Yogyakarta : Center of Javanese Culture

Attractions

• Malioboro Street
  The heart of Yogya is Jalan Malioboro so named after the Duke of Marlborough who visited is beautiful city. Malioboro is a two-kilometer long one-way street running north to south. It is along this stretch of road where the hub of Yogyanese trade is to be found. Stalls line the street where vendors sell their wares and where bargaining is a must.
• Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace
Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture lies in the center of the city. Prince Mangkubumi founded it in 1755. The Prince was then called Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono. The palace visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of the Kraton (palace) in former times by visiting the life-size dioramas of wedding ceremonies in the palace meeting hall, performed by puppets which are intentionally arranged to create such an atmosphere. Sets of Javanese musical instruments, antiques and heirlooms, have made the palace of Yogyakarta worth a visit.
• Keraton Kasunan
If Miss Havisham, the aged bride from Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, who was left at the altar, had a palace in Solo, this would be it. Life seems suspended in this eccentric palace eerily brought to life by the singing of the gamelan ladies. Dilapidated and flanked by a collection of Baroque statues and bird baths, it still feels very much lived-in.
Javanese culture, dance, and music permeate the lives of the timeless occupants of the palace, from the guards to the royal orchestra. It is considered polite to wear shoes, but impolite, and therefore better to go barefoot, than to wear sandals.
There are few things to see here, save for a few random artifacts and a large canoe. The palace is far more haphazard than the smaller Mangkunegaran. Its unconventional charm, however, calls for a romantic stroll with the sand in one's toes. Gamelan practice is from 9arn 2pm daily.
• Water Castle
  Built in 1758 by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I water castle is just west of the kraton, part of the garden and castle is at present an intriguing collection of ruins, pools, arches and underground passages enclosed by massive walls. The central courtyard, however, with nymph-baths has been restored. The Water Castle is located in the older part of the city within walking distance from the Bird Market. A number of batik workshops line the avenue leading to the pleasure garden's entrance, where the king's mistress has stayed.
• Borobudur Temple
The Borobodur Temple complex is one of the greatest monuments in the world. It is believed to have been built between the end of the seventh and beginning of the 8 century. For about a century and a half it was the spiritual center of Buddhism in Java, before it was lost and then rediscovered in the eighteenth century. The structure, composed of 55,000 square meters of lava-rock is erected on a hill in the form of a stepped-pyramid of six rectangular stories, three circular terraces and a central stupa forming the summit. The whole structure is in the form of a lotus, the sacred flower of Buddha.
Prambanan Temple
This magnificent Shivaite temple derives its name from the village where it is located. Locally known as Loro Jonggrang Temple, or the Temple of the 'Slender Virgin', it is the biggest and most beautiful Hindu temple in Indonesia. Situated seventeen kilometers east of Yogyakarta, this temple is believed to have been built by King Balitung Maha Sambu in the middle of the ninth century. Its parapets are adorned with bas-reliefs depicting the famous Ramayana story. The temple complex of Prambanan lies among green fields and villages. It has eight shrines, of which the three main ones are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.
Kotagede
Kotagede, about five kilometers southeast of Yogyakarta, is a neat little town which was once the seat of the mighty Mataram Empire. In this old palace town with its walled-in houses, the graves of the first rulers of Mataram are still to be found. Since the 1930s, however, Kotagede has become famous for being the center of the Yogya silverwork industry. Kotagede is easily reached by Andong, the four-wheeled horse-drawn cart, by taxi, bus, or car. There are a number of workshops where visitors are welcome to watch silver being transformed into beautiful works of art known as 'Yogya Silver'.
Merapi Volcano
Just the north of Yogyakarta, and forming an indelible part of the city skyline is the 'Fire Mountain', Mount Merapi. The mountain forms part of Kaliurang Mountain Resort, a cool retreat of simple accommodation and hotels in the pine forest some 3,000 meters above sea level and only a half-hour journey from Yogya. Mount Merapi can be climbed. There is a variety of routes ranging from an easy walk to a challenging trek from the base to the top that takes place overnight. Tourists who want to experience the majesty of Mount Merapi first-hand can join one of the treks organized by Vogels Inn in Kaliurang.
Triwindu Antiques Market
Nestled in a labyrinthine market selling ball-bearings and car parts, the gems at Triwindu antiques market, appear even more dramatic - and blissfully cheap compared to anywhere in Bali or Jakarta. On the fringes, next to a small stall selling greasy knobs and bolts, sunlight streams through Moroccan ceiling lamps saturated with color. There are Venetian mirrors and transistor radios. A stall sells reproduction antique, hefty stone Buddha heads and brushed brass ganeshas of all sizes, next to a small case containing three, silk 1930s clutch purses with delicate crystal embellishment ( except that now there are two).
All manner of Loro Blonyo, male and female Javanese figures symbolizing a prosperous marriage, are on sale near striking hand-painted batik. There are silver peacock shaped door handles in painted wrought iron, gold vintage brooches and limestone elephants.
Because most of the goods from Triwindu are superior-quality, reproduction antiques and the rest genuine bric-a-brac from the last 60 years, prices are low. Sellers from all over come to Triwindu to sell their handiwork. It is worth a weekend trip to Solo just to furnish ones house with goods from Triwindu, or get a year's worth of gift buying over in one morning. The sellers never harass and are open to bargaining.
Pasar Klewer
According to the tourism board, Pasar Klewer is the biggest batik and textile market in Indonesia. This may not be wholly true but it could possibly be the friendliest. As soon as the photographer walks past with his camera, he is jokingly offered dates and phone numbers; sellers pose and heckle one another. Ask to see a sarong and a podgy old lady will roll out the whole bunch and happily put them back when one walks away.