About Yogyakarta
Located around 30 kilometers from the foot of the sacred volcano Merapi, in central Java, Yogyakarta, also called Jogjakarta, is thought to have been formally settled during the 7th century. Following the incursion of the Dutch in the 17th century, the Javanese sultan moved his court to what is now Yogyakarta. After the Second World War, when Indonesia regained its independence, Yogyakarta was given the designation of a ‘special district’. The city is still governed by the sultanate and the sultan’s 18th-century palace compound, known as the Kraton, has public areas that are accessible to visitors. Different languages are still spoken in Yogyakarta and it is also possible to see people and structures of different religious origins. This diversity encompasses Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Prambanan, one of the largest Hindu temples in South Asia, and of course the city’s own clamorous version of the Ramayana. Yogyakarta appeals to visitors from all walks of life, from sites where stones speak of history to the natural wonders at the foot of the volcano. In recent years, we have heard Yogyakarta described as Indonesia’s “city of culture and art”.
Places to See in Yogyakarta
We are exploring the popular routes of Yogyakarta, a point that must be discovered among the places to visit in Indonesia. You can add these highlights to the list of places to visit in Indonesia with peace of mind.
The mandala effect: Borobudur
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the world’s largest Mahayana Buddhist temples and certainly among the most magnificent. It was built in the 8th and 9th centuries AD, during the reign of the Javanese Sailendra Dynasty. Abandoned sometime in the 14th or 15th centuries for five hundred years following the spread of Islam across Indonesia, the Temple was rediscovered in the early 19th century and underwent various restoration processes during the 20th century. As the famous Dutch archaeologist A.J. Bernet Kempers said, “The Buddhist mystery in the stone and the meeting of humanity with holiness…”
A guided tour of this Indonesian historical site offers information about the compound’s layout, which combines symbolic forms of the Buddhist mandala and stupa, and how they relate to Buddhist philosophy. The structure, according to the UNESCO entry, is as follows:
“The vertical division of Borobudur Temple into base, body, and superstructure perfectly accords with the conception of the Universe in Buddhist cosmology. It is believed that the universe is divided into three superimposing spheres, kamadhatu, rupadhatu, and arupadhatu, representing respectively the sphere of desires where we are bound to our desires, the sphere of forms where we abandon our desires but are still bound to name and form, and the sphere of formlessness where there is no longer either name or form. At Borobudur Temple, the kamadhatu is represented by the base, the rupadhatu by the five square terraces, and the arupadhatu by the three circular platforms as well as the big stupa. The whole structure shows a unique blending of the very central ideas of ancestor worship, related to the idea of a terraced mountain, combined with the Buddhist concept of attaining Nirvana.”
After visiting each level and savoring the stories and symbolism, the best time to see the top level is at sunrise or sunset. You will almost feel yourself in silence, in another civilization far from the world and close to the sky. I must mention in advance that there are separate entry tariffs for domestic and foreign tourists. Considering that the rules may change at any time, it is advisable to get the most up-to-date information by visiting the website (https://borobudurpark.com/en/temple/borobudur-2/).
A true mountain of fire: Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi, which means ‘fire mountain (Gunung Merapi)’ in Javanese and Indonesian, is considered the city’s sacred symbol. You may have heard or read about Merapi in headlines like “a volcano erupts in Indonesia.” As one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, Merapi has erupted sixty times in the last century. The most violent eruption in recent history took place in 2010; more than 19,000 people were evacuated and 353 people lost their lives.
The Merapi Museum, commemorating the 2010 eruption, is located in Yogyakarta and features a replica of the mountain after the eruption. The mountain and volcano are under constant monitoring, but it is possible to ascend Merapi up to a certain point via guided jeep tours. Climbing the mountain unaccompanied by a guide is still not permitted by the authorities.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be visiting on a clear day – the smoke of Merapi is still visible up to 300 days a year.
On the Epic of Ramayana: Prambanan
Built in the 9th century and one of the largest Hindu temples in South Asia, Prambanan is almost a small city where the Epic of Ramayana is depicted. About 50 kilometers from Borobudur and 15 kilometers from Yogyakarta, this majestic Hindu temple – also a UNESCO World Heritage Site – includes three temples dedicated to the Hindu gods, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. These are decorated with reliefs illustrating the epic of the Ramayana; there are also temples dedicated to the animals that serve those deities. In total, there are about 400 temples around the complex.
