For most visitors, the first introduction to Java is Jakarta, the sprawling capital city and heart of Indonesia. This enormous city has humble roots, starting as a small harbour town called Sunda Kelapa, but its actual founding dates back to the June 22, 1527 when it was named Jayakarta by Fatahillah of the neighbouring Sultanate of Banten. The name Jayakarta means City of Great Victory but under Dutch control the name was changed to Batavia. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Batavia fell into the hands of invading Japanese forces that also changed the name of the city. This time it was called Jakarta as a gesture aimed at winning the sympathy of the Indonesians. The name was retained even when Indonesia achieved national independence after the wars end. Now, as Jakarta, it is the centre of government, business and industry and spreads over an area of more than 650 km2 with a population of over ten million people. It is also designated as a special territory, which means that it is administered by a governor and enjoys the same status as a province.
Indonesia’s cultural diversity is celebrated in the national motto, Bhineka Tunggal Ika, meaning “Unity in Diversity.” One manifestation of this tenet of Indonesian national identity is the government’s efforts to give equal precedence to the development of traditional art forms from each ethnic group. In Jakarta, the Orang Betawi - the natives of the city - are considered to be the hosts of these cultures, having emerged from the melting pot of races, ethnic groups and cultures of Indonesia in the 19th century. Today they constitute one of the city’s main ethnic groups along side the Javanese (from Central and Eastern Java), Sundanese (from West Java) and Chinese. Betawi culture is a treasure trove of colour, tradition, song, dance, clothing, cuisine, language and dialect. The culture thrives today due to government policy to enhance the cultural identity of the original inhabitants of the city, and prevent their traditions being buried beneath a tide of modernization. There are annual parades and other celebrations in which three-meter tall Betawi mascots (ondel ondel) - are seen delighting the crowds with their large masks and tinsel-sprinkled headdresses.

PLACES OF INTEREST

The National Monument
The National Monument is one of the monuments built during the Sukarno era of fierce nationalism. It stands for the people’s determination to achieve freedom and the crowning of their efforts in the Proclamation of Independence in August 1945. The 137-metre tall marble obelisk is topped with a flame coated with 35 kilograms of gold. The base houses a historical museum and a hall for meditations. It towers over Medan Merdeka ( Freedom Square ), and serves as Jakarta’s most prominent landmark and unofficial symbol.

National Museum
Established in 1778 by U.M.C. Rademacher under the auspices of the Batavia Association of Arts and Sciences, it offers historical, pre-historical, archaeological and ethnographic aspects of Indonesia through its extensive collection of artefacts and relics which date as far back as to the Stone Age. It has one of the most complete collections of bronzes and ceramics dating back to the Han, Tang and Ming Dynasties. The Museum has one of the finest numismatic collections in the world, including cloth and money which was used on several islands until recently. The religious art section is filled with statuary and sculpture salvaged from sites of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic edifices. Its collection of cultural instruments, household utensils, arts and crafts provide an introduction to the life of the various ethnic groups which populate Indonesia. This museum is popularly known as Gedung Gajah or “Elephant Building” because of the stone elephant offered by King Chulalongkorn of Thailand in 1871, placed on the front lawn of the building.

Fatahillah Square
Fatahillah Square is the administrative centre of old Batavia. The city founders built here a splendid city hall whence a vast Asian trading empire we controlled. The city hall has become the Museum Fatahillah ( Jakarta History Museum ) - 37 rooms filled with old maps, antiques and memorabilia, mostly from Dutch period. Fatahillah Square offers visitors two other museums: The Wayang Museum ( Indonesians say you cannot know the Javanese until you know the wayang ) and Fine Arts Museum ( it houses of superb collection of rare porcelain assembled by the late Vice President Adam Malik, and modern paintings by well-known Indonesian artists ).

