Seven Wonderful Things to Do In Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Yogyakarta is the melting pot of Javanese culture. You can view anything of cultural worth in Java. Yogyakarta (or Jogja/Yogya as it is customarily known is famous for being the home of Borobudur Temple, which is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. In addition, the city produces some of the finest Batik crafts that are made by hand. Indeed, this marvel awaits you getting the opportunity to take part in this fine art.
Any tourist to Yogyakarta will benefit from this rich cultural and historical experience. Here is a list of some of the best sites
that you can visit for an awesome Yogyakarta experience:
1. Borobudur Temple for the most beautiful sunrise
Borobudur Temple Sunrise
As one of the 7 Wonders of the World, Borobudur Temple is an absolute marvel. You will be interested to learn about its origins. An experienced local guide will be ready to take you through its rich history.
You will get to understand how it has fared through the different periods in history. Most importantly, you will quench your curiosity as to why the temple made it as one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Borobudur is the biggest and most magnificent Buddhist temple the world over. Its structure is a marvel in architecture. It was built with no adhesive!
The temple is the epitome of serenity, tranquility and pure bliss. You may take advantage of this by pausing in the moment in time to meditate to find inner peace. One of the most spectacular things about the temple is its stunning sunrises. Witnessing this glorious sight is enough reason for you to visit Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It remains as one awesome thing to do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
2. Kota Gede for Silver HandyCrafts
Kota Gede is about 35 minutes’ drive from Yogyakarta. This ancient town is the home to a number of shops skilled in making silver jewelry. This activity has been done here since time immemorial.
Tourists get a thrill of a lifetime witnessing first-hand the making of silver handicrafts and other fine silver arts. In fact, you can have a go at the activity and see how your handicraft turns out! The process of making a piece of silver jewelry by hand can be daunting. It is tiring and calls for a lot of concentration and patience. It is no wonder that first-timers do not do so well!
Nonetheless, the experience itself is quite fulfilling. Take the opportunity to walk around and admire the souvenirs, and clearly see what goes into creating each of them. It will give you a lot of content for your friends back home, or even for your memoirs. Truly, a trip to Kota Gede is one of the best things to do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
3. The Prambanan Temple for Awe-Inspiring Sunsets
As Hindu temple go, the Prambanan Temple is the most beautiful one the world over. This temple also goes by the name of Rara Jonggrang Temple. It is about 1 hour’s drive from the city of Yogyakarta.
The temple’s architecture is simply breathtaking. It has very high steeples, with the central building measuring as high as 47 meters. The temple comprises a labyrinth of smaller temples, and it will be exciting as you try to navigate from one temple to another.
Some Dutch explorers discovered the Prambanan Temple in the 10thC. They found out that the magnificent temple had been dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva Mahadeva. An expert local guide will be more than willing to take you through the rich history of the temple.
As the day ends, you will be treated to one of the most spectacular signs on earth. This is the awe-inspiring sunset as seen from the temple. This remains as one of the main reason why tourists prefer this site. It is one of the awesome things to do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
4. The Awesome Ramayana Ballet Shows in Prambanan
After spending the day temple hopping, it is a good idea to wind up the evening by watching some live entertainment. There is no better place to do this than at the Ramayana Ballet Show. The show is set outdoors in a comfortable theater. You will be furnished with a copy of the plot of the day’s performance before it starts at 7.30pm.
To enhance the ambience, the temple is lighted to provide the picture perfect sight for an evening of entertainment. The entertainment goes hand in hand with the beautiful Javanese music by Orchestra of Gamelan. The performers use beautifully designed accoutrements and costumes to add flavor to their performances.
You make take an opportunity during or after the ballet show to take some photos. Indeed, attending this performance is truly one of the most awesome things to do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
5. Get a Royal Experience at the Sultan Palace and Water Castle
The Sultan Palace or the Kraton was built in 1957. It is the residence of the Sultan and his household. The Sultan rules as the governor of the province. It will be easy for you to access the palace, as it is located right in the center of Yogyakarta.
The Sultan Palace has incorporated stunning Javanese culture in its architecture. The ceilings intricate designs of bright gold colors and the floors and halls are designed with very fine symmetrical patterns. The palace is rich in the number of halls available. These include the eating hall, justice hall and waiting hall. In some parts of the grand palace, you will see some elements of western architecture.
The palace has a rich display of collections belonging to Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, who is the reigning monarch. You are allowed to take pictures in most parts of the Sultan Palace. However, a few places are restricted and your guide should be able to direct you on this. The guides themselves are quite efficient. Many of them speak very good English and a number of other
international languages.
The Water Castle (Taman Sari) is not far from the Sultan Palace. The two are in the same vicinity. The Taman Sari was built as an entertainment spot for the Sultan and all members of the royal family. Apart from the stunning grandeur of the Water Castle, you will also enjoy exploring the large subterranean mosque, underground tunnels and numerous ruins in the area.
Your trip to Yogyakarta would not be complete without visiting both the Sultan Palace and the Water Castle. The two places offer some of the most awesome things to do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
6. Museum Batik Yogyakarta to Learn Batik Craft
The Museum Batik at Yogyakarta offers authentic Javanese traditional Batik making process. As an art, batik is practiced all over Indonesia, and especially in Java. The process uses tjanting, hot wax, fabric and a variety of colors. Tjanting is a metal tool that is instrumental in creating the desired designs for the process.
The Museum Batik was established in 1979. Its aim is to promote the use of authentic Javanese batik and traditional tools. In the Museum, different styles are showcased. The main ones are from Pasisiran, Solo, Central Java and Yogyakarta. The Museum is located in Jl. Dr. Sutomo 13A Yogyakarta 55211. It is open every day of the week between 9 am to 3 pm local time.
Visiting the Museum Batik will give you the opportunity to interrogate the various methods of making batik motif. The motif differs with its intended use and the person making it. Generally, the process is produced either by stamp or by hand. The stamping method is a favorite of the men, while women prefer to produce the batiks by hand. The process used at the Museum Batik discourages the use of printing, as it may compromise the quality of the authentic traditional Javanese batik art.
Evidently, the Museum Batik in Yogyakarta is one of the best things to do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
7. Visit Malioboro for the Ultimate Shopping Experience
Deep in the heart of Yogya sits the Malioboro. Here, you can get some of the most awesome deals you have ever come across in your shopping experience. The streets are lined with many outlets and vendors that offer anything that may take your fancy. Form caps, bags shirts, shoes to pieces of art, Malioboro has it all. Also, the are many eateries, so you do not have to walk hungry.
The best part of it is that as you explore the streets on foot, you will meet the locals as they go about their happy businesses. You may also choose to hire a Pedicab (becak) are the many horse-drawn carts popularly known as Andong’’. The Tugu Railway Station is close by in case you fancy a ride.
In your Yogyakarta trip, do not fail to visit Malioboro for some souvenirs. It is one of the most awesome places to visit in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
For any queries on the ultimate Yogyakarta tour experience, do not hesitate to contact us.
