Regarded as the soul of Java, Yogyakarta is where Javanese language, arts and traditions are found in their purest and brightest form. As a cultural powerhouse, Yogyakarta is in a continuous process of traversing modern and traditional influences. For example, it is still headed by a sultan, whose massive kraton, which speaks of an illustrious history and traditional culture, sits alongside an urban amalgamation of modern internet cafes, hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls. Modern structures aside, Yogyakarta remains a venerable bastion of batik, gamelan, and ritual. It is also home to the most important of Indonesia’s archaeological sites. A proper Yogyakarta tour package, including any of the following attractions, will explain why this Javanese town is one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world.
kraton
The Palace of the Sultans of Yogyakarta, also known as Kraton, is considered the cultural and political heart of this Javanese city. The kraton is technically a walled city within a city, home to some 25,000 residents, a thousand of whom are in the employ of the sultan. The kraton is a self-contained community with its own schools, mosques, markets, shops, craft and batik industries, and even museums. The innermost groups of buildings are used as the residence of the sultan. These buildings are actually the best examples of Javanese architecture, with a series of lavish halls accented by wide courtyards and ornate pavilions. Here, culture and traditions are very much alive, with dignified old men dressed in traditional Javanese costumes attending the sultan’s palace.
Kota Gede
Kota Gede is known as the center of Yogyakarta’s silver industry. It is actually a quiet old town that was once the capital of the Mataram kingdom. The cemetery of Senopati, the founder of this kingdom back in 1582, is located in a mosque south of the central market of Kota Gede. The tomb is considered sacred and a dress code is strictly enforced for those who wish to visit it.
Affandi Museum
One of Indonesia’s most renowned artists, Affandi lived in a structure that served as a home and art studio about 6 kilometers east of the city center. This structure is now the Affandi Museum, which houses an extensive painting collection including but not limited to Affandi’s self-portraits, along with some of the artist’s personal belongings. Also on display is Affandi’s 1967 Galant automobile.
taman sari
Located just to the southwest of the kraton is the Taman Sari, a complex formerly used as a recreational park consisting of palaces, pools, and water fountains intended for the sultan and his retinue. It is said to have been designed by a Danish architect and built as a secret pleasure retreat for the sultan. The original structures, however, were damaged by both Diponegoro’s Java War and an earthquake in 1865. Only the pools have been restored, and the rest of the structures remain in ruins.