Sunda Kelapa
Sunda Kelapa is located in the far north of the city at the mouth of the Ciliwung River. This is where the Portuguese traded with the Hindu Kingdom of Pajajaran in the 16th century. The fish catch of the day is auctioned in the early morning at the old fish market. The street leading to it was lined with shops selling all sorts of shells, dehydrated turtles, lobsters and everything else the seafarer might need.
Dutch domination of Jakarta and the rest of Indonesia began from this area. The remnants of Kasteel Batavia, an old port and trading post of the Dutch East Indies Companies, can still be seen. Sunda Kelapa is at present a fisherman’s wharf and an inter-island post. Tall-masted Bugis schooners from South Sulawesi anchoring there offer one of the finest sights Jakarta has to offer. They belong to one of the last fleets of sailboats in the world and still ply the seas between the islands carrying merchandise, as they did centuries ago.

Indonesia in Miniature Park
An extensive park to get a glimpse of the diverseness of the Indonesian archipelago, it represents Indonesian provinces and their outstanding characteristics, reflected most strikingly in the exact regional architecture of the province. It has its own orchid garden in which hundreds of Indonesian orchid varieties are grown. There is also a bird park with a walk-in aviary, a fauna museum and recreational grounds with a swimming pool and restaurants. Of special interest here at Taman Mini is the Museum Indonesia. A richly decorated building in Balinese architecture, it houses contemporary arts crafts and traditional costumes from the different regions of the country.

Pulau Seribu
Pulau Seribu literally means “Thousand Islands” but this mini-archipelago in fact consists of fewer that 200 coral atolls strewn to the north of Jakarta in the calm and shallow Java Sea. As an idyllic island it offers a haven away from the bustle of city life. There are golden beaches fringed with coconut palms, the surrounding waters are a paradise for skin divers, they are filled with a myriad of tropical fish which live among the multicoloured corals.

The charming and stunning land of Sunda stretches from the Sunda Strait in the west to the borders of Central Java in the east. West Java is not only Indonesia’s most populous province, but also its most productive - yielding more agricultural products and manufactured goods than any other part of the country. The region is primarily mountainous, with rich green valleys hugging lofty volcanic peaks, many of which surround the capital of the province, Bandung. The people of this region, the Sundanese, are soft-spoken and colourful, with a rich and fascinating history. The powerful and ancient kingdoms of Tarumanegara, Pajajaran, Banten and Cirebon have all risen, ruled and fallen in this province and provide fascinating studies for students of archaeology and history. West Java was one of the first contact points in Indonesia for Indian traders and their cultural influences, and it was here that the Dutch and British first set foot in Indonesia at Banten. The Dutch moved their centre of operations to Sunda Kelapa (now Jakarta) after fierce competition and rivalry with the British, only to return at a later date. West Java effectively surrounds the nation’s capital of Jakarta on three sides and enjoyable roads provide good links to most of the province passing through spectacular panoramas of rocky mountains and fresh rice fields.
West Java provides visitors with a great number of fascinating and wonderful things to see and do; venture to the reminders of the explosive and awesome power of Krakatau; explore the undisturbed wildlife reserve of Ujung Kulon on the south- western tip of Java; admire the Pulau Dua Bird Sanctuary off the coast of Banten and visit the isolated communities of the mysterious Baduy in the remote Halimun Mountain Reserve; discover unspoiled beaches at Pangandaran; treasure the royal palaces of Cirebon and the world renowned botanical gardens of Bogor. Bandung, the capital of the province is about 180 kms southeast of Jakarta and was once known as “The Paris of Java” because of its tree lined boulevards and artistic influences. The city gained international fame in 1955 as the venue for the first Afro-Asian Conference which brought together the leaders of 29 Asian and African Nations with the aim of promoting economic and cultural relations and taking a common stand against colonialism.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Banten
During the 16th and 17th centuries, this was one of Asia’s largest and most important spice trading entrepots. Once a grand walled city, it was laid to ruin as trade was shifted to Jayakarta ( Jakarta ). Today, it is a tiny fishing village with interesting historical sites. There are the ruins of powerful Moslem kingdoms such as the palaces of Surosowan and Kaibon, the grand mosque of Mesjid Agung Banten and a Dutch fortress and an old Chinese temple.

