Central Java

History has left its footprints across Central Java, an area rich in culture and tradition descending from powerful Hindu and Buddhist past, and more recent Islamic influences. Under the Sailendra and Old Mataram Kings in the 8th and 10th centuries the Hindu-Javanese culture flourished, and it was during this period that Java’s most remarkable religious monuments were built such as Borobudur, the most magnificent monument to Mahayana Buddhism in the world, the enermous Hindu temple complex of Prambanan, and the ancient site of the oldest Hindu temples in Java on the Dieng Plateau.

Getting there :
An extensive network of good roads and railway links major cities and villages.Airport both in Semarang and Solo and the major seaport in Tanjung Emas, on the North of Semarang and a natural harbor in Cilacap provide national and international access. Door to door travel minibuses are available to and from Java and sumatra island.

Tourism Events
- Wayang Kulit (leather puppet shadow show) from 9.00 pm every Saturday until dawn in Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Jalan Achmad Yani Semarang. It takes episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabarata epics.
- Wayang Orang (Javanese Opera) performed every night from 8 pm to 10 pm in Sriwedari Aditorium Solo, Sunday closed.
- Waisak Ceremony Magelang, Central Java. The “Waisak” is religious event observing the birth of Sidarta Gautama. The celebration is held at Mendut and Borobudur Temples. This ceremony is first started with religious praying in Mendut.
- Sekaten Fair, Solo, Central Java ; A traditional fair annually held during the Islamic month of Rabiul Awal or Maulud (Javanese Calender) to commemorate the birth of Propeth Muhammad). The fair takes place at Alun-alun Utara of the Kasunanan Palace’s North Square and open for visitors day and night.

Places of Interest
Semarang is situated on Java’s northern coast and it is the capital of Central Java. From Candi Hill you get amazing views of the port, the lowlands and green paddy fields, the city itself and the surrounding mountains. The environs around Semarang are perfect for day trips and side-excursions. In the older part of the city, near the harbor, you can still find an interesting collection of buildings dating back to the Dutch colonial era and the Dutch East Indies Company. The city offers evening performances of Wayang drama played by live actors, actresses and dancers at Ngesti Pandowo Theatre. For sport fans there are tennis courts in all major hotels and 2 golf courses located in the town’s suburbs. For short trips out of Semarang within a radius of about 60 km, the following places are recommended : Jepara, northeast of Semarang is surrounded by white sand beaches and is also famous for its wood carving industry. An ancient Portuguese Fort can be found to the East of Jepara.

Kudus, about halfway between Jepara and Semarang, is home to the Minaret Mosque, which was built in the 15th century. Also known with its kretek (traditional cigarette) industries. Demak has the oldest mosque in Central Java.

Bendungan and Gedong Songo Temple. This is a holiday resort on the slopes of Mt. Ungaran, about 900 meters above sea level. Gedong Songo (nine buildings), a group of small 8th century Hindu Javanese Temple, can be reached either by car or on horseback from Ungaran. Built at about the same time as the temples of the Dieng complex, Gedung Songo is one of the most beautifully temple complexes in Central Java. The views alone are worth the trip.

Tlogo Plantation has cool air and beautiful view with various plantations such as coffee, rubber, nutmeg and cloves. It is located 6 kms or only 10 minutes drive from the Ambarawa Railway Museum. (www.tlogoagro.net)

Dieng Plateau. About 4 hours from Semarang is the Dieng Plateau, the site of some of the oldest Hindu temples on Java. These 50-foot high monuments stand on a crater floor amidst sulfurous. The road to the Dieng Plateau passes through tobacco plantations and beautiful mountain scenery.

Baturraden. Central Java’s most outstanding resort, approximately 14 kms north of Purwokerto, an administrative town in the southern of Java island. It is occupies a fine site on the slopes of Mount Slamet, 650 m above sea level, feel the coolness air, nice gardens, pines forest, hot springs, ponds and bungalow-style hotels.

Jatijajar Cave, a magnificent cave near Pantai Ayah (Ayah beach) 170 km from Solo. It is also has along beautiful tunnel with manya stalagmite and stalactite. A diorama of the legend of “Lutung Kasarung” (a Prince that changed to a Monkey) and some lakes and rivers in the cave wait to be explored.

Sangiran, the Land of Mystery. In 1891, Eugene Dubois, a French anthropologist discovered fossils of Pithecanthropus Erectus, or ‘Java Man’. 1930 and 1931 marked the discovery of fossils of a man from the Pleistocene Period. In mid 1980, scientists were startled by the discovery of a complete 4 m tall elephant. It is located only 18 km from Solo.

Borobudur Temple. The name “Borobudur” believed to have been derived from the sanskrit words “Vihara Buddha Uhr”, (Buddhist Monastery on the Hill). The Borobudur Temple was built in the eighth century by the Syailendra Dynasty and is located at Magelang 90 km Southeast of Semarang or 42 km Northwest of Yogyakarta. One of the world’s most famous temples, it stands majestically on a hill overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. Borobudur is built of gray andesine stone. It rises in seven terraces, each smaller than the one below it. The top is the Great Stupa, standing 40 meters above the ground. The walls of the Borobudur are sclupted in bas-relief, a total length of six kilometers. It has been hailed as the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit, each scene an individual masterpiece.

