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Yogyakarta, the city, is the capital of the Special Region and Province of Yogyakarta in south-central Java. Its elected governor is also the Sultan from a lineage of the Mataram Sultanate and further, the ancient (Hindu) Mataram Empire before its conversion to Islam. Though largely a conservative Muslim society now, the city fascinates visitors with its rich history, multi-cultural art forms, monuments and relics and prestigious intellectual institutions. Hence, it has the reputation of being the ‘centre of culture and learning’ in Indonesia.
People from all over the world come to witness the legacies left behind by the powerful Buddhist and Hindu empires that once rule the legendary central plains in the 8th – 14th centuries. The fertile soils benefiting from the peripheral volcanoes supported abundant rice fields. In more recent history, Yogyakarta was briefly the capital of Indonesia from 1945–50 when it rebelled against Dutch re-colonisation after Japanese occupiers left at the end of the Second World War.
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The Sultan’s Palace or Kraton at the centre of the city. It was said that the main elements of the city runs along the axis from Parangtritis on the coast to the Kraton, Tugu Monument (Obelisk) and Mt. Merapi volcano. This symbolises the Sultan’s close relationship with the guardian spirits of Parangtritis Beach and Mt. Merapi.
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Monument of March 1st or Monument 1 Maret commemorates the local freedom fighters brief success – 6 hours of retaking Yogyakarta on March 1st 1949 from the Dutch. The revolution was led by the then young colonel Soeharto who later became the 2nd President of independent Indonesia.
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The Dutch colonised Indonesia for more than 200 years. They also left behind very grand buildings in size and architecture. The Bank Indonesia (Yogyakarta Branch) building was completed on February 1915 and A. F. Van Suchtelen was appointed its first manager.
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The ‘bechak’ or trishaw (foreground-left) is a popular means of transport within the city. Along Jalan A. Yani in the vicinity of the Sultan’s Palace to Jalan Malioboro, there are many important government buildings distinctive of the Dutch era. (‘Jalan’ means road)
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Jalan Malioboro - the most famous and busiest shopping street in the heart of the city. Besides historical landmark buildings and monuments, there are modern shopping malls and restaurants, interesting walkways and varieties of street food. The largest traditional market, Pasar Beringharjo is also situated along here.
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Motorbikes are widely used by locals but the ‘andong’ or horse-drawn carriage (in picture - yellow carriage with white horse) is a popular vehicle to ride on especially among tourists.
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Old shop houses of interesting styles along Jalan Malioboro - a combination of western and local Javanese elements.
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Street delicacies under plastic tents in the broad walkways. There are many varieties of local rice (‘nasi’) meals which are all spicy. Favourites are nasi gudeg, nasi liwet and nasi langgi among some of them. Customers sit on straw mats or low stools for dinner and supper accompanied by sounds of musicians.
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A classical Ramayana ballet performance at the open-air theatre in the ancient Prambanan Temple grounds. Early Indian traders brought along their religions and cultures and even government administrative systems. The great Hindu epic is almost synonymous to subject of crafts and fine arts in this part of Java.
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The great ancient civilisations started from these fertile plains where the staple food of most Asians are grown. Java was once called Java Dwipa or ‘Rice Island’ and the legendary Kedu plains in present day Yogyakarta province, the ‘gardens of Central Java’. Traders from India, China and middle-east brought prosperity to the area.
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The mammoth Chandi Borobudur beams from a hillock. Built over a period of 75 years in the 8th - 9th centuries, it has re-established itself as an important place of pilgrimage after restoration. Buddhists converge from all over Indonesia to pay homage to this sacred shrine in the shape of a giant stupa especially on Waisak(Vesak) Day.
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The Prambanan Temple complex originally consisted of more than 200 towers. Three main towers are dedicated to Hindu Gods Vishnu (largest and most magnificent), Brahma and Vishnu known as the Trisakti ('three sacred places'). It is also called Candi Lara Jonggrang or ‘Temple of the Slender Virgin’ owing to a local folklore about a beautiful princess turned into a stone shrine by a demon.
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Mt. Merapi (left) and Mt. Merbabu (right). Mt. Merapi is a very active volcano much feared or revered by locals. Gases are seen spilling out all the time. One reason quoted for the mysterious abandonment of Chandi Borobudur for almost a millennium was that a major eruption in (est. circa) AD 1006 forced local inhabitants to move away.
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