Krakatau Volcano
Dormant for centuries, this volcano achieved immediate and permanent reputation in 1883, when it erupted with catastrophic force, ripping out a huge mass of the earth’s crust to form a monstrous 40 km2 submarine caldera. A pillar of ash and pumice towered 26 km into the sky. Rock and dust rained over the surrounding region, forming a blanket cloud which turned day into night for 150 km in every direction. At that very instant, Krakatau vanished as if consumed by the sea, causing formidable tidal waves which in turn swept off just about everything alive from the surrounding coastal areas. When the waves had dropped and the dust dispersed, three quarters of Krakatau was gone. The peak of Rakata was still close to its original height, but its northern half gone, leaving a sheer cliff hurtling 300 m to the sea below. Two islands, Panjang and Sertung, had been totally re-shaped, while remains from the eruption merged to form islands farther away. In decades that followed, undersea activity continued and a new active crater has emerged from the sea in 1927: Anak Karakatau ( Child of Krakatau ), now stands 150 m high. This island gives scientists a attractive opportunity to observe the colonisations of plant and animal species on new soil.

Ujung Kulon National Park
Ujung Kulon is one of Java’s most thrilling destinations for nature lovers. Located on the south western tip of West Java is a wildlife reserve covering the Ujung Kulon peninsula and the nearby islands of Panaitan and Peucang. The reserve is famous for its most elusive inhabitant, the Javanese rhinoceros. Once abundant in the lowland forests of Java it is now found nowhere but the thick jungles of Ujung Kulon, possibly 50 or 60 survive. The dense forest provides a natural habitat also for wild ox, deer, wild boar, panthers, crocodiles, snakes and birds. Marine life in the surrounding seas is a kaleidoscope of colours. Beautiful sea gardens are found off Peucang and Panaitan islands and the south coast just below Tanjung Layar offer spectacular deep diving for scuba enthusiasts, although at present no scuba facilities in Ujung Kulon. On the western tip of the peninsula is a lighthouse built by the Dutch which stands near the site of the ruins of old one.

Bogor
The small city of Bogor, situated at the foot of Mt. Salak at an altitude of 260 metres, was the picturesque spot where Dutch Governor-General van Imhoff had a private retreat constructed in 1745 - a place which he named Buitenzorg, meaning “free of cares” or “without worries”. Later restored in 1832, the palace still stands solid and elegant today with its stretched out gardens where deer roam freely on the green grass under majestically tall old trees. However, Bogor is well-known because of its Botanical Garden which borders the Palace Grounds, covering an area of 87 hectares with thousands of species of plant life from all over the world, including towering age old trees and the rarest kinds of orchids. See the original “Havea Brazilliensis” rubber tree formerly imported from Brazil, and world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia a foul smelling and stemless as well as leafless plant.

Puncak Pass
To the south of Bogor rises a towering volcanic massif containing some of the most stunning landscape on Java. The highest peaks, Mt. Gede and Mt. Pangrango, together with Mt. Salak, created a broad fan with rivers spreading down to the coast in several directions. One of the largest rivers, the Ciliwung, has carved a valley into the northern slope of Mt. Pangrango, and it is here, at the beginning of 19th century, that a narrow, snaky roads was built across the 1,450 metre pass known as Puncak ( which exactly means “the summit ). Today the cool and enormously scenic area crossed by this road is a popular resort.

Taman Safari Indonesia
This is an open-air zoo where lions, tigers, bear and giraffes forage in the open.

Bandung
The capital of West Java is situated on a plateau 768 metres above sea level and surrounded on all sides by lofty volcanic peaks. It is a burgeoning city with a population of over two million. Before World War II, it was a quaint Dutch administrative and university town of about 150,000 and called the Paris of Java for its broad, shady boulevards and elegant homes. Although it is now rapidly growing industrial city, Bandung is still green and attractive, and is often called Kota Kembang ( City of Flowers ). The city boasts many universities and academies, including the prestigious Institut Teknologi Bangung - the oldest technical institute in Indonesia. A centre for monitoring Indonesia’s volcanoes and a nuclear research are also located here.

