram Islam existed in Kotagede (in 1600s). At that time, Panembahan Senopati brought the silver and gold craftsmen from Bali to Kotagede to make a royal decorations and ceremonial equipments. Silver crafts business had prosperous era during 1930s to 1940s when some companies got orders from Europe and exported their products to The Nederland's and others European countries.
Ramayana dance
This is drama dance has been performed for a very long time, by people around Prambanan Temple every full moon,. Ramayana is performed without dialogue, but 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 government in Prambanan compound and other place.
Borobudur:
this is magnificent Buddhist monument constructed between 750 and 850 AD when Central Java still a Buddhist kingdom. Long abandoned, the first re-discovery and appreciation of Borobudur began in 1815 under Raffles, who was the Let.Gov. Java during the brief period of British rule. The real work of total reconstruction of the thousands of stone and relief took place under the Indonesian government, who with the assistance of UNESCO, completed a 10 year restoration projection 1984. Today, Borobudur is a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site with & levels and 1460 carved stone relief's telling the story of Buddha and representing the steps from the earthly realm to Nirvana. Located only 42 km from Jogja the Borobudur is the best seen in the early morning or at twilight.

The Other Temples Candi Pawon Candi Mendut

Prambanan:
this magnificent Shiva temple derives it 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 a domed with a bas-relief depicting the famous Ramayana Story. The first open air theatre on the southern side of the temples was built in 1960 and the new on the western side of the temple 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 tree 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 Other Temples :Kalasan, Sambisari, Sewu, Plaosan, Sojiwan and Ratu Boko

Merapi volcano :
lied 30 km, 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 rolling green countryside that fades into distant misty horizons of the blue Indian Ocean can be seen easily. It is better to do mount climbing during the dry season (April-September). There are two paths of mount climbing to the top of Merapi. The easier way is the north path, through Selo, 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 difficult path)
Golf Merapi:
the biggest and a most beautiful golf park of 60 ha area with 18 holes, is a international golf course founded on the slopes of Merapi, with exotic view to Mount Merapi at 800 m altitude. the atmosphere is very fresh. Restaurant and fitness centre are also available here.
Dieng Plateau:
Dieng plateau lies at 2093 m altitude above the sea level, and about 20kmS.W of Wonosobo. It has a cool climate, in the afternoon the climate is fresh and will very cold at the night. The average temperature is 15 C, usually it will turn into 0 C or even lower on July and August. Beside having a beautiful scenery with temples that had built by Caylendra Dynasty in the mid of 8 century. Once can take Tobacco Walk in Sindoro Mountain, Wonosobo or Tea Walk in Teh Tembi Plantation , etc. Where as Wonosobo is a city with a fresh climate in highland which 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 a long the way to the area which has a high frequency of rain, especially to the north side that 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. Tobacco Walk in Tobacco season or Tea Walk at Tambi tea plantation can be preserved here in any time.
Erotic temple Sukuh
The temple Sukuh is one of the many Hindu relic in Central Java. Located on western slope of Mount Lawu, 91`0 meters above the sea level and 7km from Karangpandan. Sukuh was built in the XV century just before Moslem penetrate throughout the island of java. It is also usually called "the most erotic temple in the world. Sukuh has a unique from structure which also shows Indonesia original elements. more prominent rather then mostly Indian temple elements. It is a holy structure of building for Siva religion that in Indonesia is a symbolize by phallus which visualizing in real as a man sex organ. The architecture alone set Sukuh apart. It is a stepped, truncated pyramid, and it looks very like the Mayan temple of Yucatan an Guatemala in central America. The temple is a spiritual monuments with a complete relieves that 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 number9 has numerogical 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 than 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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