YOGYAKARTA
Yogyakarta (which is often spelled and called in different ways such as Jogjakarta, Yogya, or Jogja for short) is Indonesia in miniature. When visitors come to inhale the air of Yogyakarta, they feel like they have lived. Yogyakarta has been best described as a "Never Ending Asia", "Java's cultural heart", the "soul city of Java", or "planted in the fertile heartland of Central Java, (it is) the cradle of great Javanese empires... the capital of ancient kingdoms, medieval empires and modern revolution and an engaging melange of style and moods."
Whatever Yogyakarta is, or aims to be, this fascinating city with its surrounding jungles, rice fields and mountains lies in the heart of Indonesia's most important ancient empires. In Yogyakarta itself you can visit the impressive Sultan's Palace (the Kraton) under the watchful, but friendly eyes, of a hundred palace guards in their traditional and distinctive uniforms. You can tour its bustling markets and avenues and purchase arts and crafts created by Java's finest craftsmen and painters. Once you've seen enough of modern Java, you can then head for the countryside and marvel at some of ancient Asia's grandest wonder - the great 8th to 10th century Hindu and Buddhist temples of Prambanan, Borobudur and their subsidiary candis (temple) and shrines that dot the Javanese countryside. Yogyakarta is a place where nothing is learned until it is experienced.
Another legendary name for the City of Jogja, among the elders as well as the youth generation, that is the City of Art and Culture. Traditional and modern exhibition are held almost every day and night about the art of theater, pantomime, music, classic and contemporer dances, poems, et cetera. Those flow in the heart of the city. Even more, there are abundant of cultural ceremony, such as Sekaten, Gunungan, Labuhan, Malioboro Fair, et cetera, which make the city high in tradition, in art, and in culture .. even it is only a small city.
Geographic Details of Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta Special Region (Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, DIY) is officially one of Indonesia's 32 provinces. It is located in the center of the island of Java, bordered on the south by the Indian Ocean.
Tip of side North from Special Region province Yogyakarta is Natty top of the mountain having height of lk. 2920 metre to sea level. By of vulcanologists ( vulcanolog) international, this volcano is very famous because form of the eruption which typically and of a kind with volcano eruption Visuvius in Italian. Till now this mount of Very active natty mount Culminated him smoking, what is panorama typical backgrounding view of town Yogyakarta side North.
Yogyakarta Special Region is geographically located almost equidistant from Indonesia's two most important international gateways, about 600 kms from Jakarta and 1000 kms from Bali. Yogyakarta also has excellent transport connections by bus, train or plane to the rest of Java, Sumatera, Bali & Lombok.
Places of Interest in Yogyakarta
As the capital of ancient kingdoms, medieval empires and modern revolution, Yogyakarta is best described as a "Never Ending Asia". This town will never lack of interesting places for you to visit. Below are some places of interest in Yogyakarta.
Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat
The Sultan's Palace, or Kraton, with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture, lay in the center of the city. It was founded by Pangeran Mangkubumi in 1775, whose the son, the prince, was then called Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. He choose the right place for the site of the building, right between Winongo River and Code Rivera swamp area that dried up then.
The Sultan's Palace stretches from north to south. The front yard of the Palace is called Alun-alun Utara (North Square) and the back yard called
Alun-alun Selatan (South Square). The design of this historical building demonstrates that the Palace, the obelisk (the Tugu, the column) and Mount Merapi positioned in one line. It is believed that the axis is blessed. In the
old-times, Sri Sultan is used to concentrate his mind along this axis before leading a meeting, making decision or giving order to his people.
Each part of the building has its own name. The Palace meeting hall is called Pagelaran. It is the place where formal meetings of the Kraton's officials are held. Manguntur Tangkil Hall is the place where the Sultan has his seat. This hall is in the Siti Hinggil. Siti means ground/land, while Hinggil means high. So, it is called Siti Hinggil because the place where it was built is higher than any other ground around it. It was once a tiny island on the swamp. The front gate is called Danapratopo. Two giant statues called Gupala guard 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 Kraton is called Purworetno, a place where the Sultan performs his duties. Beside Purworetno, there are two-story buildings called Panti Sumbaga. This building is the Sultan's private library. The building where the Sultan lives is called Gedong Kuning. Visitors of the Palace can enjoy the atmosphere of the Kraton as it was centuries ago. Wedding ceremonies and Palace meetingsoften held with puppet shows help to recreate the ancient setting. Many sets of Gamelan instruments, antiques, and heirlooms make the Sultan's Palace as one of the most interesting tourist site in Yogyakarta. The Palace is now the dwelling place of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and his family.