Tangkuban Perahu
North of the Bandung city, passing through verdant tea plantations, is located Tanguban Perahu Nature Reserve. Volcano Tanguban Perahu lies at 2,084 metres above sea level. As viewed from Bandung, Tanguban Perahu has a unique shape, the mountain looks like an overturned boat, and that is what its name literally means in the local language. The volcanic crater of Tangkuban Perahu, is the only crater in Java accessible all the way by car as for as its rim. When the mountain mists roll in, the whole area, with its rough, brown-black ridges and small bushes, takes on a strange, other-worldly atmosphere.

Saung Angklung Udjo - Sunanese Art & Bamboo Craft Centre
One of the unique characteristics of this place is that traditional art performances are staged with a natural background of mountains, rice fields and plantations. This is a place where you can see how to make and how to play angklung. Anglung instruments are made of bamboo that resonate gently when shaken.

Kampung Naga
Kampung Naga is one of the most beautiful and most traditional villages in West Java. The uniqueness of Kampung Naga is that in spite of its nearness to modern society, it has retained its traditional customs over the centuries. Here the most important traditional ceremony is called the “Upacara Pedaran” which illustrates its age-old history and culture, held only once every year.

The green crescent of fertile rice fields that blankets Gunung Merapi’s southern flanks - with historic Yogyakarta as its focal point - is today inhabited by about 10 million Javanese, with 3 million urban residents. Rural population densities here are high, with over 1000 people per square kilometre. History has left its footprints everywhere in Central Java, an area wealthy in a culture and tradition cumulated from a influential Hindu and Buddhist past and more recent Islamic influences. Under the Saliendra and Old Mataram kings, the Hindu Javanese culture flourished between the 8th and 1 0th centuries and it was during this summit of power that Java’s most remarkable religious monuments were built; Borobudur, the biggest and most magnificent monument to Mahayana Buddhism in the world; the enormous Hindu temple complex of Prambanan, dedicated to Shiva and built by the rulers of the Sanjaya Dynasty, and the ancient site of the oldest Hindu temples in Java on the magnificent, ethereal heights of the Dieng Plateau; all of these and more are testimony to the ancient power and influence of the region. The first Islamic kingdom in Java was born in 1511 in Demak, about 40 km from the Provincial capital of Semarang on the North coast. One of the province’s greatest Islamic structures is, in fact, the Grand Mosque of Demak, which is said to have been built in a single night by one of the nine early leaders of Islam in Java.
Surakarta, better known as Solo, is the cradle of Javanese culture in the province. The courts of Solo illustrate the noble value that the Javanese attach to grace and refinement, with majestic ceremonies and royal festivals still held with great pomp and circumstance. Although no longer the seats of power they once were, the courts of Solo are still regarded as the bearers of values which the Javanese have treasured for generations. Descendants of the royal houses are regarded as leaders of Javanese culture and traditions which uphold standards of sophistication and bearing. Two major seaports are also to be noted, providing national and international outlets for the province’s agricultural and industrial products; Tanjung Emas on the northern coast on the Java Sea, and Cilacap, a natural ocean port in the Indian Ocean, in the southern part of the province.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Semarang
In size and inhabitants, Semarang falls under the five major cities in the nation. It is situated on Java’s normally flat northern coast and appropriately called the capital of Central Java as it lies just about halfway between the two extreme east and west coasts of the island. Indeed, few cities in the country have got hills and mountains so clearly visible from their seaports. In fact, mostly residential, Candi is a hill within Semarang’s perimeter from where breathtaking panoramas on all directions can be witnessed the port, the lowlands and green paddy fields, the city itself and the numerous mountains. There is an older part of the city, close to its ocean harbour, where you can still find an interesting collection of odd-looking buildings dating back to the Dutch colonial era and further back still, to the time of the Dutch East Indies Company. And finally the city’s zoo, may also be worth while visiting.

