YOGYAKARTA / JOGJA Travelers Paradise in Java, Indonesia

YOGYAKARTA or JOGJA is a travelers paradise in Java, Indonesia, with a lot of fascination which have not been revealed. We provide rich information about things to see and do, hotels and all the information you need to travel to Yogyakarta / Jogja.

A thousand years ago, Yogyakarta was the center of ancient Mataram Kingdom which was prosperous and high civilized. This kingdom built Borobudur Temple Temple which was the biggest Buddhist temple in the world 300 years before Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Some other relics are Prambanan Temple.Temple King Boko Palace and dozens of other temples scattered throughout Yogyakarta.

BOROBUDUR TEMPLE

Standing long before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the great cathedrals in Europe, Borobudur Temple has stood gallantly in the land of Java. The building called by UNESCO as the most magnificent and the largest monument and stupa complex in the world is visited by pilgrims in the mid-ninth century until the beginning of the 11th century. Buddhist people who want to get enlightened were flocking from India, Cambodia, Tibet, and China. Not only magnificent and large, Borobudur Temple wall panels are filled with 2672 sculptured reliefs which if arranged in row, it will reach a length of 6 km! It is praised as the largest and the most complete Buddha reliefs ensemble in the world, unmatched in artistic value.
Reliefs carved on the temple walls are divided into 4 main stories, they are Karnawibangga, Lalita Wistara, Jataka and Awadana, and Gandawyuda. Besides telling about the life journey of Buddha and his teachings, reliefs alos recorded the improvement of Javanese community that was superior and powerful, and it can be seen in 10 reliefs of existing ships. One of the ship reliefs was used as a model in making ship replica used to sail the cinnamon route from Java to the continent of Africa. Currently, the replica of the ship called Borobudur Ship was kept in the Museum Samudra Raksa.
To follow the flow of the story carved on the walls of the temple, visitors must walk clockwise around the temple, known by the term of pradaksina. It is entering through the east entrance, walking clockwise to the position where the temple is always on the right side, until reaching the foot of the east stairs and stepping up to the next level. This is done repeatedly until all the levels passed and reached on the top of the temple shaping the main stupa. Arriving at the top, put your view in all directions, it will be seen a row of Menoreh Hill, Mount Sindoro, Mount Sumbing, Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu standing up straight around the temple. Mountains and hills are as if guarding the existence of Borobudur Temple.
Based on Kayumwungan inscription dated 26the May 824, Borobudur Temple was built by King Samaratungga between the 8th until 9th century, coincided with Pawon Temple andMendut Temple. The building process lasted for 75 years under the leadership of an architect, Gunadarma. Although not familiar with computers and other sophisticated equipments, Gunadarma was able to apply the interlock system in constructing the temple. As many as 60,000 cubic meters of andesite stone which amount to 2 million stone blocks compiled from Elo River and Progo River, they were carved and assembled into giant puzzles that covered a small hill to from Borobudur Temple.
Borobudur not only has a very high artistic value, a great work as the evidence of human civilization in the past is also loaded with philosophical values. Raises the concept of Mandala that symbolized the cosmology of the universe in Buddha teachings, this magnificent building is divided into three levels, namely the world of desire or lust (Kamadhatu), the world of form (Rupadhatu) and the world without any form (Arupadhatu). When viewed from the height, Borobudur Temple is like lotus petal on the hill. The wall of the temple which are in the Kamadhatu and Arupadhatu levels as the flower petals, while a row of circular stupa at Arupadhatu leves as the stamen. The main stupa represents the Buddha, so the whole Borobudur illustrates Buddha sitting on a lotus petal.
Enjoying the splendor of Borobudur Temple is no enough just walking down the aisle and climbing into the top of the temple. One thing to look out for is to see Borobudur Sunrise and Borobudur Sunset over the temple. The splash of morning sunlight hitting the stupas and the statue of Buddha makes the grandeur and splendor of the temple being more felt. While standing on the top of the temple at twilight within a row of stupas and watching the sun slowly began to shade will create a calm and peaceful feeling.
The Most Beautiful Hindu Temple in the World

PRAMBANAN TEMPLE

Prambanan is the masterpiece of Hindu culture of the tenth century. The slim building soaring up to 47 meters makes its beautiful architecture incomparable.

