The Majapahit dynasty, based in and
around East Java, began the
foundations of an empire that was to
dominate the entire Indonesian
archipelago, the Malay Peninsula and
part of the Philippines for hundreds
of years. This was the beginning of
profitable trade relations with
China, Cambodia, Siam, Burma and
Vietnam. As the power in Central
Java declined in the 10th century,
powerful kingdoms rose in East Java
to fill the power vacuum. During the
reign of King Erlangga
both East Java and Bali enjoyed
lucrative trade with the surrounding
islands, and an artistic and
intellectual renaissance. Parts of
the Mahabarata epic were translated
and re-interpreted to conform to an
East Javanese philosophy and view of
life, and it was from this era that
East Java inherited much of its
temple art. Today the open-air
amphitheater at Pandaan performances
tell some of the stories of this
glorious past, set against an impressive
backdrop of distant volcanoes,
capturing the spirit of the
province’s culture and scenery. East
Java’s claim to fame in modern
history is its vanguard role in the
struggle for independence against
colonial forces in 1945. Little of
the Majapahit Empire’s former glory
still stands in East Java.
Nevertheless, East Java has a
variety of attractions, ranging from
temple sites to unspoiled beaches,
stunning volcanoes, extra ordinary
highland lakes, resplendent marine
parks and fantastic wildlife
reserves. The provincial capital,
Surabaya is second in size,
population, and commerce only to
Jakarta. It is also the most
industrialized province in the
nation with the strong economy based
on agriculture, (coffee, mangoes and
apples), fisheries and oil.
Tourism Office
Jl.
Wisata Menanggal, Surabaya 60241,
Phone. (031) 853114-6, 8531820-1
Fax. (031) 8531822 Website :
http//www.eastjava.com Email :
eastjava@indosat.net.id.
Getting There:
The province is efficiently
connected to the rest of Java by
good roads, regular trains, and air
services between Surabaya and other
major cities in the country
including Denpasar on Bali, which is
only half an hour’s flight away.
Tourism Events
-
Reog Ponorogo is a unique
and daring performance in
which dancers carry a very
heavy headdress of tiger
head ornamented with peacock
feathers. The dance depicts
a fight between a tiger and
two noblemen on horseback.
The Reog Festival held every
August 17 in Ponorogo, 200
km southwest of Surabaya.
-
Karapan Sapi (Bull Races)
in Bangkalan Madura, about
two hour by speedboat from
Surabaya is a very popular
sp
ort among locals. It is an
annual championship event
and held every September and
October after harvests.
Places of Interest:
Trowulan - Pandaan - Tretes.
Trowulan - Pandaan - Tretes.
Trowulan village and the surrounding
area is believed to be the site of
ancient capital of Majapahit.
Archaeological excavations in the
area have recovered many teracotta
ornaments, statues, pottery and
stone carvings which are displayed
at the Trowulan Museum. The map in
the museum is a guide to nearby
sites of historical interest. The
Candra Wilwatika open-air theatre in
Pandaan, 45 km south of Surabaya
presents classical East Javanese
ballet performances on each full
moon night from June to November.
The performances are based either on
the Ramayana stories or East Java’s
legends and folklore. The backdrop
of Mt. Panangungan makes the
performances an enchanting
experience. 10 km from Chandra
Wilwatika is Tretes, one of the most
beautiful mountain resorts of East
Java.
Mount Kawi Fortune Hunting.
Mount Kawi Fortune Hunting. This
sage’s grave on Mt. Kawi is a famous
pilgrimage site for those who seek
to increase their worldly blessings.
Possessing an intensely Javanese
atmosphere, with frequent wayang and
gamelan performances, the grave
itself is built on a hilltop. On
both sides of the long stairway
leading to the top is an assortment
of sacred springs, Chinese houses of
worship, flower and souvenir stalls
and other interesting sights.
Surabaya.
Surabaya. This city offers many good
hotels, shopping centers and
plentiful sources of entertainment.
Its well stocked zoological garden
includes several species of
Indonesia fauna: orangutans, komodo
dragons and a collection of
nocturnal animals. Kalimas is an old
traditional harbor for the world
famous Bugis Schooners, which can
still be seen in all their former
glory.
Mount Bromo.
Mount Bromo. Many local and foreign
travelers make the
trek for the mystical experience of
watching the sun ri
se
from the crest of the Bromo volcano.