Borobudur Temple
Borobudur temple is the one of the best preserved ancient monument in Indonesia, it had been highly praised by the world as a cultural heritage. The architectural style has no equal through out the world. The inspired construction representing the micro cosmos, which have very often given rise to question e.g. when, in what way, during how long time and by whom the sanctuary had been built. The right answers up to now have remained a mystery since no written documents had been found so far. Based on brief inscription at the Borobudur’s base floor that covered by soil, most scholars estimate that Borobudur was built around 800 AD when the Central Java was under the reign of Samaratungga, king of Syailendra Dynasty who adhered to Mahayana Buddhism. It has been estimated that the building of Borobudur took between 30 to 60 years to complete, based on the assumption that most of labourers were also farmers who had to stop work regularly to tend their farms. Borobudur has full of philosophical ornaments in which it is totally symbolizing the unity in diversity of path that can be followed to reach the ultimate aim of life. The relieves engraved on the wall of the temple tell about the beautiful learning of life. However, during the 10th and 11th centuries there was transfer of power from Central Java to the East, Borobudur Temple became wholly neglected and given over to decay because of that unlucky political state of affairs. The sanctuary was exposed to volcanic eruption and other negative effects nature. Deserted and abandoned for almost one thousand year had made Borobudur in ruinous condition when it was rediscovered in 1814, since then the excavation of Borobudur was begun. In 1907 - 1911 the big restoration was carried out by Dutch Government and directed by Theodore Van Erp. In fact, by uncovering the structure and not building a drainage system, he further endangered it by exposure to the elements of nature. The structure remained in grave danger of decay and collapse until 1973, when an association of 27 countries, the government of Indonesia, UNESCO and several private organizations financed major restoration works. 23 February 1983, officially announced the completion of the restoration project.
Waisak Ceremony
Once a year during the full moon in May or June, the Buddhist hold the Waisak ceremony commemorating the birth, the death and the time when the Boddhisatva attains the highest wisdom and become Buddha. The ceremonies held on Mendut Temple and attended by thousands of Buddhist coming from all over Indonesia.

Mendut and Pawon Temples
Located only three kilometers from Borobudur, Mendut is said to face toward Benares, India, where Buddha Gautama taught his five disciples the very first time. The smaller temples of Mendut, which houses the great statue of Buddha and the Pawon temple, form an integral part of the Borobudur complex. The three-metre tall Buddha together with the two Bodhisatva figures of Lokesvara and Vajrapani are in the view of some experts, among the greatest manifestations of Buddhist thought and art. Through these smaller temple complexes the pilgrim must pass before ascending the great Borobudur monument.

Dieng Plateau
The oldest temples in Central Java stand on isolated highlands 2000 metres above sea level. The name of plateau comes from the Old Javanese honorific di-hyang which was applied to deified ancestors. It lies within the old caldera of a volcano, enclosed by sheer mountain walls. Strong volcanic activity is in evidence all round - brightly-coloured sulphur springs and lakes, sparkling mud holes and loud fumaroles. Thick smog swirls into the valley, creating always shifting patterns of light. One can without difficulty know why the early Javanese considered this to be the place of supernatural powers. In 19th century were 400 structures noticeable, only 8 now remain: Candi Arjuna, Candi Semar, Candi Srikanadi, Candi Puntodewa, Candi Sembadara, Candi Dvaravati, Candi Gatotkaca and Candi Bima. East of Candi Bima is lake called Telaga Warna ( “Coloured Lake” ), the water of which is tinged with shining colours by underwater sulphur vents.

