Yogyakarta Palace and Malioboro Street

The Kraton Yogyakarta entrance

Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat or Yogyakarta Palace is a historic building with its classical Javanese architecture. The kraton was built in 1755 by Prince Mangkubumi. It is located in the center of the city and stretches from north to south, in line with Mt Merapi. Each part of the Kraton has its own name. For example, the front yard of the palace is Alun-alun Utara (North Square), the back yard is Alun-alun Selatan (South Square), the front gate known as Danapratopo, the meeting hall known as Pagelaran etc.
There are two main parts of the Kraton, namely Purworetno, where the Sultan conducts his daily duties; and Gedong Kuning, a building where the Sultan and his families live. You also can see many sets of Gamelan instruments, antiques, Sultan's family pictures, and paintings at the Sultan's Palace.

Then, from the Palace, I went to a building to see the collection of the Sultanate's unique 'andongs' or horse carts. Each cart serves different functions ... there are carts serves for the Royal family wedding ceremony, carts for carrying coffin, carts that served the Royal family members as the transportation mode in the past etc.
The Kraton open daily from 8am-1pm, except Friday from 8am-12noon. There is admission fee to enter the Kraton, but I can not recall how much I paid for the fee.


A cart from the collection (1)


Another cart ... they are really unique, aren't they?

In the evening, I walked around the Malioboro street. In Malioboro street, you will find food stalls along the pavement and souvenir kiosks. You can have dinner here and enjoy 'Gudeg' rice. Gudeg is a specialty of or Yogyakarta. It is made from young jackfruit cooked in coconut milk. I do not like it because it is sweet. But you have to give it a try though, just to know how it tastes. It is not bad, it is just sweet. My friends like it. If you wish to have dinner here, make sure that you ask and know exactly the prices of the food that you want to have before you order. And do bargain if the prices of the dishes are unreasonable or if you want to buy souvenirs.

Yogyakarta ... Indonesia's cultural city

Yogyakarta is the centre of classical Javanese culture. If you have interest on old ancient Javanese culture, you must come to this city. This city is one of the 'Special Regions' in Indonesia ... we call it Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta or 'The Special Region of Yogyakarta'. It is special, because Yogyakarta is the only province in Indonesia that is governed by the Sultanate which has been passed from generation to generation for years, namely the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. However, the current Sultan, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, has announced his resignation as a governor. I think I kind of like him ... he is a nice person ... once I saw him in TV, it seemed that he is a humble leader.

Well, back to Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta is situated in Central Java. It is located between the mighty Mt. Merapi in the north to Parang Tritis beach in the south, a beach with the powerful Indian Ocean wave-swept. The airport is Adisucipto International Airport. Even it is International, there are not many international flights arrive in this airport. If you are a foreigner and want to visit Yogyakarta, you can go to Bali first and then take a domestic flight going to Yogyakarta. For me, I went there by car from Surabaya. On the way to Yogyakarta, I stopped by and visited many places, namely Solo (City), or Prambanan Temple, Borobudur Temple, Ambarawa ... then Yogyakarta. I spent 2 days on this trip.

Yogyakarta was part of Mataram Kingdom, the Javanese Empire. Then, this kingdom split up into two parts: the Sultanates of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo), in the 18th century. The Kraton of Yogyakarta (Yogayakarta Palace), which is the centre of Yogyakarta, was bulit by Prince Mangkubumi in the 18th century. The Kraton still exists until now with its Javanese traditional life and culture.

There are many places of interest in Yogyakarta. You can visit beaches (eq. Parang Tritis), mountain (eq. Kaliurang), museums, batik research centre, the palace, traditional market, malioboro etc. Also do not miss to see the traditional Javanese music, Gamelan orchestra, and the shadow puppet (wayang kulit) performance. If you stay at the centre of the city, you should try the traditional public transportation, 'becak' and 'andong'. You can go around the city with becak (pedicab) or andong. During my visit, I went to The Palace and a museum nearby the Palace . This museum exhibits various unique 'andongs'. 'Andong' is a four-wheeled carriage drawn by horses. I also shopped in Malioboro street. I'll write about my visit on my next post, ok!?!

by Vilas Yang

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan is another unique temple in Central Java. If you visit Yogyakarta, do not miss this temple. You only need to spend half day to visit this temple. It is famous with its well-known legend that happened in the past. It is located 15 km east of Yogyakarta. It is the largest Hindu (Shiva)temple in south-east Asia and was built in the 9th century. This temple is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

There are 224 temples within the Prambanan complex. The main temples are typical Hindu temple with tall and pointed architecture. The three main temples/shrines decorated with reliefs depict the legend of Ramayana. Those three shrines are dedicated to the three Hindu deities, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Brahma temple is in the north and Vishnu temple is in the South. Shiva temple is between Brahma and Vishnu temples. The height of the biggest temple, which was dedicated to Shiva, is 47 metres.


