YOGYAKARTA

Yogyakarta, sometimes called Yogya and spelled Jogyakarta, is a bustling town of some 500,000 people and the most popular tourist destination on the island of Java, largely thanks to its proximity to the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. Yogyakarta is known as a center of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry and puppet shows. It is also famous in Indonesia as a center of higher education. The touristic heart of Yogyakarta is the kraton, or sultan's palace.

For visitors to Indonesia seeking a little history and culture to go with their beach holiday, Yogyakarta is a must-see.

The Indonesia Bank building--a good example of colonial architecture in Yogyakarta

Things to See and Do in Yogyakarta

Your visit could not come at a better time. On May 27, 2006, a Richter 5.9 earthquake struck the province of Yogyakarta, killing nearly 6,000 people and destroying 300,000 homes. Fortunately few historic sites suffered significant damage, but the area is still recovering economically. The money you spend as a tourist will help Yogyarkata get back on its feet.

Being one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, Yogyakarta has many historic buildings and monuments. The number one attraction is Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono's palace, known in Indonesian as Kraton Ngayogyakarta.

The sultan's palace, or kraton, encompasses the main palace, the sultan's residence and grounds, and a large residential area where the sultan's many servants used to reside. The kraton was completed in 1756. Notable attractions in the kraton complex include:

• The Main Court and the Residence. The Main Court showcases the grandeur of the sultan's monarchy, while in the Residence you'll see the private, but no less luxurious, lifestyle of the royal family.
• The Sultan's Carriage Museum. This museum houses the sultan's horse-drawn carriages, including two beautiful carriages imported from the Netherlands, known as the Golden Carts.

The Hindu elephant god Ganesh guards the kraton

• Taman Sari. Also known by the Dutch name waterkasteel (water castle), this is a partly ruined complex built as a pleasure garden by the first sultan in 1765. One of the bathing pools was dedicated to the sultan's harem, and he had a tower overlooking the area so he could take his pick of the women below.
• Siti Hinggil Selatan. This palace is rarely used for formal occasions anymore. You can see wayang kulit, Javanese shadow puppetry, performed on weekend evenings.
• Masjid Gede Kauman, one of the oldest and largest mosques in Yogyakarta. Located on the west of Alun-alun Utara, the palace square, this mosque is where the sultan performs his religious rites and ceremonies. Non-muslim visitors should wear modest clothing and abide by mosque rules.

Shopping
A variety of high-quality handicrafts are available throughout Yogyakarta, including traditional wayang puppets, sculpture, ceramics and silverware. Yogyakarta is also the home of batik fabric, which is sold everywhere. Countless handicrafts from outside Yogyakarta can also be found. For example, don't be surprised if you come across souvenirs from Bali or Asmat, often at better prices than those on the islands. A modern, growing city, Yogyakarta has several stylish malls and a trade center that offers interesting goods and services at a reasonable cost.



Prambanan
It is a collection of massive Hindu temples (candi) built by the 10th century Mataram Kingdom, rulers of central Java and defeaters of the Sailendra Dynasty. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, in most any other country constructions on the scale of Prambanan would be quickly designated as a national symbol, but in Indonesia they are somewhat overshadowed by the even more awe-inspiring bulk of Borobudur just next door. The two sites are quite different in style though, with Prambanan being a collection of sharp, jagged pyramids instead of the vast horizontal bulk of Borobudur, and both are well worth a visit.

the Hindu temple complex of Prambanan looks very different than the Buddhist Borobudur

Visiting Prambanan

About 10 miles from Yogyakarta, the main site of Prambanan contains four temples scattered about a large, landscaped park. Note that some parts of the temple complex are still closed off and undergoing restoration following the May 2006 earthquake.