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To say Yogyakarta is brimming with culture and art would be accurate, but not a fair enough description for a place that has so much more to offer! The Javanese city was known as “Jogja The Never Ending Asia”, solely for how vast its offerings are.Let’s delve deeper into one of Indonesia’s most culturally rich centres, shall we?
The Kraton is the palace centre of Yogyakarta. It contains a walled market and is home to over 25,000 residents. It also houses a museum that is definitely a major attraction. However, the silver workshops and batik sellers are equally, if not more, appealing!
While the Kraton is where all the hustle and bustle of Yogyakarta predominantly lies, there’s so much more this culture-rich city has to offer.
Whether you’re a lover of art, music, and culture, or are an adventure buff, or simply on vacation to take in the sights and sounds of a foreign land, Yogyakarta is going to give you more than you can possibly imagine! Chances are, no matter what you’re looking for, Yogyakarta has something you’ll love!
Because the city dates back centuries, its historical attractions are beyond impressive. In fact, it was once the royal capital. Take a walk back in time at Taman Sari, a water palace full of bathing pools, well-preserved from the 18th century. Word is that the bathing pools were for princesses, conveniently positioned so that the sultan would be able to pick out a wife or a concubine!
Most travellers say that when strolling through the palace, they were nearly transported to another time! This palace is still the residence of the sultan of Yogyakarta.
What’s a trip without pictures of memories to look back on? If you’re a trigger-happy Instagrammer, you wouldn’t want to miss a visit to PinusPengger. It has recently become more popular for its quirky sculptures that double up as great backgrounds for the ‘Gram’! Just an hour’s drive away from Yogyakarta city centre, this forest-themed park is a must-visit. Do note that Uber does not operate in this area, so a hired car or bike is your best bet. If a wow-worthy picture is on your mind, then PinusPennger’s ‘Hand’ Sculpture at sunset is what you’re after!
An Indonesian visit without a few temple sightings, is not really an Indonesian visit, is it?In fact, the 9th Century Sambisari Temple is literally a hop, skip and jump from the airport, in case you want to get right to the sight-seeing!
For a real visual treat, a trip to the Borobudur temple-site is undoubtedly one of the most recommended. Located 30 miles from the city centre, this temple site will fill your senses with its bell-shaped towers, intricate detailing and scatter of buddhas!
No travel is complete without indulging in some local delicacies. Feast on the flavours of the Bakpia, a traditional sweet moon-shaped pastry filled with a mung bean paste, much like Chinese moon cakes.
Yogyakarta is famous for Gudeg, young unripe jackfruit that is stewed for hours with palm sugar and coconut milk. To wash down all the sweet treats that the city has to offer, try the Jamu, a beverage with a mix of natural herbs.
Why not really soak in Yogyakarta’s culture with a workshop in Batik Painting? With some of the world’s most authentic Batik masters nonetheless! Some workshops let you take your art home with you as well!
While short trips in and around Yogyakarta will fill your soul with experiences, don’t miss out on some good ole gamelan music, the traditional dances and puppet shows, when you visit. Shoppers, you’ll want to hit Malioboro road for some splurging!
And if all of the culture-chasing wasn’t enough, seek some siesta time at some of the gorgeous beaches like Parangtris, Pok Tunggal, Krakal, Siung and Indrayanti. There are some cute cafes to grab a quick bite as you unwind with the sound of the waves crashing.