Surakarta
The regal city of Surakarta, popularly known as Solo, straddles the banks of the Bengawan Solo River, competes with Yogyakarta as the centre of Javanese culture. Indeed, Solo was the original seat of the great Mataram empire before it was separated from Yogyakarta in 1755, a consequence of a Dutch-negotiated peace treaty. Some of the places of interest are for instance Tawangmangu, a mountain resort at an elevation of almost 1 km above sea level which promises you a cool escape from the city’s heat. Not far from here is the Sukuh Temple with wayang stone carvings of Hindu origin and which is the only sample of an erotic temple in Java having the shape of a stepped pyramid like the ones in South America of the Maya culture. There are also a two-century old palace of King Pakubuwono, art Gallery exhibiting Royal heirlooms, various Javanese weapons, antiques and other invaluable items. Another palace is the royal residence of Prince Mangkunegoro, featuring typical Javanese architecture, a complete collection of masks, heirlooms, wayang golek, handicrafts, Javanese musical instruments and superb antiques are exhibited here.

Baturaden
Baturanden, Central Java’s outstanding resort, occupies a fine site on the slope of Mount Slamet, at an elevation of 650 m above sea level. It has remarkable weather with a cool mountain breeze. The resort area is surrounded by nice gardens, hot springs and ponds. Other features included 200 ha pine forest, a nearby market and marvellous views.

Located at the epicentre of a fertile rice fields that is overshadowed to the north by fiery Mt. Merapi and bordered to the south by the Indian Ocean, the refined old city of Yogyakarta or “Yogya” is, with Solo, one of two traditional court centres remaining in Java’s prehistoric area. Yogya is one of the most productive traditional farming areas on earth, with a rural population density that is among the world’s highest. The province’s 3.2 million people live in just 3,169 km2, this is above all remarkable since the great majority of structures are one-story formations and most people live in small village hamlets dotted about the countryside, making a living from agriculture. Yogyakarta was in the 16th and 17th centuries the seat of the mighty Javanese empire of Mataram, from which present day Yogyakarta has inherited the best of traditions. The Yogyakarta city came into being in 1755, after the division of Mataram into the Sultanates of Yogyakarta and Surakarta. The Sultan’s palace is the hub of Yogya’s traditional life and despite the advance of modernity; it still emanates the spirit of refinement which has been the trademark of Yogya’s art for centuries. Proud of its Javanese cultural heritage, it has attracted large numbers of painters, dancers and writers, both Indonesian and foreign, and the arts flourish here. Gamelan, classical and contemporary Javanese dances, the wayang kulit leather puppet theatre and other expressions of traditional art will keep the visitor spellbound. Local craftsmen excel in the arts of batiks, silver and leather work. Yogya is now also a city of students. The city is home to more than 55 academies and university-level institutions, including Gajah Mada University, which was founded during the revolution and is now one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Indonesia.
Yogya is truly unusual. Everyone who visits this fertile volcanic land seems to come away favourably impressed. Yogya is at the same time a traditional Javanese city and stronghold of young and innovate thinking. Here the graceful peacefulness of the Kraton lies just steps away from batik painters’ market where bizarre new creations are on display. Everything, from the prehistoric to the modern, is accepted easily and naturally, and is quickly assimilated into the rich and complex structure of Yogyakarta’s diverse heritage.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Sultan’s Palace
The Yogya keraton or palace, designed and built in stages between 1756 and 1790 by Yogya’s founder Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, is a fine example of traditional Javanese court architecture. Conceived not only as the royal residence but as main point for the whole kingdom, the keraton is cautiously constructed to form a replica of the Javanese cosmos in miniature. Each entryway, each pavilion, each yard, tree and field has a precise symbolic sense, and it was thought that by constructing the keraton in this way, the court and the kingdom could be synchronized with the heavenly forces of the universe. The palace visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of the kraton in former times by visiting the life-size diorama of wedding ceremonies on the palace meeting hall, performed by puppets which are intentionally arranged to create such an atmosphere. Sets of Javanese musical instruments, antiques and heirlooms have made the palace of Yogyakarta worth to visit.

Taman Sari
Taman Sari complex ( known during Dutch colonial times as Water Castle because of imposing structure ) is a heritage site that stands testament to the grandeur of the Yogyakarta Sultanate. Built in 1758 by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, all around it was artificial lake, access to the “castle” was by means of ingenious underwater passageway with small towers placed as regular intervals providing light and ventilation. Taman Sari means “fragrant gardens”, referring to flowers and fruit trees that exuded a delicious fragrance which permeated the entire complex.

