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Interesting Sites and Attractions
around Yogyakarta
With a plethora of religious, cultural and historical sites in and
around Yogyakarta, there is no shortage of places to go and things
to see. And whilst often you must pay admission to enter, the entrance
fees are so low as to be inconsequential.
Keraton
(The Sultan's Royal Palace)
This Javanese Palace was, and still
is, the centerpiece of Yogyakarta and for the Hamengku
Buwono Dynasty. Originally designed and built by Hamengku Buwono
I (circa 1776), it is an outstanding example of elegant, classical
Javanese architecture. The Keraton has a North to South orientation
and is made up of a series of Bangsal (halls) which are venues for
Gamelan, Dances and Wayang (puppet) performances, as well as spacious
courtyards, pavilions and domiciles.
The north to south orientation is quite important inasmuch as the
Palace, the Tugu and Mount Merapi (see below) are all in a perfectly
straight line. This axis is believed to be blessed and in olden
days the Sri Sultan used to concentrate his mind along this axis
before making an important decision.
You will undoubtedly notice a number of elderly, elegant, reserved
and dignified men in traditional batik and Javanese headgear (Blangkon).
These are the royal retainers, whose family service to the Sultan
goes back many, many generations. These days they are responsible
for maintaining the palace and its exhibits, collecting entrance
fees and enforcing proper tourist decorum. They consider themselves
privileged and act accordingly.
The Keraton itself houses an interesting variety of historically
significant objects - from the Antique Royal Gamelan, to Royal Palanquins
(glass enclosed conveyances for the Royal family that carried on
the shoulders of up to 16 bearers) and original oil portraits and
photos of the ten Sultans and their wives and children.
Somewhat surprisingly, the palace is also home to approximately
20,000 people who live and work in the Keraton even today. Many
of these residents sell souvenirs, snacks and soft drinks to the
many tourists who arrive daily.
Hours: Daily 8:00am to 2:00pm
(Fridays 8:00am to 1:00pm). Closed on all National holidays.
Entrance Fee: Rp. 2,000.- (Rp. 3,000.- if you want to take
pictures).
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Taman
Sari (Water Castle)
The term Taman Sari roughly translated means “fragrant garden”.
In reality Taman Sari served as garden of delights for the Sultans
and was originally constructed around 1758. In all too typical “Feudal
fashion” the architect (a Portuguese fellow) was executed so that
the secret rooms and passage ways built for the Sultan would remain
secret...
Originally Taman Sari had a number of facilities including a man
made lake, underground escape routes which could be flooded and
even a floating Mosque! The focal point of the complex now is the
remnants of a large elaborate bathing pool where the Sultan's harem
would while away the sultry afternoons each hoping to be chosen
by the Sultan for the remainder of the evening. Wars and earthquakes
in the 19th century have destroyed much of what was the original
Taman Sari however the “bathing pools” have been reconstructed specifically
to interest tourists to visit the site.
Hours: Daily 8:00 AM to 2:00
PM (except Fridays 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM)
Location: Just southwest of
the Keraton (5 minute walk)
Entrance Fee: Rp. 2,000.-
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Pasar
Ngasem (Bird Market)
This noisy, colorful market specializes in all manner of birds,
bird feed and assorted supplies. If you are a bird lover you will
find this a fascinating (and perhaps even occasionally upsetting)
experience - (unfortunately, as is the case in the Jakarta bird
market, there is occasional trade in rare and endangered bird species).
That said, a very interesting part of this market deals with bird
cages. These range from the simple to the simply elegant and in
a full range of sizes, colors and patterns (an interesting and different
souvenir idea). Be careful about leaning up against trees, there
are red ants (the eggs are used as feed).
Hours: Open until 21:00
Location: Pasar Ngasem, Adjacent
to Taman Sari
Entrance Fee: No entrance fee (it's a market...)
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The
Sonobudoyo Museum
Sonobudoyo Museum is considered to be
the best of Yogyakarta's museums,
it is located on the north side of the North Square of the Keraton.
Built in 1935, it also features classic Javanese architecture. The
museum has the second most complete collection of Javanese and Indonesian
cultural artifacts after the National Museum in central Jakarta
There are ceramics from the Neolithic age, statues and bronze ware
from as far back as the 8th century. Also featured are Wayang
Kulit (leather shadow puppets), numerous Topeng
(masks), ancient weapons and reference books explaining Javanese
culture and court rituals of the time.
