Today, Yogyakarta is home to the country’s most prestigious university, a traditional art and music scene, and picturesque thatched cottages set among tiered rice fields. Yogyakarta’s multi-cultural history includes an impressive lineage of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms that left behind intricately detailed religious temples and palaces. Without further ado, here is our list of the best must-visit destinations in Yogyakarta!
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Must-Visit Destinations In Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Malioboro Street
Malioboro Street is Yogyakarta’s main shopping street. Malioboro Street, which is about one kilometer long, provides visitors with a variety of shops, hotels, and restaurants. The shops range from small local shops to large shopping malls. Malioboro’s sidewalks are lined with local vendors selling a variety of souvenirs, including batik clothes (traditional cloth painted with wax), wayang (Javanese puppets), and much more.
Kraton Yogyakarta
The Kraton Yogyakarta (or ‘Yogyakarta Palace’ in English) is the city’s beating heart. It is not only a palace complex, but it is also the residence of the Sultan of Yogyakarta and his family. Prepare to be astounded by the Dutch-style stained-glass windows that adorn the palace, as well as the intricately decorated roof and marble floor. There are several small museums here that display artifacts from various sultanates as well as other Javanese artifacts from various eras. There are also old photographs of Yogyakarta’s former Sultans.
Taman Sari Water Castle
Taman Sari is a water castle about two kilometers south of Kraton Yogyakarta. It is a historic royal garden from the 18th century. A workshop, a resting area, a meditation area, a defense area, and a hiding place are all part of the complex. Taman Sari can be divided into four distinct zones. The Segaran Lake area is to the west, and the Umbul Binangun bathing complex is to the south. There are also the Pasarean Ledok Sari and Garjitawati Pools to the south of the bathing complex, as well as the rest of the complex.
Borobudur Temple
This 113-foot-tall pyramid is a Buddhist mystery.
Little is known about the temple’s original purpose or name, which was built between the 8th and 9th centuries by the ruling Buddhist Cailendra dynasty.
Borobudur is made up of four main platforms, with a large circular stupa at the top. Smaller buddhas sit comfortably ensconced in circular rings at each level. Borobudur is shrouded in mist by four volcanoes in the background (only one volcano is dormant). The purple orange haze serves as an excellent backdrop for the entire stone structure.
Prambanan
Prambanan Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of 240 temples constructed by the subsequent ruling dynasty, the Hindu-led X.
The temple site is dedicated to God as the trimurti, or Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), and Shiva (Destroyer), and stands 47 meters tall.
You can see the spectacular Ramayana ballet performance in the evenings. Over 200 dancers and musicians perform in the open air, against the magnificent backdrop of the temple.
Ullen Sentalu Museum
The Ullen Sentalu Museum is a private museum dedicated to Javanese culture and art. It is located in the Yogyakarta district of Kaliurang. The museum, which opened in 1994, is owned by four of Java’s central kingdoms: two in Yogyakarta and two in Surakarta. It houses paintings, artifacts, and relics from Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Pakualam, and Mangkunegaran’s royal houses and palaces (kraton).
Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi, which is both beautiful and terrifying, is the ideal tourist destination for daring travelers. Since 1548, this extremely active volcano in Indonesia has erupted 68 times. Dare to hike the mountain in order to take spectacular photos while grooving in front of breathtaking scenery. The only way to hike to the mountain’s summit is through a ticket booth located just before the village of Selo. Most climbers begin their ascent at 1 a.m. in order to reach the summit before sunrise at 5.30 a.m.
Jomblang Cave
Jomblang cave is well-known for the heavenly light that pours into it.
The cave is said to have formed when a forest collapsed as a result of an earthquake, leaving a 200-meter-deep hole in the ground. At around noon, light shines directly through the cave’s hole.
To get to the hole, you’ll be dropped 90 meters down through a rope and pulley system.
Beringharjo Market
Beringharjo Market, Yogyakarta’s oldest market, upholds the city’s historical and philosophical values. It is a multi-level market with a wide range of vendors selling everything from fabrics, clothing, herbs and spices, to wedding supplies and souvenirs. Yogyakarta is also the home of batik, particularly low-cost stamped batik (batik cap). Visitors should bring cash and use their bargaining skills when shopping in the market.