A pony ride from the village of Ngadisari
takes you over a sea of sand to the
foot of the volcano. Ascend the 50
steps to reach the rim. On the vast
expanse of sand, formerly a Caldera,
there are
two volcanoes: the extinct Batok
which is the perfect cone and Bromo.
Volcanic sulphur fumes and smoke
still emanate from the depths,
and when
the God of Bromo begins to rumble,
the surrounding population
quickly brings their offerings. The
annual offering ceremony of Kasada
is held
on the 14th day of Kasada, the 20th
month in Tenggerese calendar year.
It is a dazzling event where
villagers from the surrounding areas
bring their humble offering to holy
volcano.
Alas Purwo National Park/Wildlife
Reserve.
Alas Purwo National Park/Wildlife
Reserve. Located on the tip of East
Java, just off the
Surabaya-Banyuwangi main road, is
dry country side of open savannah,
forests and scrubland, bordered by
marshes, swampy groves and white
sand beaches. 81 km to the south of
Banyuwangi, this park is a home to
700 wild buffaloes and many other
species of world animals which can
be observed from viewing tower. A
land rover or jeep is needed to
traverse these rugged, grassy
plains. In the nearby there is G
(Grajagan) Land which the waves is
famous for foreign surfers.
Kaliklatak.
Kaliklatak. A commodities plantation
450-750 m above sea level on the
slopes of Mt. Merapi, Kaliklatak
covers 2.500 acres of land producing
coffee, rubber, cocoa and spices.
Tour the plantation to see the
entire process, from cultivation to
harvest and processing for export.
Sukamade Turtle Beach.
Sukamade Turtle Beach. 78 km south
of Banyuwangi, the beach is known
for its deep turquoise waters and
250 kg sea turtles which come to lay
their eggs here.
Meru Betiri Reserve.
Meru Betiri Reserve. Here at the
southeastern tip of province is
where the last of the Javanese
tigers sought refuge. A hundred and
fifty years ago the Javanese tiger
inhabited most of Java and was even
considered a nuisance in some
populated areas. Wildlife of all
kinds thrives here, like black
panthers, leopards and sea turtles.
Malang.
Malang. 90 km south of Surabaya lays
Malang, one of the most attractive
hill towns on Java. A strong sense
of civic pride is evident from the
well-maintained and elaborately
painted becaks, the groomed Main
Square, and clean buildings and
streets. The cool climate is a
welcome respite from Surabaya. 20 km
from Malang on the southern flank of
Mt. Arjuna, are Selecta and
Songgoriti, popular hill resorts
with hot springs. Nearby Batu is
famous for its apples gardens.
Temples.
Temples. Between Surabaya and Malang
is the town of Singosari, where
remnants of the 13th century
Singosari Kingdom include a temple
and two gigantic guardian statues,
the main gateway to the capital of
the kingdom. Jago temples dates back
to 1268, and is one of the most
enchanting temples in East Java.
Scenes from folktales and the
Mahabarata epic decorate the side
panels. Kidal temple was completed
in 1260 to honor one of the kings,
and is a gem of Singosari temple
art. Located 120 km southwest of
Malang and 11 km North of Blitar is
well-preserved Penataran temple in
the Singosari-Majapahit temple
complex, dating from the fourteenth
century. The temple terraces are
decorated with Ramayana bas
relief's.
Bull Races (Karapan Sapi)
Bull Races (Karapan Sapi) Across the
Madura Strait, half an hour by ferry
from Surabaya is the island of
Madura, famous for its unique
traditional bull races (Karapan
Sapi).
Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater).
Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater). The
volcanic cone of Ijen dominates the
landscape at the eastern end of
Java. Crater of Ijen is filled by a
spectacular turquoise blue lake, its
surface streaked in wind-blown
patterns of yellow sulphur. Kawah
Ijen is the world’s largest highly
acidic lake and is the site of a
labor-intensive sulfur mining
operation in which sulfur-laden
baskets are hand-carried from the
crater floor. Many other
post-caldera cones and craters are
located within the caldera or long
its rim. The largest concentration
of post-caldera cones forms an
E-W-treding zone across the southern
site of the draw to its waterfalls,
hot springs, and dramatic volcanic
scenery. It is located at Licin sub
district, 45 km from the city of
Banyuwangi.
Source:
www.my-indonesia.info/
