Things to do in Yogyakarta

Things to do in Yogyakarta, a memorable trip that may be learned you.......


1. Merapi Volcano Tour

In 2010, Merapi volcano erupted bringing millions of cubic meters of hot stone and sand destroying the surrounding villages. The Merapi Volcano Tour is held around the affected villages using 4x4 jeep to ensure the safety of the the visitors. Opening hours : sunrise – sunset.

2. Timang Beach

Timang Beach is located in Gunung Kidul Yogyakarta with unique gondola ride experience and sightseeing of the well-known Panjang Island, a lobster habitat. Like most beaches in the area, Timang Beach is a white sand beach dan surrounded by pandan tree. Opening hours : sunrise – sunset.

3. Kalibiru Park

Kalibiru Park is a beautiful park of lush nature, a peaceful environment and beautiful views. The park is located in the Menoreh Hills, west of Yogyakarta. The beautiful nature and views, the park also offers great sunsets and fun outdoor activities, such as tree tops that offers great views, flying fox and trekking paths with distance range from 1,5 to 7 kilometers. Opening hours : 07.00 am to 05.00 pm.

4. The Temples

Borobudur is the biggest Buddist temple in the ninth century measuring 123 x 123 meters and located 42 km northwest of Yogyakarta. Borobudur had been acclaimed by the world as a cultural heritage and one of the worlds most famous temples, it stands majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. Opening hours : 06.00 am to 05.00 pm.

Prambanan is the famous Hindu temple in Indonesia. There are three temples decorated with reliefs illustrating the epic of the Ramayana, dedicated to the three great Hindu divinities (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma). Opening hours : 06.00 am to 06.00 pm

5. Ullen Sentalu Museum

The Ullen sentalu Museum is a Javanese culture and art museum located in Kaliurang highland, Yogyakarta. The museum displays relics and artifact from royal houses and kratons of Java, such as Yogyakarta, Pakualaman, Surakarta and Mangkunegaran. Opening hours : every Tuesday – Sunday at 09.00 am to 03.30 pm.

6. Watch The Ramayana Ballet

The Ramayana Ballet is a dance and theater performance held on an outdoor stage against the backdrop of Prambanan Temple. The play is based on an ancient Hindu love story and follows the tale of King Rama and Princess Shinta.

This ballet tells about the opposition between the good minds of perception in King Rama (from the Ayodhiyapala State) against the evil that existed in King Rahwana (the wrathful Maharaja of the Alengka State). The ballet has four different episodes in each show, The Loss of Dewi Shinta, Hanoman Duta, Kombokarno Leno and The Holy Fire. Over 200 dancers and actors perform in this epic. Opening hours : every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 07.30 pm to 09.30 pm.

7. Jomblang Cave (Semanu)

Goa Jomblang or Jomblang Cave is a famous cave system and is one of the tourism highlights of Yogyakarta. The caves are located in Gunung Kidul, approximately an hour drive from Yogyakarta City. The highlight of the trip is the hidden forest at the bottom of the sinkhole (Grubug Cave) where the morning light filters like a natural spotlight.

8. Grebeg Maulud Ceremony

The Grebeg Maulud Ceremony is the culmination of the birth ceremony of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. It is held on 12 Maulud during the gamelan permormance, Kyai Nogowilogo, in the festival of the Keraton Yogyakarta called Bendhol Songsong. The culmination of the event is reached when food condiments shaped like Food Mountain are brought to the Great Mosque and distributed to the community after prayer.

The food mountain will be used as fertilizer for the next harvest. More info for calendar event of Jogja : www.visitingjogja.com.

9. Gamelan Arts

Gamelan is a special instrument of Central Java and especially Yogyakarta. One of the places in Yogyakarta to watch and listen the performance is in the Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Palace).

The schedules of performance are :

1)  Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10.00 am to 12.00 pm

2) Every Wednesday at 10.00 am to 12.00 pm with Wayang Performance

3) Every Sunday at 11.00 am to 12.00 pm with Traditional Javanese Dance

10. Java Art Puppets

One characteristic of Yogyakarta culture, especially Java is the art of Wayang or shadow puppet show. The art of Wayang is a cultural story of Central Javanese society portraying the philosophy of life in Javanese society : heroism, previous kings and Javanese mythology. You can see this performance in Sonobudoyo Museum at Trikora Street, Yogyakarta. The schedule of performance is every day at 08.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

11. Java Ketoprak

Ketoprak is one of the Javanese art cultures in the form of drama but Ketoprak has a distinctive story that contains the history of Javanese society especially in the past kingdom. One of the places in Yogyakarta to wacth and listen the performance is in the Auditorium RRI (Radio Republic Indonesia) Yogyakarta. The schedule of performance is every 1st Sunday night of the month at 09.00 pm.