History has left its footprints
across Central Java, an area rich in
culture and tradition descending
from a powerful Hindu and Buddhist
past, and more recent Islamic
influences. Under the Saliendra and
Old Mataram kings in the 8th and
10th centuries the Hindu-Javanese
culture flourished, and it was
during this period that Java’s most
remarkable religious monuments were
built such as Borobudur, the most
magnificent monument to Mahayana
Buddhism in the world; the enormous
Hindu temple complex of Prambanan,
and the ancient site of the oldest
Hindu temples in Java on the Dieng
Plateau.
Tourist
Office
Jl. Madukoro Blok BB/1D, Semarang
50144,
Phone. (024) 7608570-2, 7613180,
7613181 Fax. (024) 7608573
Website:
http//www.central-java-tourism.com
Getting
there
An extensive network of good roads
and railway links major cities and
villages. Airport both in Semarang
and Solo and the major seaport in
Tanjung Emas, on the north of
Semarang and a natural harbor in
Cilacap provide national and
international access. Door to door
travel minibuses are available to
and from Java and Sumatra Island.
Tourism
Event:
-
Wayang Kulit (Leather Puppet
Shadow Show) from 9.00 pm
every Saturday until dawn in
Radio Republik Indonesia
(RRI) Jalan Achmad Yani
Semarang. It takes episodes
from the Ramayana and
Mahabarata epics.
-
Wayang Orang (Javanese
Opera) performed every night
from 8 pm to 10 pm in
Sriwedari auditorium Solo
Sunday closed.
-
Waisak Ceremony, Magelang,
Central Java. The “Waisak”
is religious event observing
the birth of Sidarta Gautama
held on June’08 at Mendut
and Borobudur temples. This
ceremony is first started
with religious praying in
Mendut.
-
Sekaten Fair, Solo, Central
Java. A traditional fair
held on Apr’08 annually
during the Islamic month of
Rabiul Awal or maulud
(Javanese Calendar) to
commemorate the birth of
Prophet Muhammad. The fair
takes place at Alun-alun
Utara of the Kasunanan
Palace’s North Square and
open for visitors day and
night.
Places
of Interest:
Semarang
Semarang is situated on Java’s
northern coast and it is the capital
of Central Java. From Candi Hill you
get amazing views of the port, the
lowlands and green paddy fields, the
city itself and the surrounding
mountains. The environs around
Semarang are perfect for day trips
and side-excursions. In the older
part of the city, near the harbor,
you can still find an interesting
collection of buildings dating back
to the Dutch colonial era and the
Dutch East Indies Company. The city
offers evening performances of
Wayang drama played by live actors,
actresses and dancers at Ngesti
Pandowo Theatre. For sport fans
there are tennis courts in all major
hotels and 2 golf courses located in
the town’s suburbs. For short trips
out of Semarang within a radius of
about 60 km, the following places
are recommended: Jepara, northeast
of Semarang, is surrounded by white
sand beaches, and is also famous for
its wood carving industry. An
ancient Portuguese Fort can be found
to the east of Jepara. Kudus, about
halfway between Jepara and Semarang,
is home to the Minaret Mosque, which
was built in the 15th century. Also
known with its kretek (traditional
cigarette) industries. Demak has the
oldest mosque in Central Java.
Bandungan and Gedong Songo Temple
Bandungan and Gedong Songo Temple.
This is a holiday resort on the
slopes of Mt. Ungaran, about 900
meters above sea level. Gedong Songo
(nine buildings), a group of small
8th century Hindu Javanese temples,
can be reached either by car or on
horseback from Ungaran. Built at
about the same time as the temples
of the Dieng complex, Gedong Songo
is one of the most beautifully
temple complexes in Central Java.
The views alone are worth the trip.
Tlogo Plantation
Tlogo
Plantation has cool air and
beautiful view with various
plantation such as coffee, rubber,
nutmeg and cloves. It is located 6
kms. or only 10 minutes drive from
The Ambarawa Railway Museum. (www.tlogoagro.net)
Dieng Plateau
Dieng Plateau. About 4 hours from
Semarang is the Dieng Plateau, the
site of some of the oldest Hindu
temples on Java. These 50 foot high
monuments stand on a crater floor
amidst sulphurous fumes. The road to
the Dieng Plateau passes through
tobacco plantations and beautiful
mountain scenery.
Baturraden
Baturraden. Central Java’s most
outstanding resort, approximately 14
kms north of Purwokerto, an
administrative town in the southern
of Java island. It is occupies a
fine site on the slopes of Mount
Slamet, 650 m above sea level, feel
the coolness air, nice gardens,
pines forest, hot springs, ponds and
bungalow-style hotels.
Jatijajar Cave
Jatijajar Cave, a magnificent cave
near Pantai Ayah (Ayah Beach) 170 km
from Solo. It is also has along
beautiful tunnel with many
stalagmite and stalactite. A diorama
of the legend of “Lutung Kasarung”
(a Prince that changed to a Monkey)
and some lakes and river in the cave
wait to be explored.