Kotagede
Kotagede is a neat little town which was once the seat of the mighty Mataram empire. In this old palace town with its walled-in houses, the graves of the first rulers of Mataram are still to be found. Since the 1930s, however, Kotagede has become famous for being the centre of the Yogya silverwork industry. There are a number of workshops where visitors are welcome to watch silver being transformed into beautiful works of art known as “Yogya Silver”.

Prambanan
Prambanan, named after the village where it is located, is the biggest Hindu temple complex in Java. There are 224 temples in the complex; three of them, the main temples are Brahma Temple in the north, Vishnu Temple in the south, and the biggest among the three which lies between Brahma and Vishnu temples is Shiva Temple ( 47 meters high ). These three ancient masterpieces of Hindu architecture are locally referred to as Prambanan Temple or Lorojonggrang Temple ( Temple of the “Slender Virgin” ). One of its appeals is the riches of sculptural detail. The famous one is on the inner wall of the balustrade, the magnificently vital and completely engrossing Ramayana epic. An inscription that could be related to the Prambanan temples, was Siwaghra inscription (778 C / 856 M). The inscription mentioned about inauguration a holy building for the God Civa. Then the name of king Jatiningrat ( Rakai Pikatan ) in which has to fight against Balaputra, and after he won the war he gave the kingdom to Dyah Pitaloka ( Rakai Kayu wangi 851-852 ). In that inscription was also detail about the Hindu holy building.

Gunung Merapi
Nature’s statements in this densely populated part of Java - whether in the form of smouldering volcanoes, rough limestone cliffs or violently pounding surf - are indisputable powerful. Gunung Merapi ( literally “Mountain of Fire” ) is Java’s most active volcano - a towering behemoth that periodically spews clouds of smoke and ash. The overnight climb to the summit is demanding and hazardous, but is one of the island’s most spectacular sight.

The province of East Java, extending from Mt. Luwu in the west all the way to the Bali Straits, yields rich rewards to those willing to put a bit of extra effort. This is Java’s most varied province, and it consists some of the island’s most splendid scenery. From sleepy ports to thundering volcanoes, from ancient temples to vast wildlife reserves, East Java offers supreme chances to get off the beaten tourist track. The Majapahit dynasty based in and around East Java, began the foundations of an empire that was to dominate the entire Indonesian archipelago, the Malay peninsula and part of the Philippines, also establishing profitable trade relations with China, Cambodia, Siam, Burma and Vietnam. As power in Central Java declined in the 10th century, powerful kingdoms rose in East Java to fill the power space. Between 1055 and 1222, the kingdom of Kediri prospered and expanded. During the reign of King Airlangga both East Java and Bali enjoyed a profitable trade with the nearby islands, directly relating to a period of artistic development and mastery. Parts of the Mahabarata epic were translated and re-interpreted to conform closer to an East Javanese philosophy and view of life, and it was from this era that East Java inherited much of its treasure of temple art. Today the open air amphitheatre at Pandaan tells some of the stories of this glorious past, with performances against an impressive backdrop of distant volcanoes, capturing the spirit of the province’s culture and scenery. East Java’s claim to fame in modern history is its vanguard role in the struggle for independence against colonial forces in 1945. Little of the Majapahit Empire’s former glory still stands in East Java, however, with the exception of temple ruins and some archaeological discoveries. Nevertheless, East Java has a variety of attractions, ranging from temple sites to beautiful, unspoiled beaches, awesome volcanoes, picturesque highland lakes, colourful marine gardens and fantastic wildlife reserves. Magnificent mountain scenery includes the crater and legendary sea of sand at Mount Bromo, the “sulphur mountain” of Welirang and the rugged Ijen Plateau. The island of Madura, famous for its bull races, is also part of the province and has its own traditions and even a different language. The provincial capital, Surabaya is second in size, population and commerce only to Jakarta. It is also the most industrialized province in the nation with a strong economy based on agriculture, fishery, oil industries, coffee, mangoes and apples.

