Yogyakarta, now we are talking religious buildings.
Most people will connect Yogyakarta with Borobudur, the Buddhist Temple Park, but one must not forget Prambanan, the Hindu Temple Park. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia. Both are listed as UNESCO Heritage sites. It is easy to understand why Yogyakarta has a big draw on tourists and even pilgrims.
Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is the capital city of the Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, located in the south-central part of the island of Java, and the only royal town in Indonesia still ruled by a monarchy. I arrived in Yogyakarta by bus from Semarang, with the bus stopping in a dodgy area. I booked a Grab car, but while I was waiting for it, locals approached me and hustled me. However, all went fine and I arrived at the hotel. Then it was time for exploring.
Taman Sari Water Castle
Since it was already afternoon, I was heading for Taman Sari Water Castle, a former royal garden. Built in the mid-18th century, the Taman Sari served multiple functions, including a resting area, a meditation area, a defensive area, and a hiding place. Today, only the central bathing complex remains well-preserved. If you overlook the number of tourists, you can feel that this has been a peaceful place for leisure.
The Borobudur Temple Park
I must start by apologising that I cannot present a more impressive picture of the vast Borobudur site. Most people have seen the tremendous site through fantastic photos, but they are all taken from the air under ideal lighting conditions. When you have to stand on the ground, taking a picture of almost black stones with a light background, it will never give the place justice. I still hope I can give you an impression of my visit to this fantastic site.
Getting there
Borobudur is situated about 40 kilometres from Yogyakarta. There are buses to take, but after what I found out, you have to change, etc. You can also book daytrips from Yogyakarta with several companies. However, I decided to take Grab this time. They charged about 11 euros for the one-way trip. Since the journey was this long, the driver asked if he should wait for me, and I paid him cash, the same amount back. That is a perfect deal for me and for him, since he cannot pick up customers in this area.
My driver took me all the way into the park, then went back to the car and waited however long it took. You can not walk around on your own in the Borobudur Temple site. When registered, you are transported by a small train to the starting point. I had already booked a time because it sells out quickly. Just a limited number of people are let in daily. Our guide was a fun-loving guy, always smiling. He made a point of being a Christian man, guiding a Buddhist temple in a Muslim country.
The temple consists of nine stacked platforms: six are square and three are circular, topped by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and originally 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa. Borobudur was constructed in the 8th century. It was an impressive sight, with all the relief panels, narrow staircases, and corridors. It is absolutely a must if you are ever in central Java.
The Hindu temple of Prambanan.
The Prambanan temple is the largest Hindu temple of ancient Java, and the first building was completed in the mid-9th century. The compounds originally comprised 240 temple structures that represented the grandeur of ancient Java’s Hindu art and architecture and are also considered masterpieces of the classical period in Indonesia. This temple is also a vast structure, spread across a large park. However, it is not as visited as Borobudur, so you can walk around on your own and enjoy all the area has to offer.
This temple was located closer to central Yogyakarta, and I visited it in the morning. Now I had the afternoon off to walk around in the centre, have a nice dinner and relax before my next journey the following day. From the bus window that day, I saw this entertainer standing between waiting cars, singing and sending kisses to those “she” made eye contact with.
Follow Google Maps
These days, it’s hard to imagine what it was like before Google. When you pinpoint the place you want to visit, the map tells you the way. Mostly, that’s great, but sometimes Google gives you the shortest route, which can feel a bit awkward. You are advised to take small alleyways that feel almost private. Other times, they give you a glimpse of small oases in some neighbourhoods. That was the case for me in Yogyakarta: I got to see some charming, colourful backstreets, without traffic, and it was nice.