Sangiran, The Land of Mystery
Sangiran, The Land of Mystery. In
1891, Eugene Dubois, a French
anthropologist discovered fossils of
Phitecantropus Erectus, or ‘Java
Man’. 1930 and 1931 marked the
discovery of fossils of a man from
the Pleistocene Period. In mid 1980,
scientists were startled by the
discovery of a complete 4 m tall
elephant. It is located only 18 km
from Solo.
Borobudur Temple
Borobudur Temple. The name
“Borobudur” is believed to have been
derived from the Sanskrit words
“Vihara Buddha Uhr”, (Buddhist
Monastery on the Hill). The
Borobudur Temple was built in the
eighth century by the Cailendra
dynasty and is located at Magelang
90 km southeast of Semarang or 42 km
northwest of Yogyakarta. One of the
world’s most famous temples, it
stand majestically on a hill
overlooking lush green fields and
distant hills. Borobudur is built of
grey andesite stone. It rises in
seven terraces, each smaller than
the one below it. The top is the
Great Stupa, standing 40 meters
above the ground. The walls of the
Borobudur are sculpted in
bas-relief, a total length of six
kilometers. It has been hailed as
the largest and most complete
ensemble of Buddhist relief's in the
world, unsurpassed in artistic
merit, each scene an individual
masterpiece.
Solo
Solo. A pleasant city with a lively
character, Solo is also called “The
City That Never Sleeps“. One can
always find something to eat or buy,
as vendors of all kinds and small
food stalls remain open 24 hours.
Home of two royal houses with
centuries of power and influence
over the city, Solo today remains
distinctly Central Javanese with and
elegance all its own. It is one of
the major centers of batik, and
souvenir hunters may find old
Javanese antiques. Becak (tricycle
rickshaw) and Andong (trad-horse
carriage) are the most flexible type
of traditional transportations
within the city and are available
everywhere.
Kasunanan Palace
Kasunanan Palace. The royal
residence of King Pakubuwono in the
17th century, the palace has an art
gallery exhibiting royal heirlooms,
antiques and other invaluable
objects in a genuine royal Javanese
atmosphere. Open from 9 am to 2 pm,
Friday closed.
Pura Mangkunegaran (Mangkunegaran
Palace)
Pura Mangkunegaran (Mangkunegaran
Palace) Another palace built 1757,
with typical Javanese architecture
consisting of “Pendopo” (an open
front hall to receive guests),
“Pringgitan” (an porch to hold
leather puppet shadow play) and
private apartments. Two sets of 17th
century Javanese gamelan instruments
are exhibited and played every
Wednesday in the Pendopo. The palace
also exhibits complete collection of
masks, wayang orang costumes,
leather and wooden puppets,
religious articles and jewelry.
Dancing practice in Mangkunegaran
Palace : Wednesday from 10 am to 12
pm.
Tawangmangu
Tawangmangu. Located 40 kms east of
Solo, this recreational resort
offers fresh weather, scenic views,
swimming pools, bungalow style
hotels and restaurants. It lies on
the slopes of Mt. Lawu, at an
elevation of 1,300 m above sea
level. Other features include nearby
temples, a national park and the 40
m high waterfall of Grojogan Sewu.
Sukuh Temple
Sukuh Temple. Not far from Solo is
the Sukuh Temple, the pyramid “Inca”
look like decorated with wayang
stone carvings of Hindu origin, and
erotic symbols. The temple is
located only 34 km from Solo.
Kemuning Tea Plantation
Kemuning Tea Plantation. Between
Sukuh and Ceto Temple, there is a
300 hectares rug of green tea
plantation.
Ambarawa Railway Museum
Ambarawa Railway Museum Fifty kms
south of Semarang, Ambarawa has
locomotives of various types and
ages, and it is still possible to
ride on a cog railway between
Ambarawa and Bedono, a village
nearby. Prior arrangements should be
made for groups. Also of interest
are a collection of antique
telephones and other instruments
used for railway communication.
Visit Rawa Pening (Clearly Swamp),
the cool water lake near Ambarawa.
Mendut Temple
Mendut Temple Located only 3
kilometers from Borobudur, Mendut is
said to face toward Benares, India,
where Buddha Gautama taught his five
disciples. The smaller temples of
Mendut, which house the great statue
of Buddha and the Pawon temple, form
an integral part of the Borobudur
complex. The three-meter tall Buddha
and the two Bodhisattva figures of
Lokesvara and Vajrapani are among
the greatest manifestations of
Buddhist thought and art.
Gong Cave Gong Cave
Gong Cave Gong Cave, has incredible
ornament which is about 256 m
underground with 12 rooms 7 spring
and one natural both, located about
7 km from Punung Market, on the way
to Pacitan (70 km southern of Solo
city). The people believed that on
the certain day of Friday there is a
sound o traditional drum instrument
called “Gong” come from this cave
until now.
Ceto
Temple
Ceto Temple, is located in western
slope of Mt. Lawu, Gumeng Village
Jenawi District in Karanganyar -
Surakarta. It is located in hill
1400 m from the sea level. Ceto
temple site of 13 stages, from the
lower places to higher places are
similar to Hinduism temple. Relief
status of Ceto Temple Symbolizes a
human passion and a portrayal of
human being’s soul purification. The
hardest seduction in purifying in
passions.
www.wisata-karanganyar.go.id.
