Central Java

Central Java Province

The Capital City of Central Java Province is “Semarang”

Nowhere on Java. Java Island is the past influence of Hinduism and Buddhism as deeply imprinted as in Central Java. Candis, the remains of old Hindu and Buddhist sanctuaries and monuments dating from the 7^th to the 10^th century are virtually scattered all over the province.Central Java is also the place where the first Moslem Kingdom on the island of Java was eshtablished in 1511. Raden Patah founded the sultanate of Demak on the north coast, thereby dealing the death blow to Hinduism as a formal religion. Many aspects of it’s philosophical outlook, however, have persisted to become together with some older indigenous Indonesian customs and beliefs an underlayer for the new customs and traditions.

Extensive mountain ranges and highlands are found only in the western parts of the province. Further toward the east, the isolated cones of volcanoes rise majestically from the plains. This is a land of ancient temple ruins and monuments, of rituals and old traditions surviving in a society on the move toward full modernity.Java is an incredible mosaic of sights, sounds and impressions. A pleasurable form of sensory overload. Brooding volcanoes and verdant ricefields. Regal splendour and captivating danse. An endles tropical garden on the shore of an azure sea. These are the romantic defictions by generations of writers who have visited the island of Java. These impressions are also acurate. The largest man-made object in the Southern Hemisphere, the massive Buddhist temple of Borobudur, the eerie temple complex on the Dieng Plateau and the more than 50 Hindu and Buddhist temples scattered over the Prambanan Plain draw visitors from all over the world. But Central Java’s attraction lies not only in dead stone. The great traditional art forms ; court dance, gamelan music, wayang shadow puppetry, are as vibrant now in the cities and Surakarta as in centuries past.

The gamelan bronze gong orchestra is as much a part of Java as rice fields and volcanoes. An ancient, sophisticated and complex musical form, the gamelan accompanies avery ceremonial occation, from the coronation of the Sultan to the arrival of a tourist group in a hotel loby. And not art form captures  the essence of Java bether than the wayang, the shadow puppet theatre which summons forth omniscient gods, heavenly nymphs, monthrous ogres, noble kings and skillful warriors, in a magical, flickering display.Although the modern world has come to Java, bringing with it efficient transportation and comfortable accomodation, it has not congquered the Garden of the East. A view steps away from any hotel lies all the charm and enchantment of a profoundly exotic land and culture.

Traditional Costumes

The Central Java's men wear Jawi Jangkep costume that contains of Atela shirt, Udeng, Sikepan, Timang belt, and Warangka Ladrang Keris which is slipped at the Stangen (waist cloth).A headdress name Blangkon made of Batik cloth with certainty pattern.

Kebaya shirt is put on by a woman complementary with Kemben (cloth belt), and Tapih Pinjung cloth.The particulary Kebaya shirt looked at golden color and the special broach, otherwise on their hair perched hair bun with jasmines and other accessories.

Semarang

Central Java’ provincial capital is Semarang. A port city on the Java Sea boasting many ssplendid old colonial buildings. The city climbs from the sea toward the hills to it’s south which provides for beautiful vistas. Semarang is despite it’s tropical heat, one of the most pleasant cities of Java.

Semarang, situated at the mouth of Semarang River, the port of Semarang was visited by the Chinese in the 15^th century then became an Moslem settlement until it was taken over by the Dutch in the 17^th century. Historic sites worth  a visit in Semarang include the harbor district with it’s old warehouses and the Dutch built Blenduk church. Chinese influence is still very much apparent in Semarang as a walk through the Chinatown district will reveal. Tay Kak Sie, in Chinatown, is the city’s largest Chinese Temple while the Gedung Batu Temple is the oldest. In the vicinity of Semarang, visit a traditional jamu herbal medicine factory, the temple complex of Gedung Songo, the Railway

Museum at Ambarawa and the relaxing hill resort of Bandungan. Semarang has become busy city which many activities. Most of the office buildings, business centers industrial complexes are situated in the low land, whilw in the hilly side, there are many houses with a beautiful sight right to the downtown or the sea. The city is one of the business and trading city in Indonesia.There are still many other places worth to visit such as Ronggowarsito Museum, which displaying development of cultural historical of human life and short story about the country. Puri Maerakaca which displaying the traditional houses and handicrafts of Javanese. Tugu Muda or Youth Monument is stand as a remembrance of the heroic fight for independent and commemorated on October 14 and 15 every year.

Central Java is a heaven for cultural events. Many varieties of performance such as ketoprak (traditional theatre), shadow puppet, could be seen at several public theatre, namely Tinjomoyo, Taman Budaya Raden Saleh, Gedung Kebudayaan (cultural center) and Governor’s office. On the beginning of the fasting month, Semarang livened up with Dugderan festival, huge ceremonies of Chinese communities with barongsai Ilion dance).

The objects of interests are:

Borobudur Temple

The countryside around Yogyakarta has accommodated a lot of remains of the ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples such as the world’s largest Buddhist temple of Borobudur an 7^th century by the rulers of the Syailendra dynasty, built by King Samaraturangga. Hailed as the most complete ensemble of Buddhist relief in the world. As one of the seventh wonders of the world magnificent Buddhist sanctuary that is also known as one of the world wonders and Majestic is Borobudur Temple. Located about 42 kilometers Northwest of Yogyakarta near Mungkid in the Magelang Regency.

The Elephant’s Borobudur, Demak, Kudus, Keraton Kasunanan, Ambarawa Railway Museum, Gedong Songo Temple, Indonesian Batik, Solo Batik Carnival, Sukuh Temple, The Great Kraton Ratu Boko, Tawangmangu Mountain Resort, Sangiran Fossils, Gajah Mungkur Reservoir, Handicraft Manufacture, Batu Seribu Pools, Dieng Plateau, Karimun Jawa Island National Park, Nyamplungan Legend. 

Surakarta

The city of Surakarta rose in 1754, which was the year in which Sunan Pakubuwono II, ruler of Mataram, built himself a new place at the spot where the village Solo stood. The kraton, or Sultan’s Palace, although since long depreived of all power, is still at the center of many old rituals and festivals.Recently burned down, the palace a vast complex of couryards and pavilions built in the traditional Javanese style of architecture was rebuilt and opened to visitors.Surakarta’s second court is that of Mangkunegaran, the residence of Prince Mangkunegoro, which was built in 1775. Visitors are welcome to see the court jewels, leather puppets, arms and other heirlooms, displayed in showcases in the grand open front pavilion or pendopo.

Exhibits of local crafts, ornaments and treasures are on exhibits at the Museum Radyopustoko, not far from the Sunan’s Palace.Surakarta is a good place to shop for batik, leatherwork, lurik handwoven textiles, and other souvenirs. We could find pleasant accommodation in the cool mountain resort of Tawangmangu. Transportation about an hour’s driving distance away.

Accommodation

Central Java’s better jotels are concentrated in Semarang and Solo (Surakarta). The four star hotels are available. The hotels have deluxe facilities, swimming pool, convension halls and others. The star hotels have air conditioned rooms with attached bathrooms. TV sets and telephones, room service and restaurants.

Transportation

The provincial capital Semarang is linked with Jakarta by a seven-times a day aircrafts, air shuttle service and trains. Air and sea services also link the city to other destinations all over Indonesia. For travel inside the province, take the intercity bus or hire a car. Take city bus for trips in the city, or  a pedicab for short distance.