Yogyakarta is lying between two of Java’s most potent mystical symbols – Merapi mounth in the north and the Indian Ocean, home of the Goddess of the South Seas in the South. The city provides easy access into Javanese culture : craft industries i.e, batik, silver, pottery, wayang kulit, traditional performing arts and contemporary arts. Yogya is friendly and easy going city – with an excellent range of economical hotels and restaurants.
Some historical and sightseeing places in Yogyakarta include;
Borobudur.It is one of the greatest Buddhist relics of South East Asia - up there with Cambodia's Angkor Wat and Myanmar’s Bagan – which was built between 750-850 AD by Sailendra dinasty. It is located in Kedu, just 42km north-west of Yogya. Borobudur is built in the form of a massive symmetrical stupa, literally wrapped around the hill, stands solidly on its 118 x 118m base. Six square terraces are topped by the three circular ones, with four stairways leading up through finely carved gateways to the top. The small village of Borobudur itself consists of warungs, souvenir stalls and a few hotels that face the monuments
Mendut temple. It is similar with Borobudur. It was discovered in 1836 and has a magnificent 3m – high figure of Buddha and is notable for his posture, instead of the usual lotus position, he sits western-style with bith feet on the ground.
Pawon temple. It is about 1.5km east of Borobudur which has similar design and decoration to Mendut temple.
Kraton. Its located in the old city as a palace of the Sultans of Yogya, as one of the finest examples palace architecture, providing a series of luxurious halls, and spacious courtyards and pavilions. The centre of Kraton is the reception hall, the Bangsal Kencana with its intricately decorated roof and great coloumns of carved teak. A large part of Kraton is used as a museum which holds and extensive collection, including gifts from European monarchs, gift coipies of the sacred Pusaka and gamelan instrument. Another room contains the royal family tree, old photographs of grand mass weddings and portraits of the former Sultans of Yogya.
Tamansari. It is just west of the Kraton or better known as Water Castle, which has splendid pleasure park of palace, pools and waterways for the Sultan and his entourage.
Bird market. It is known as Pasar Ngasem, as a great market with a colourful bird crowded with hundreds of budgerigars, orioles, roosters and signing turtle-doves in ornamental cages, though pigeon are the big business here.
Pasar Beringharjo. This market has a wide range of batik, mostly cheap batik (printed batik) but some handmade batik also available.
Kota Gede. It is known as a silver industry in Yogya since 1930s.
Gembira loka zoo. This zoo has komodo dragon and has its fair share of cramped cages.
Jalan Malioboro. It famous as the centre of souvenirs and a lesehan area (diners sit down on a straw mats) comes alive along the north end of Jl. Malioboro. Food stalls serve Yogya’s specialities i.e, Nasi gudeg (rice with jackfruit in coconut milk) and ayam goreng.
Imogiri
Prambanan. This temple is located on the 17km north east of Yogya as the best remaining examples of Java’s period of Hindu cultural development which was built between the 8th and 10th centuries AD. The main temple complex lies on the Yogya-Solo highway, opposite Prambanan village. From the main entrance on the south-eastern side, it is a short walk to Candi Shiva Mahadeva, the largest of the temples, locally called Candi Loro Jonggrang (Slender Virgin). Behind it, on the western side near the highway, is the outdoor theatre where the Ramayana ballet is performed on full-moon nights.
Prangtritis. It has rough surf and a long sweep of shifting, black sand dunes backed by high jagged cliffs. It is only 27km distance south of Yogya.
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