Prambanan temple is extraordinarily beautiful building constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.

There is a legend that Javanese people always tell about this temple. As the story tells, there was a man named Bandung Bondowoso who loved Roro Jonggrang. To refuse his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso to make her a temple with 1,000 statues only in one-night time. The request was nearly fulfilled when Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and to set a fire in order to look like morning had broken. Feeling to be cheated, Bondowoso who only completed 999 statues cursed Jonggrang to be the thousandth statue.

Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. Those three temples are symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief. All of them face to the east. Each main temple has accompanying temple facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Angsa for Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. Besides, there are 2 flank temples, 4 kelir temples and 4 corner temples. In the second area, there are 224 temples.

Entering Shiva temple, the highest temple and is located in the middle, you will find four rooms. One main room contains Shiva statue, while the other three rooms contain the statues of Durga (Shiva's wife), Agastya (Shiva's teacher), and Ganesha (Shiva's son). Durga statue is said to be the statue of Roro Jonggrang in the above legend.

In Vishnu temple, to the north of Shiva temple, you will find only one room with Vishnu statue in it. In Brahma temple, to the south of Shiva temple, you find only room as well with Brahma statue in it.

Quite attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple that is located close to Vishnu temple. This temple keeps a story of half-bird human being named Garuda. Garuda is a mystical bird in Hindu mythology. The figure is of golden body, white face, red wings, with the beak and wings similar to eagle's. It is assumed that the figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu(means 'rises' or 'shines') that is associated with the god of the Sun or Re in Old Egypt mythology or Phoenix in Old Greek mythology. Garuda succeeded in saving his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda's handicapped brother) by stealingTirta Amerta (the sacred water of the gods).

Its ability to save her mother made many people admire it to the present time and it is used for various purposes. Indonesia uses the bird as the symbol of the country. Other country using the same symbol is Thailand, with the same reason but different form adaptation and appearance. In Thailand, Garuda is known as Krut or Pha Krut.

Prambanan also has panels of relief describing the story of Ramayana. Experts say that the relief is similar to the story of Ramayana that is told orally from generation to generation. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that - in Hindu - the tree is considered tree of life, eternity and environment harmony. In Prambanan, relief of Kalpataru tree is described as flanking a lion. The presence of this tree makes experts consider that Javanese society in the ninth century had wisdom to manage its environment.

Just like Garuda, Kalpataru tree is also used for various purposes. In Indonesia, Kalpataru is used as the logo of Indonesian Environment Institution. Some intellectuals in Bali even develop "Tri Hita Karana" concept for environment conservation by seeing Kalpataru relief in this temple. This tree of life is also seen in the gunungan (the puppet used as an opening of traditional puppet show or wayang kulit). This proves that relief panels in Prambanan have been widely known throughout the world.

If you see the relief in detail, you will see many birds on them; they are real birds as we can see on the earth right now. Relief panels of such birds are so natural that biologists can identify their genus. One of them is the relief of the Yellow-Crest Parrot (Cacatua sulphurea) that cites unanswered question. The reason is that the bird only exists in Masakambing Island, an island in the middle of Java Sea. Then, did the bird exist in Yogyakarta? No body has succeeded in revealing the mystery.

You can discover many more things in Prambanan. You can see relief of Wiracarita Ramayana based on oral tradition. If you feel tired of enjoying the relief, you can take a rest in the beautiful garden in the complex.

KING BOKO PALACE
The Glory on a Peaceful Hill

King Boko Palace is a luxurious palace complex that was built in the eighth century. The most luxurious building during its time was built by one of the relatives of Borobudur founder.

