Keeping Tabs of Yogyakarta’s Stunning and Splendid History

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If you want to know more about Indonesia’s rich culture and norms, then paying Yogyakarta a visit should top your priority list.

Thriving as Jakarta’s opposite when it comes to orientation and living, Yogyakarta boasts of local color, traditions and homage to the country’s roots.

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It is with great pride that this humble city is introduced as one of the most frequented stops in Indonesia, and with its growing tourism, it sure is to be part of Asia’s wide array of hidden gems. Yogyakarta will transport you back in time to when the country was building its own identity, making you feel as if you’re part of the city’s past.

Behold the beauty of Yogyakarta’s scenery and take pleasure in the city’s innate hospitality, leaving you more and more impressed the longer you stay here.

Location

In total, Yogyakarta spans 12.5 square miles in land area. It is perched on Indonesia’s center, surrounded by equally famous cities and local provinces.

Yogyakarta is categorized to be under the Yogyakarta Special Region, and is home to a total of 388,627 residents.

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The city is subdivided into two regions, namely the city and the metro, with the latter eating up much of Yogyakarta’s total land area. It is elevated at 371 ft. above sea level, similar to the whole country.

Climate

One of the best things that an Asian country such as Yogyakarta possesses is it’s the much-awaited summer season. Revel under the feisty yet enjoyable spikes of temperature all year round, granting many opportunities for you to stay outdoors as much as you can.

Temperatures would range from 25 to 31 degrees Celsius in an annual scale, with a lot of sunshine hours compared to the wet season.

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The months of April to June and August until September are deemed as the hottest of each year, with heat climbing to as high as 32-degrees Celsius. Frigid weather can be experienced when July kicks in, with an average temperature of 21-degrees Celsius.

The wet season will be felt during the Holidays and can stretch up to March, depending on world climate conditions. In a year, Yogyakarta experiences a whopping total of 85.9 inches of accumulated precipitation.

Transportation

If coming in by air, the entry and exit passages are at the Adisucipto International Airport. This aviation terminal connects Yogyakarta to other major cities like of Balikpapan, Pekanbaru, Jakarta, Pontianak, Pelambang and many others. International flights are also available, which would let you travel to nearby countries such as Singapore and Malaysia via Singapura and Kuala Lumpur respectively.

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In the event that you want to roam around the city and use public transport, you can avail of two major rail lines namely Tugu Railway and Lempuyangan Station. Both are known to be accessible wherever you are in Yogyakarta and will easily connect you to other major cities in Indonesia. The main streets would be another method for you to scan the city via bus rides through the Trans Jogja.

What to See

Kraton

Situated in the heart of Yogyakarta is a landmark that’s definitely difficult to miss due to its relevance to the city’s heritage and culture: the legendary Kraton. Known as a huge palace, Kraton is simply the former home of Yogya’s sultans back in the day and is now a tourist spot that many travelers are interested in.

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Here, people can marvel at the beautiful architecture of the palace’s walls and floors, mementos from the old Sultan families who have resided here and other intricate ornaments that are original and marvelous in its strictest sense.

Affandi Museum

6 kilometers from Yogyakarta’s city center is a museum that screams sheer artistry and innate creativity. Known and named after one of the country’s most iconic artists, Affandi, this museum is now home to his extensive work. A plethora of firsthand paintings and artworks are on the display in the Affandi Museum, giving you more room to applaud the talent in Affandi.

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Visitors can also enjoy at a little café situated inside the premises along with a dedicated prayer room, adorned with Affandi’s skilled and creative hands.

Taman Sari

Since Yogyakarta is dotted with ancient castles and towering historical buildings, one should not miss visiting the Taman Sari. Perched on Kraton’s southwestern end, Taman Sari used to be a majestic park enjoyed by the great sultans who lived in the city.

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Here, your eyes will be pleased by the pools and waterways converted into a public park. Also, be intrigued with the mosque and underground alleys that are well-preserved for you to explore.

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Images:

(1) https://cdn.audleytravel.com/-/-/80/030237185202125027082187206132200224161103201034.jpg
(2) http://shansi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/borobudur-temple-in-Yogyakarta.jpg
(3) http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/indonesia_pol98.jpg
(4) https://landakungu.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dsc01131.jpg
(5) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Yogyakarta_Indonesia_Train-at-Tugu-Railway-Station-02.jpg
(6) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Kraton_Yogyakarta_Pagelaran.jpg
(7) http://www.cosmopolitan.co.id/newtest/vrgallery/teaser/9d73c78244774f8925515daddad3b3c5.jpg
(8) http://www.topindonesiaholidays.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/tamansari-2.jpg