Surabaya
Up until 20th century, the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya was the largest and most important seaport in the archipelago. It still ranks second ( after Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok ) with more than 400 years of colourful history behind it. Surabaya is known as a city of heroes because of the momentous first battle of the revolution in November 1945. Although the local rebels were driven out by the better equipped British troops, they inflicted heavy casualties and proved that independence could be fought for. The most interesting areas of the city are old Arab and Chinese quarters not far from the harbour ( Tomb of Sunan Ampel, Hong Tik Hian Temple, Red Bridge, Heroes Monument ).

Madura
Measuring some 160 km in length and about 40 across at its widest point, Madura supports a population of close to 2.3 million inhabitants, most of whom are farmers or fishermen. Although the island is a part of the province of East Java, it is home to a completely separate ethnic group, which has its own language and customs. Renowned over the centuries for their sailing prowess, the Madurese are a tough, high spirited people, whose character appears well suited to the harsh climate and dry landscape. Madura’s most famous attraction is the annual bull racing ( kerapan sapi ), which takes place after harvest season, during the dry season in August and September. These exciting and colourful tournaments consist of a race between two pairs of bulls, each team pulling a rider and sled. Following a series of heats, which take place in different parts of the island for some weeks, the highlight of the season occurs when the finals are held in Pamekasan, Madura’s capital. Given the central role played by the bull in rural Madura, it is easy to understand the general eagerness for bull racing. Bulls that show racing potential are exempted from the toughest work, and lead a pampered life in comfortable stables. A champion brings great honour upon the owner and even his whole village.

Mount Bromo
The most popular and well known of East Java’s tourist attractions is undoubtedly Mount Bromo. The pre-dawn departure and trek across the mountain’s famous ’sand sea’, to watch the sunrise at the crater rim, has become something of a ritual, enacted daily by people of every nationality. Bromo is actually just one crater in the vast, 800 km2 Tengger massif, which forms the largest of East Java’s five main volcanic ranges. The Tengger Range is one of eight official nature reserves in East Java and centres around the peaks of Mount Bromo and Mount Semeru. Most of the area is more than 2000 metres above sea level, Mount Semeru itself being Java’s highest mountain at 3,676m
Bromo has gained its reputation partly because of its unique location and partly through the reverence shown to it by the local inhabitants. The steep slopes of active volcanoes Semeru and Bromo have been home of the Tenggerese people for several hundred years. The only group of people on the island who are Hindu, they are believed to be descendants of the Hindu-Buddhist Majapahit kingdom that fell in the 15th century. As Islam swept trough Java, Hindu priests and aristocrats fled to Bali, Blambangan and the Tengger highlands. Today, the Tenggerese maintain a unique form of Hinduism mixed with animism and live as farmers working the productive farmland on the slopes of Bromo.

Ijen Crater
The Ijen plateau lies in the centre of the Ijen Merapi-Maelang Reserve, which extends over much of the mountainous region directly west of Banyuwangi and borders on the Baluran National Park in the north east. The volcanic cone of Ijen dominates the landscape at the eastern end of Java. Crater of Ijen is filled by a spectacular turquoise blue lake, its surface streaked in wind-blown patterns of yellow sulphur (and is without doubt among the most impressive of East Java’s natural wonders ) . Kawah Ijen is the world’s largest highly acidic lake and is the site of a labour-intensive sulphur mining operation in which sulphur-laden baskets are hand-carried from the crater floor. Many other post-caldera cones and craters are located within the caldera or along its rim.

Kaliklatak
A privately owned plantation with an elevation of 450-750 m above sea level, on the slope of Mt. Merapi covering a 2.500 acres of land producing coffee, rubber, cocoa and spices. Cloves begin as flowers on the clove tree, cinnamon is ground bark, pepper grown on vines and nutmeg like golf-ball size pears hanging on broad leafed trees, are to be seen. Touring the plantation is a trip through a vast, exotic spice machine process which ends with neat packages ready for export.