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History has left its
footprints across Central Java, an area rich in
culture and tradition descending from a powerful
Hindu and Buddhist past, and more recent Islamic
influences. Under the Saliendra 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 and many tourist
attractions in Central Java are built during
this time span. Visitors come from all over the
world to Indonesia just to catch a glimpse of
all the top places of interest in Central Java.
 Borobudur, the most
magnificent monument to Mahayana Buddhism in the
world, the enormous Hindu temple complex of
Prambanan and the ancient site of the oldest
Hindu temples in Java on the Dieng Plateau are
all found in Central Java. All of these are
testimony to the ancient power and influence of
the region and should be included in your travel
plans and these historical places have long been
the tourists' favorite. The first Islamic kingdom
in Java was established in 1511 in Demak,
about 40 kilometers from the interesting provincial
capital city of Semarang.
Photo: Hindu temple complex of Prambanan
One of the province's
greatest Islamic structures is the Grand Mosque
of Demak. Symbolic of the way the new faith was
introduced, the mosque displays a curious
combination of Islamic and Hindu architectural
influences and is still revered and worshipped
by Javanese pilgrims. All visitors should not
miss this unique architecture. The rich and fertile
plains of the region support an enormous
population of over 30 million people. Surakarta,
better known as Solo, is the cradle of Javanese
culture in the province. The courts of Solo
embody the noble value that the Javanese attach
to grace and refinement, with majestic
ceremonies and royal festivals still held with
great pomp and circumstance. Although no longer
the seat of power it once was, descendants of
the royal houses of Solo are regarded as leaders
of Javanese culture and traditions, upholding
standards of sophistication and conduct. An
extensive network of good roads and railway
links major cities and villages.
With airports in
both Semarang and Yogyakarta, it is one of the
most accessible provinces in the country. Two
major seaports, Tanjung Emas on the Java Sea and
Cilacap, a natural ocean port in the Indian
Ocean provide national and international outlets
for the province's agricultural and industrial
visit to Central Java, you must not miss buying
the famous Java coffee and tobacco to take home
to your homeland.
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