Hours: 8:00 - 13:30 (Tue -
Thu), 8:00 - 11:30 (Fri), 8:00 - 12:00 (Sat)
Wayang Kulit
performances each evening 20:00 - 22:00 hrs.
Location: Jl. Trikora No. 6
(north side of the Keraton)
Entrance Fee: Rp. 750.-
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Benteng
Vredenburg (Fort Vredenburg)
Built in 1765, Fort Vredung was the home of the Dutch Colonial Army
stationed in Jogjakarta to protect the interests of the Dutch East
India Company (Die Kompanie).
The fort was also used as a refuge for the Dutch colonial families
in times of trouble. Restored in 1980, it provides an interesting
glimpse into the lives of the Dutch colonial military. Today, some
of the former barracks house patriotic “Dioramas” of the fight for
independence, from a primarily Indonesian point of view.
Hours: 8:00 - 12:00 (Mon -
Sat)
Location: Jl. A. Yani (extension of Jl. Malioboro)
Entrance Fee: Rp. 750,-
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Gedung
Agung Directly opposite Benteng Vredenburg on the eastern
side of Jl. Malioboro is Gedung Agung.
It was once the residence of the Dutch
Resident Administrator during 1946-1949 and later
the residence of Indonesia's first President, President
Soekarno, when the capital of Indonesia was temporarily stationed
in Yogyakarta.
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Tugu
Monument Tugu means 'column' in the Indonesian language.
The Tugu Monument now standing due north of the Keraton at the intersection
of Jl. Mangkubumi and Jl. Sudirman is not the original. The original
Tugu was erected 1755 to commemorate
the establishment of the Ngayogyakarta Sultanate. As mentioned
above it is direct alignment with the Keraton and Mount Merapi,
forming an axis that is believed to hold special power.
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Imogiri
Perched atop a hill 12 km southeast of Yogyakarta is Imogiri.
Imogiri is the Keraton's royal cemetery.
Built in 1645 for the Sultan Hamengku Buwono I all Sultans through
Hamengku Buwono IX and their families have been interred here. As
at the Keraton, you will find many older Javanese men and women
who guard and maintain the cemetery and consider it a privilege
to do so. These men and women act very dignified and expect you
to act so as well. Visitors will need to be properly dressed to
enter (attire is available for rent) and be prepared for the climb
to the summit. Folklore has it that the number of the steps going
up does not match the number of steps coming down (this is certainly
true if you have spent the morning crawling around Borobudur
- go ahead and try counting!). FYI, there are 345 steps...
Hours: Mondays 8:00 - 16:00
and Fridays 8.00 - 14.00
Location: South East Kota Gede
Entrance Fee: Rp. 3000.-
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Mount
Merapi Lying just north of Yogyakarta is the Indonesian
archipelago’s most active and destructive volcano, Mount
Merapi (Fire Mountain). It also holds the distinction of
being the 6th most active volcano in the world. The most recent
eruptions took place in 1994 and, quite symbolically, in 1998 when
social unrest swept across Java, deposing the New Order Regime of
former President Soeharto
There are hill resorts located on the mountain. Climbing, camping
and just observing the volcano can be arranged by various tour operators.
At 2,920 m (3163 feet) above sea level the eternally smoking Merapi
provides a magnificent and sometimes malevolent backdrop to the
area.
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Parangtritis
Beach
Located 27 km (17 miles from Yogyakarta
is the beach at Parangtritis
which is popular with local residents particularly on the weekends.
Parangtritis is a beach resort (of sorts) where sandy beach meets
rocky cliffs. Despite the beautiful stretch of sandy beach, the
crashing surf, the cool blue waters, the area remains commercially
undeveloped.
The strong undertow combined with a firm spiritual belief in the
power of the Ratu Kidul (Queen of the
South Seas) keeps people out of the cool, inviting water.
The ever youthful and beautiful Ratu
Kidul reigns over sea nymphs and spirits. It is a common
belief that Ratu Kidul occasionally
fancies the company of people (especially those wearing green coloured
clothing) and she will cast a spell that makes the victim enter
the water and become a permanent visitor to her underwater kingdom.
As a result, the typical outing for Indonesians involves a stroll
or horse drawn carriage ride on the wind swept beach and a stop
for some snacks and refreshments at one of the many warungs
(food stalls) on the beach.
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