Guide to Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is a city in the region of the same name in Indonesia. Locals call it Jogja for short. Located in the central part of the island of Java, it is the second most visited destination in all of Indonesia after Bali. Java is considered the most populated island in the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that half a million people live in Jogja alone. Jakarta is said to be the financial and industrial heart of the island, while Yogyakarta is its soul. Like the whole island, Yogyakarta is Muslim.
Accommodation in Yogyakarta
In Yogyakarta, we offer an abundance of accommodation facilities, from cheap rooms to luxury hotels. The large number of 5-star hotels - Melia Purosani Hotel Yogyakarta or The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - Mgallery Collection proves that everyone can really choose accommodation according to their taste. If you want accommodation in the center of all the action, we recommend hotels near Malioboro Street. In this part of the city, we can recommend mid-range hotels in the Ibis hotel chain, namely Ibis Styles Yogyakarta. A good standard of accommodation in Yogyakarta is offered by the following accommodation facilities: Gallery Prawirotaman Hotel and Aloha hotel Yogyakarta. If you are looking for cheap accommodation in Yogyakarta, we can recommend smaller accommodation Andelis Homestay.
History of Yogyakarta
The history of Yogyakarta dates back to around the 8th-9th century, when there was a Buddhist-Hindu kingdom of Mataram. During this time, the Buddhist temple of Borobudur (Unesco) and the Hindu temple of Prambanan were built outside the city gates. However, the city itself only began to develop during the 18th century. At this time in Yogyakarta, a dispute arises between the ruling Sultan Mangkubumi and his older brother Sunan Pukubuwono II.. Pukubuwono decided to cooperate with the Dutch colonists (Dutch East India Company) who wanted to divide the kingdom into small autonomous divisions over which the Dutch would have more influence . Eventually, the Mataram Sultanate was divided into two parts (Yogyakarta Sultanate and Surakarta Sunanate). In the 1950s, Yogyakarta played an important role during the War of Independence and the subsequent establishment of the independent Republic of Indonesia. At this time, the capital Jakarta was occupied by the Dutch, and the capital was thus moved to Yogyakarta for 2 years (1946-1948).
Transportation to Yogyakarta
There are several ways to get to Yogyakarta after arriving in Indonesia. In most cases, you will go here from the capital. There are 2 options from Jakarta to Yogyakarta: by plane or by train. A flight, which takes about 2 hours, is certainly a faster option. In addition, several airlines fly here from Jakarta International Airport several times a day. Even so, it is a good idea to buy a ticket at least a day in advance. In Yogyakarta, you will land at Adisucipto International Airport and you can reach the city either by TransJogja's local bus #1A or by taxi. A cheaper option to travel from Jakarta to Yogyakarta is by train. However, the journey takes about 7-12 hours. The train station is then right in the center of Yogyakarta. The historic center of the city itself can be walked on foot, and if your feet hurt, you can always jump into the ubiquitous rickshaws.
Sights, attractions and activities in Yogyakarta
And what awaits you in Yogyakarta? Most visitors do not come to Jogja for the city itself, but for the two very beautiful temples located nearby. These are the Buddhist temple of Borobudur (about 40 km) and the Hindu temple of Prambnan (almost in the city). But it's fine. The Borobudur Temple is the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world and is therefore included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The temple was built during the 9th century, but due to the change of religion throughout Java, it was already abandoned by the 14th century. It was only rediscovered at the beginning of the 19th century by the British administrator Thomas Stamford Raffles. At the turn of the last century, the temple underwent a major reconstruction. You can get here as part of a group trip from Yogyakarta, by city buses (necessary 2-3 transfers) or by taxi. The second Prambanan temple, on the other hand, is the largest Hindu temple in all of Indonesia. Its construction took place almost at the same time as the Borobudur temple, that is, during the 9-10th century. century. Prambanan can be reached from the center of Yogyakarta by the same city bus as from the airport, i.e. 1A (airport direction). If you are pressed for time and would like to see both temples in 1 day, we recommend visiting them as part of an organized trip or using a taxi. Also, keep in mind that the entrance fee is not the lowest. Here, as in the rest of Java, tourists pay many times higher entrance fees than locals, but it's still worth it.
The center of Yogyakarta
The center of Yogyakarta itself extends around Malioboro Street, which is full of shops and restaurants. It is on Malioboro that you will find many shops with batik goods, which are so typical for Yogyakarta. At the end of this street you will find the Kraton Sultan Palace. The palace dates back to the 17th century and today it is more of a fortified town with a maze of alleys.
Gastronomic specialties of Yogyakarta
What should you eat in Yogyakarta? A typical dish is Nasi Gudeg. It is a sauce made from coconut milk, Javanese cane sugar and a mixture of spices. The sauce is served with egg, tofu, chicken and of course rice. Other traditional dishes are Nashi Goreng, which is fried rice with vegetables and chicken. Chicken is pretty much the only meat you get in these Muslim parts. Pork lovers will have to let their taste buds go all the way to Bali. The salak fruit, which is grown in Indonesia, also has a very interesting taste. Salak is also called snake fruit because its skin really resembles the skin of a snake.
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