Prambanan ...

Prambanan temple is very famous with the legend of Loro Jonggrang (Slender Virgin), the daughter of King Boko. Loro Jonggrang was a beautiful princess. Many men proposed her to be their wife, but she always refused them. One day, the Prince Bandung Bondowoso proposed her and she turned down his offer of marriage. She did not want to accept Prince Bandung Bondowoso because he killed Loro Jonggrang's father and took over her kingdom. At the end of the day, she was forced to agree to marry the Prince, but she asked the Prince to fulfill her wish. She asked him to build 1,000 temples for her just in one night... an impossible wish. With the help from spirits (demons), the Prince managed to build 999 temples. When he was about to build the last temple, the Princess tried to abort the Prince's work by deceiving him. She attempted to make the Prince and spirits believe that the sun was about to rise. She ordered her maid to awake the women in the village and asked them to start pounding rice and set a fire in the east of the temple, hence the cocks crowed. The Prince believed the sun was rising and all the spirits went back into the stone. Finally, the Prince found out he was tricked by the Princess and he was very angry. He cursed the Princess to be the big statue and use it as the decoration for the 1,000th temple.


Sewu Temple

In the Prambanan area, you also can visit some of the earliest small Buddhist temples, such as Bubrah temple, Lumbung temple, Sewu temple, Plaosan temple, Kalasan temple, Sari temple, and Sambisari temple.

If you have chance to visit this temple on the full moon evenings in the month from May to October every year, you can also see the Ramayana ballet performance.

Tips!
Well, you can come here by rented car or join a local tour. Usually in the hotel, they provide tour service especially for the Ramayana Ballet performance at night.
Please bargain if you wish to buy souvenirs or you also can buy souvenirs in Yogya (if you stop by Yogyakarta)
Apply sunscreen and bring hat or umbrella during drought season (April - October)
Bring umbrella during rainy season (October - April)
Bring snacks or drinking water as it is a bit difficult to find a cafe or a restaurant within Prambanan complex

Lastly, hope you like this unique temple ...

Candi Borobudur

Candi Borobudur

Candi Borobudur or we name it as 'Borobudur temple' in English is one of the well-known cultural heritage sites in the world. It is the famous Buddhist temple in the world. I visited this temple in 2006. I tell you the reason why you have to visit this place if by any chances you travel to Central Java.

Yup, Borobudur is situated in Central Java. It is closer to Yogyakarta than to Semarang. So if you want to travel to Borobudur, it is better for you to arrive in Yogyakarta instead of Semarang. Furthermore, there are more place of interests in Yogya than in Semarang. Borobudur is located in Magelang, 42km from Yogyakarta.


The Stupas........

The temple was built in the 8th century during Syailendra kingdom. It covers a total surface of 2,500 m2. It is an andesite stone temple. It was built in three levels: a pyramidal base with five square concentric terraces, the trunk of a cone to circulate with three platforms and, in the upper part, the Great Stupa. Around 72 the pierced circular platforms they are Stupas, each with a statue of Buddha. There is a belief, if you can reach one of the Buddha's ear in a Stupa, all your wishes will come true. So give it a try!! It is fun though.


The view of Mt. Merapi from Borobudur temple...beautiful isn't it?

To reach the top of the temple, you have to go up the stone stairs. The top of the temple, the Great Stupa, is 40 m above the ground. From the top of the temple, you can see distant hills, green field, even you can have a nice view of Mt. Merapi.
One more thing, please do observe the walls of the temple, then you will see the fabulous artworks. The walls and balustrades are decorated with bas-reliefs. The reliefs depict the religious journey of Buddha. In some reliefs, it also illustrate the episodes of everyday life of ordinary people.

How to get there? You can rent a car with the driver to go there.
Tips:
If you come here during drought season, please apply sunblock, bring an umbrella or a hat. It is hot, believe me!!
If you come during rainy season, bring your umbrella.
If you want to buy souvenirs, do bargain with the sellers.

So, can you imagine how the people in the old days managed to build such a beautiful and huge temple with the magnificent bas-reliefs on the temple's walls?