King Boko Palace was a glorious building that was constructed during the reign of Rakai Panangkaran, descendant of Sailendra dynasty. The palace that initially was named Abhayagiri Vihara (that means a monastery on a peaceful hill) was built for seclusion purpose and to focus on spiritual life. From this palace, you will feel peace and will be able to see Yogyakarta city and Prambanan temple with Merapi Mountain as the background.

This palace is located 196 meters above the sea level. The area of the palace as wide as 250,000 m² is divided into four, namely center, west, southeast, and east parts. The center part consists of the main gateway, square, Combustion Temple, pond, square terrace and assembly hall. Meanwhile, the southeast part includes hall, platform, three temples, pond, and a complex for princess. The caves, Buddha effigy, and a pond are in east part while the west part consists of hills only.

If you enter from the palace gateway, you will directly be guided to the center part. Two high gates will welcome you. The first gate has three entrances while the second one has five. If you look it in detail, you will read 'Panabwara' writing on the first gate. Based on Wanua Tengah III inscription, the word was written by Rakai Panabwara (the descendant of Rakai Panangkaran) who took over the palace. The intention of carving his name on the gate was to legitimate his authority, to give 'power' to the gate in order to look more glorious and to give sign that the building was the main building.

About 45 meters away from the second gate, you will see a temple made of white stones so that it was named Candi Batu Putih or Temple of White Stones.

Close to the place, you will also find Combustion Temple. The temple is of square form (measuring 26 meter x 26 meter) with two terraces. The function of the temple is to burn dead body as the name suggests. Around 10 meters away from the Combustion Temple, there are sacred terrace and a pond.

A mysterious well will be seen if you walk southeastward of the Combustion Temple. As the legend tells, the well was named Amerta Mantana that means sacred water treated with charms. At present time, the water of Amerta well is still used. The legend tells that the water brings luck for anyone who uses it. Hindu people use it in Tawur Agung ceremony, one day before the Nyepi day. Using water in the ceremony is believed to support the achievement of the objective, namely to self purify and to return the earth and its content to its initial harmony. YogYES suggests that you visit Prambanan temple one day before Nyepi day to see the ceremony process.

Moving to the eastern part of the palace, you will see two caves, big pond measuring 20 meters x 50 meters and Buddha effigy that sits quietly. Those two caves were formed of sediment stones. The upper cave is called Gua Lanang (Male Cave) and the lower cave is called Gua Wadon (Female Cave). Right in front of Gua Lanang, there is a pond and three effigies. Based on the research, the effigy is known as Aksobya, one of Buddha Pantheons.

Even though it was built by a Buddhist, there are Hindu elements in it. This can be seen from the presence of Lingga and Yoni, Ganesha statue, and golden plate with the writing "Om Rudra ya namah swaha" on it as form of worship to Rudra as the other name of Shiva. The Hindu elements proved religious tolerance that is reflected in architectural works. In fact, Rakai Panangkaran who embraced Buddhism lived side by side with Hindu people.

Not many people know that this palace is witness of the initial triumph in Sumatera land. Balaputradewa once fled to this palace before leaving for Sumatra when he was struck by Rakai Pikatan. Balaputradewa rebelled because he felt to be second person in the reign of Old Mataram Kingdom because of Rakai Pikatan's marriage to Pramudhawardani (Balaputradewa's sister). After his defeat and escape to Sumatra, he became the king of Sriwijaya Kingdom.

As a heritage building, King Boko Palace is different from other inheritances. Most of other buildings are in the forms of temple or shrine, while this place - as the name implies - shows characteristics of a dwelling place. This can be known from the wooden poles and roofs, even though we can only see remains of stone building. Investigate the palace in more details and you will know more. One of them is the beautiful scenery when the sun is setting in the west. An American tourist says, "This is the most beautiful sunset on earth."