Yogyakarta, occasionally pronounced Jogja or Jogjakarta, formerly Dutch: Djokjakarta or Djokja is a city on the island of Java in Indonesia. It is renowned as a centre of education, classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry and puppet shows. Nearby to the city of Yogyakarta is Mount Merapi. The northern outskirts of the city-run up to the southern slopes of the mountain in Sleman Regency (Indonesian language–Kabupaten). Gunung Merapi (literally “mountain of fire” in Indonesian/Javanese), is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. The South Of Merapi is Kaliurang Kaliurang Park. The volcano last erupted in November 2010.
History: According to the Canggal inscription dated 732, the area traditionally known as “Mataram” became the capital of the Medang Kingdom, established by King Sanjaya. Mataram became the centre of a refined and sophisticated Javanese Hindu-Buddhist culture, for about three centuries its heartland in Kedu Plain (southern slope of Mount Merapi) around Prambanan witnessed the construction of numerous construction including Borobudur and Prambanan. During the Majapahit era, the area surrounding modern Yogyakarta was known as “Mataram”. During the reign of Pakubuwono II, a civil war broke out in Mataram Sultanate. The Yogyakarta Sultanate was established as a result of the Treaty of Giyanti by Prince Mangkubumi, who later ascended the throne as Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. Officially, the creation of Yogyakarta Sultanate is dated at 7 October 1756 as a result of civil war among the princes of The Mataram Sultanate. Yogyakarta’s support was essential in the Indonesian struggle for independence during the Indonesian National Revolution (1945-1949). The city of Yogyakarta became the capital of the Indonesian Republic from 1946 to 1948, after the fall of Jakarta to the Dutch. Later the Dutch also invaded Yogyakarta, causing the Republic’s capital to be transferred once again, to Bukittinggi in West Sumatra on 19 December 1948. Because of its significant contribution to the survival of the Indonesian Republic, Yogyakarta was given the status of Special Administrative Region, making Yogyakarta the only region headed by a monarchy in Indonesia.
*(All the above information are from Wikipedia.)
Transport:
Airport: Yogyakarta is served by Adisutjipto International Airport which connects the city with other major cities in Indonesia.
Rail: The city is located on one of the two major railway lines across Java between Jakarta or Bandung and Surabaya. It has two passenger railway stations, Tugu railway station which serves business and executive class trains, and Lempuyangan Station which serves economy class trains. Both stations are located in the heart of the city.
Road: The city has an extensive system of public city buses, and is a major departure point for inter-city buses to other cities in Java and Bali.
Local: For local transportation, there are taxis, dokar or andongs, and becaks.
Tourist Interest:
Borobudur Temple: Borobudur is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple. This is the world’s largest Buddhist temple. The temple consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular topped by a central dome. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, the temple design follows Javanese Buddhist architecture, which blends the Indonesian indigenous cult of ancestor worship and the Buddhist concept of attaining Nirvana.
Prambanan Temple: Prambanan is a 9th-century Hindu temple dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). The temple compound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia, and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia.
Pawon and Mendut Temple: Pawon and Mendut are Buddhist temples located close to Borobudur temple.
Mount Merapi: Mount Merapi, Gunung Merapi (literally Fire Mountain in Indonesian and Javanese), is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. Smoke can often be seen emerging from the mountaintop, and several eruptions have caused fatalities. The year 2010 has seen the latest eruption of Mt Merapi. Merapi is the youngest in a group of volcanoes in southern Java. It is situated in a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian Plate is subducting under the Sunda Plate. It is one of at least 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, part of the volcano is located in the Southeastern part of the Pacific Ring of Fire–a section of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and South East Asia. The stratigraphic analysis reveals that eruptions in the Merapi area began about 400,000 years ago, and from then until about 10,000 years ago, eruptions were typically effusive, and the outflowing lava emitted was basaltic. Since then, eruptions have become more explosive, with viscous andesitic lavas often generating lava domes. Dome collapse has often generated pyroclastic flows, and larger explosions, which have resulted in eruption columns, have also generated pyroclastic flows through column collapse.
The Kraton: Kraton of Yogyakarta is a royal palace complex located within the city.
Malioboro Street: Jalan Malioboro is a major shopping street in Yogyakarta.
Taman Sari Water Castle: Taman Sari Water Castle, also known as Taman Sari is the site of a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta.
The other places of interest in Yogyakarta are Wayang Kulit, Imogiri, Gudeg, Kalasan Temple, Indrayanti Temple and more.
Tour Planner:
This tour planner is made on the basis of the location of the destinations. One can make changes as per their interest, convenience and accessibility and duration of the trip.
Day 1: Visit Merapi at sunrise and then go to Prambanan temple. In the afternoon shop at Malioboro.
Day 2: Sunrise is the best time to visit Borobudur temple. The Pawon and Mendut temples are located close and can be covered at the same trip. Later visit the Kraton and other places within the city precincts.
Hotels: Some hotels in Yogyakarta: Yogyakarta Hotel Plaza, D’Senopati Malioboro Grand Hotel, Melia Purosani, Jambuluwuk Malioboro, Nueve Malioboro Hotel, Pesonna Malioboro and more.