Solo. A pleasant city with a lively character, Solo is also called “The City That Never Sleeps”. One can always find something to eat or buy, as vendors of all kinds and small footstalls remain open 24 hours. Home of two royal houses with centuries of power and influence over the city, Solo today remains distinctly Central Javanese with and elegance all its own. It is one of the major centers of Batik and souvenir hunters may find old Javanese antiques. Becak (three cycle rickshaw) and Andong (traditional horse carriage) are the most flexible type of traditional transportations within the city and are avaliable everywhere.

Kasunanan Palace.The royal residence of King Pakubuwono in the 17th century, the palace has an art gallery exhibiting royal heirlooms, antiques and other invaluable objects in a genuine royal Javanese atmosphere. Open from 9 am to 2 pm, Friday closed.

Pura Mangkunegaran (Mangkunegaran Palace). Another Palace built 1757 with typical Javanese architecture consisting of “Pendopo” (an open front hall to receive guests), “Pringgitan” (an porch to hold leather puppet shadow play) and private apartments. Two sets of 17th century Javanese gamelan instruments are exhibited and played every Wednesday in the Pendopo. The Palace also exhibits complete collection of masks, wayang orang costumes, leather and wooden puppets, religious articles and jewelry. Dancing practise in Mangkunegaran Palace : Wednesday from 10 am to 12 pm.

Tawangmangu. Located 40 kms east of Solo, this recreational resort offers fresh weather, scenic views, swimming pools, bungalow syle hotels and restaurants. It lies on slopes of Mt. Lawu, at an elevation of 1,300 m above sea level. Other features include nearby temples, a national park and the 40 m high waterfall of Grojogan Sewu.

Sukuh Temple. Not far from Solo is the Sukuh Temple, the pyramid “Inca” look like decorated with wayang stone carvings of Hindu origin, and erotic symbols. The temple is located only 34 km from Solo.

Kemuning Tea Plantation is located between Sukuh and Ceto Temple ; there is a 300 hectars rug of green tea plantation.

Ambarawa Railway Museum fifty kms south of Semarang, Ambarawa has locomotives of various types and ages, and it is still possible to ride on a cog railway between Ambarawa and Bedono, a village nearby. Prior arrangements should be made for groups. Also of interest are a collection of antique telephones and other instruments used for railway communication. Visit Rawa Pening (clearly swamp), the cool water lake near Ambarawa.

Mendut Temple located only 3 kilometers from Borobudur, Mendut is said to face toward Benares, India, where Buddha Gautama taught his five disciples. The smaller Temple of Mendut, which house the great statue of Buddha and the Pawon Temple, from an integral part of the Borobudur complex. The three-meter tall Buddha and the two Bodhisattva figures of Lokesvara and Vajrapani are among the treatest manifestations of Buddhist thought and art.

Gong Cave has incredible ornament which is about 256 m underground with 12 rooms 7 spring and one natural both, located about 7 km from Punung Market, on the way to Pacitan (70 km southern of Solo). The people believed that on the certain day of Friday there is a sound o traditional drum instrument called “Gong” come from this cave until now.

Ceto Temple is located in western slope of Mt. Lawu, Gumeng Village Jenawi District in Karanganyar – Surakarta. It is located in hill 1400 m from the sea level. Ceto Temple has site of 13 stages, from the lower places to higher places ar similar to Hiduism temple. Relief status of Ceto Temple symbolize a human passion and a portrayal of human being’s soul purification, the hardest seducation in purifying in passions.(www.wisata-karanganyar.go.id)

Semarang Tour Package

Day I : Tlogo Agro Tourism
Upon arrival at airport, proceed to Tlogo Agro Tourism about an hour drive from Semarang. The plantation consists of coffee, rubber, bamboo and some tropical fruit plants. You can use the facilities of the plantation such as swimming pool of fishing at its fish ponds. Enjoy the dishes they provide and relax your nerves by listening to gamelan (Javanese music instrument) at open air.

Day II
In the morning, the plantation staff will wake you up for early morning plantation tour to see the rubber picking process and the process of making rubber and coffee. The breakfast will be served before hand at the verandah of main plantation building.

Ambarawa Railway Museum
The Museum has a collection of old locomotives. You will ride an old train from the museum uphill to Bedono Station which will pass the wonderful natural landscape of paddy field, swamp and villages. The train is driven by a steam engine loco which use teak wood as fuel. Local snacks will be served during the tour.

Losari Coffee Plantation-Resort and Spa
Stop at Bedono Station, the bus will take you to Losari Coffee Plantation-Resort and Spa. The resort has plenty hectares of coffee plantation. They also plant herb plants in their plantation. Enjoy your lunch while observing the landscape surrounding and enjoying the view of five mountains in its verandah. Stay overnight in Javanese architectural tranquil resort.

Day III
Yoga, Massage and Spa, swimming are some of various activites you can do in this resort. Staying in Losari will become unforgettable moment of your holiday in Indonesia. At the end of the tour, you can continue the trip to Borobudur or Jogja or back to Semarang.

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