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Yogyakarta or Jogja “Never Ending Asia” is a cultural city that has many ancient temples ruin in Indonesia. It is a second fave destination to visit after Bali. The city is also one of the only two traditional court centers remaining in Java, currently led by the venerated Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, whose forefather founded the kingdom in early 18 century.
Getting There
So far, direct flight to Adisucipto International Airport in Jogja from foreign countries are only from Malaysia or Singapore. So if you are not from those two countries, first you have to fly to Bali or Jakarta. To find any flight from wherever you are now, please click here . There are two seasons in Indonesia: the dry season, which extends from June to October, and the rainy season, which normally lasts from November to March. So if you want a clear blue sky vacation, you better have a visit in dry season.
Getting Around
We provide transportation service for you. Our rates are Rp.600.000,- (USD 60) per day. Some interesting well-known places to visit in Jogja are :
1. Prambanan Temple
This World Heritage List Number 642 was found by Colin Mackenzie, a surveyor who accompanies Raffles during the British invasion of Java in 1811. Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Indonesia. One of its appeals is the wealth of sculptural detail of the wonderful Ramayana Epic. There are three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. Situated about 15 km from Yogyakarta, it is best seen shortly after dawn or in the late afternoon. However it is still beautiful at any time. Ticket price for entering the temple is USD 10 per person.
2. Ramayana Ballet
This dance-drama presented by more than 200 artists at the open air theatre with the magnificent Prambanan temple in the background. The show began at 07.30 pm and last about 2 hours. There are 4 distinct seating arrangements in the theatre, each comes with different prices. A VIP seat goes for Rp.175.000,- (about USD 17), Special Class seat Rp.125.000,- (USD 12), First Class seat Rp.100.000,- (USD 10) and Second Class seat Rp.65.000,- (USD 7).
3. Ratu Boko Temple
Ratu Boko Temple is located 196 m above sea level on a hill, about 3 km south from Prambanan Temple. Within the Ratu Boko Temple, there is a well called Amerta Mantana. The water of this well is considered lucky and used on auspicious days by Indonesia’s Hindu people. There’a also a restaurant where you can enjoy sunset while having your meal. Ticket price is USD 8 per person.
4. Borobudur Temple
This famous Buddhist temple is the World Heritage List Number 592. The monument was restored with UNESCO’s help in the 1970s. Borobudur temple is located in Muntilan, Magelang and is about 42 kilometers from Yogyakarta city. It is constructed as a ten-terraces building. Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the sculptors were. All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha’s teachings. Ticket price is USD 15 per person to enjoy all facilities in the Borobudur complex such as Samudra Raksa museum, Karmawibangga museum, Borobudur movie and Shuttle.
5. Imogiri Tomb of Mataram Kings
Imogiri is the name given to the royal cemetery located about 20 Km south of Yogyakarta city up in a hill. The cemetery complex was built by Sultan Agung, one of the Moslem kings of Mataram in 1632. During a pilgrimage to this cemetary, visitors are not allowed to wear jewelry. Men should wear beskap and women wear kemben. There’s no official ticket price to enter the complex. Visitors could give donation voluntarily. You should prepare yourself to walk up the stairs. The stairs are almost 450 and 200 meters long.
6. Sultan Palace (Keraton)
This 200 year-old palace complex is situated right in the heart of Yogyakarta. It’s not only quarters for the ruling Sultan and his family, but also the dynastic regalia, private meditation and ceremonial chambers, a magnificent throne hall, audience and performance pavillions, a mosque, a royal garden, stables, barracks, and more. Keraton was constructed from 1755 and continued for almost 40 years, during the long reign of Sultan Hamengkubuwono I.
7. Ganjuran Temple (Christian Pilgrimage Destination)
This temple was built in 1927 as part of Ganjuran church complex and dedicated to praise Jesus Christ. It is located around 20 kilometers south of Yogyakarta city. The complex was built with the initiative of two Dutch relatives, namely Joseph Smutzer and Julius Smutzer. The temple’s terrace decorated with lotus flower and the statue of Jesus in Javanese clothes becomes another choice to celebrate holy mass and pilgrimage, in addition to the church offering closeness with Javanese culture.
8. Ketep Pass
This place is up in a hill about 1200 meters above sea level. It’s located about 50 kilometers north-west of Yogyakarta city. From this site visitors are able to observe Mount Merbabu and also mount Merapi which is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Other mountain peaks that could also be seen are Mount Sindoro, Mount Sumbing and Mount Slamet. Ketep was designed as a volcano-based tourist destination with some attractions such as volcano center, volcano theater and Panca Arga plain. The ticket price to enter this place is Rp.3.500,- (USD 0.35) and Rp.5.000,- (USD 0.50) to watch 20-minute movie that explains much about Mount Merapi int the volcano theater.
9. Kota Gede (Silver Handicraft)
Since the 1930s Kotagede has become famous for being the centre of the Yogya silverwork industry. Now, it is the biggest center of silver handicrafts in Indonesia, surpassing Bali, Lombok and Kendari. Location of silversmiths in Kotagede spread evenly, starting from Kotagede market until the Great Mosque. Currently around 60 stores that offer a variety of silver products. At least four types of products sold, ie filigri (texture with holes), tatak carving (teskturnya prominent), cast (made from molds), and type of handmade (more precision hand, such as rings and necklaces). Some places offer visitors such a rare opportunity to learn how to make their own silver handicraft. Experienced instructor will help to learn quickly.
10. Kasongan Village (Traditional Clay Potteries)
It takes about 15-20 minutes drive from Yogyakarta city to get there. Kasongan village is the dwelling place of kundis, which means earthenware jugs and later refers to people who make any earthenware jug-like as kitchen tools and ornaments. For many years the elderly show their amazing creation of ceramics, changing society as farmer into craftsman. First making, they made household equipment and child toys, somehow in the 1971-1972, a Jogjakarta ceramics artist, Sapto Hoedojo, was learnt how to make ceramics more commercial, as souvenir and jewellery. Now, most of craftsmanship created commercial concept of ceramics. Art galleries lines up along the street, visitors could come in and out of the galleries, just looking around or buy something unique.
11. Parang Tritis Beach
Parangtritis beach located about 27 kilometers to the south of Yogyakarta. It’s has long been famous, not only as a beach resort where sand-dunes, sandy beaches and rocky cliffs meet, but also as a historical place closely linked to the mysterious legend of the Queen of the South Sea, “Kanjeng Ratu Kidul”. Together with her confidant, the feared Nyai or Nyi Roro Kidul, the ever youthful and beautiful queen, Kanjeng Ratu Kidul reigns over sea-nymphs and spirits.
12. For the price of only 75 thousand rupiah (about $7.5) a person, there is a tour by bicycle for you who’d like to do both exercising dan enjoying the beautiful sceneries of north-east side of jogja. Along the trip you could see villagers, rice fields, herd, mount merapi, rivers, sambisari temple, kalasan temple and prambanan temple. This exciting tour could take about 2 to 3 hours of bicycling accompanied by a friendly guide.
jogja villagers
Where to Stay
There are many hotels in Jogja with rate starting from as cheap as Rp.150.000,- (USD 15) per night to Rp.1.800.000,- (USD 180) for five stars hotel. Three star hotels are usually reasonably-priced and comfortable enough for most travelers with rate Rp.600.000,- (USD 60). What you get for USD 15 are : Breakfast, Bathroom with Hot Water, Room with Air Conditioning, TV.
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