The famous “Ramayana” is one of the most important Hindu epics; from ancient India, it was originally in Sanskrit, though it has been translated to many other languages. Performances of the Ramayana are sometimes held in the evenings at the Prambanan Temple Compounds, with the three main temples beautifully illuminated. – an outstanding vision among the places to visit in Indonesia.
Prambanan, still known as Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple, and Borobudur are the most concrete examples of how Buddhism and Hinduism lived peacefully in these lands. I recommend visiting Prambanan, which has an important position among Indonesian historical places and watching the Ramayana on site.
The Lights of Heaven: Jomblang Cave
Jomblang Cave, another symbol of Java, has its own river and vegetation and is called the “light of heaven”. The cave opened to tourists on a not-too-distant date, and adventure lovers will undoubtedly add it to their list…
The vegetation on and inside the cave, which has no artificial light, is highly distinctive. What feeds this vegetation is the Kalisuci River! Let’s take a closer look at this natural wonder, a popular Indonesian attraction just two hours from the center of Yogyakarta!
Coming from Yogyakarta, you’ll see villages, rice fields and mountains. For the last 200 meters before reaching the cave, the road is bumpy and unstructured, so you may find it difficult. The cave, where visitors must be accompanied by a guide to enter, appears at first as a huge hollow. I should point out that visitors are rarely permitted to enter the cave after ten o’clock in the morning and, therefore, I recommend that you plan accordingly. It is forbidden to enter the cave, which is illuminated only by sunlight, after two o’clock in the afternoon, since the visibility is restricted. Landing here is not easy, as you can see. The descent is via a manual pulley system; please keep this in mind if you have a fear of heights!
As we descend into the cave, we feel as if we are dropping into the green forest. When we get to the bottom, we reach the gigantic entrance by stepping down on stone blocks. Since there is no artificial light source inside, we proceed on a somewhat muddy road, step by careful step. As we travel, we see completely different landscapes, with water drops passing through the untouched forest. We are informed that there are no living animals inside the cave. After walking slowly on a long path, we see that light at the end: The view at the end of the path is breathtaking – It is like a scene from The Lord of the Rings. As the silhouettes begin to appear under the light, I can’t help but think of the saying that “There is a light at the end of every tunnel.”
The sound of the river flowing below the hollow and the sounds of the birds above seem to mix together. The light filtering down gives a signal in the places it illuminates, as if presenting a message. As the water drops flow from above, the areas that have undergone centuries of erosion have begun to form structures similar to travertine. Inside is the untouched ecosystem of another planet. However, I must warn you again that there are slippery and occasionally muddy places. While helmets are distributed to everyone at the entrance of the cave, rain boots are also offered. I recommend that you prepare accordingly.
While leaving the cave on the same route, 10-20 people will pull you up, with ropes securely tied around your waist. These people are usually from the surrounding villages. In this cave, where almost nothing is artificial, that filtered light is called the “light of heaven” by local residents. Although there are many places like this in Yogyakarta, the most breathtaking aspect of Jomblang Cave is that it has not yet fallen into the path of explorers and remains fairly untouched. Since it is close to Merapi, you can put it on the same route, if you wish. You will see the light at the end of the tunnel as you discover the most interesting place to visit in Indonesia!
Back to city life: Malioboro
Back in Yogyakarta, many visitors head to Jalan Malioboro (Malioboro street), one of the city’s liveliest and most crowded neighborhoods. Yogyakarta has been a center of art and culture in Java for centuries; Malioboro and its side streets feature numerous cafes, restaurants and food stalls, as well as galleries and shops selling all sorts of goods made by people young and old, including textiles with the famous batik patterns. In addition, visitors can find performances of wayang kulit, the traditional Javanese shadow-puppets.
Getting around Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is a popular tourist destination, particularly for visitors en route to Bali or Jakarta. Turkish Airlines operates flights to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, as well as Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali; flights to Yogyakarta are available from both those airports. In addition, buses operate from both Jakarta and Bali (an 8-hour trip) and there are railway lines on the island of Java.
Rather than renting a car, many visitors opt to hire a driver and/or a guide to visit places outside the city. Since there are no safety restrictions or warnings and I have not encountered any problems during my time in Indonesia, let me add that you can hire a motorcycle or guide driver for urban transportation too. The choice is entirely up to you after you have made your plans.
I wish you a good trip in advance – and I hope you see that light at the end of your trip!
