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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
