Yogyakarta is one of the towns in Indonesia which stands out in terms of tourism. This tourist destination in Central Java, a province in Indonesia is a busy town with millions of people and has great popularity in terms of tourism, mainly because of its proximity to the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan the two temples which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.The town is a hub of art and education, offers some good shopping and has a wide range of tourist facilities.Yogyakarta is also the only city where a Sultan lives and is recognised by the government.Adisucipto International Airport lies in the east of Yogyakarta and is a small but busy airport. There are frequent connections on Garuda Airlines, the national carrier of Indonesia which connects to Jakarta and Denpasar.
5 Reasons To Travel To Yogyakarta!
1. UNESCO World Heritage & Temples
Yogyakarta is home to two of the eight UNESCO world heritages present in Indonesia. Borobudur temple is one of the most visited attractions in Indonesia. Located on a hilltop overlooking lush greenery and jungle, and facing the active volcano Merapi, the world’s biggest Buddhist temple is usually visited during the sunrise. This magnificent temple has to be climbed upon even when it is still covered in the mist, you will discover the beauty of this temple, and understand the reason of its popularity. Hiring a guide while visiting this temple would be preferable so as to know about the history of this beautiful piece of temple.
Not far away from the Borobudur temple seats the largest Hindu temple Prambanan. This is a history of how these two religions were harmoniously present since its past. If you are planning to make the most of Yogyakarta and its temples in one day, you might come here around the sunset time. You will have the chance to assist the epic Ramayana show performed by 250 dancers, telling you legends and romances of ancient princes if you visit between the months of May and October,. This is a must visit among Yogyakarta attractions.
2. Natural Attractions Heritage
Eco tour lovers, this place is for you! You will find a few eco-tours in the area, where guides are sensitive towards protecting the nature, and work actively in keeping these tourist places green and safe for the environment. Travelling around Yogyakarta will bring you to some of the eco-heritage sites of Indonesia, among them are the sand dunes, caves, rivers, beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls etc.
Jomblang Cave is one of tourist’s favourite attractions in Yogyakarta where you will learn to master the single rope technique of going deep into a vertical cave hidden below a dense forest. Once you reach the cave you can walk on a 300 meters alley connecting it to another entrance where a glowing light appears from the top, do not forget your camera for some unforgettable photo shoots! Another exciting cave experience in Pindul gives you an opportunity to do river tubing into the cave; this is another of the popular Yogyakarta attractions.
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If you prefer something even wilder, we also suggest you to make a trip to some of the secret beaches (2-3 hours drive from Yogyakarta) among them are the Siung beach and Wediombo beach where stretches of white sand with colourful corals await you. Lastly, some tours take you to Sri Gethuk waterfall, an impressive 30 meters waterfall that flows all year long in an area which is surprisingly known to be dry. For most adventurers, there are rafting trips as well.
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3. Large Choice Of Hiking & Trekking Activities
The most adventurous activity is to climb the most active volcano of Indonesia, Mount Merapi. This trek is usually done by night so as to reach the top for the sunrise at a peak of 3,000 meters of altitude. A must for trekking travellers.
If you don’t feel like trekking, you can also visit the villages that have fallen victim to the fury of Mount Merapi by a Jeep, and also visit the paths that once used to be flowing rivers. Mount Merapi is an active volcano and you can see the fumes coming out even from a distance.
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If you are in the mood to explore an unfamiliar breathtaking view, then opt for to hike Mount Suroloyo. This is a six kilometre trek passing through a tea plantation which finally reaches the peak of the mountain, &offers you a unique 360 degrees landscape.
Yet another option would be Gunung Kidul, a 4 hours hiking trail on a mountain considered sacred for many Javanese people. This lies in the same region of Sri Gethuk waterfall and caves;a tourist or in other words an adventurous touristcan actually make the most of this nature feast in one day.
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4. Romantic Activities
Even though you are not at one of the beautiful white sand beaches in Bali or Lombok, we can assure you Yogyakarta has a lot of romantic activities to be shared with your partner.Watching the sunrise in Borobudur is truly a romantic experience, but not only this, you can also have a romantic elephant ride in the quiet and beautiful nature surrounding Borobudur temple.
In many of the restaurants couples are accompanied by guitarists who play their favourite songs as they wish. Another option is to enjoy candle light dinners in the rice fields of Yogyakarta.
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For tourists who love relaxation, there are a few places to visit in Yogyakarta, among them are the quality spa salons offering couple treatments, and whole experiences dedicated to your romantic time.Finally, if you want to explore a bit more about Javanese romance, you must visit their erotic temples Sukuh and Cetoh.
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5. Shopping
Yogyakarta, as a city of artists is known for having about 70,000 handicrafts industries. In other words, you will find a lot of souvenirs to bring back home and shopping places to visit in Yogyakarta. Among all these places a must is to have a look at the Kota Gede (the Old Town) where you will find a lot of silver handicrafts; you can also do a silver workshop and make your own souvenir to take back home for friends & relatives.
However, if you have shopping on your to do list you should the Malioboro Street, surrounded by batik clothes, batik paintings, batik pillows, even batik ties! You can also find different kind of jewelleries made with precious stones, as Indonesians love them!
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Leather lovers can opt for a different place called Manding, the central of leather crafts, which is about 30 minutes from the city. Here you’ll find all kind of leather souvenirs such as vintage bags, bracelets, sandals, and different items which you would want to take back home as a remembrance.
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