THE UNIQUENESS CITY OF YOGYAKARTA

Yogyakarta (which is often spelled and called in different ways such as Jogjakarta, Yogya, or Jogja for short) is Indonesia in miniature. When visitors come to inhale the air of Yogyakarta, they feel like they have lived. Yogyakarta has been best described as a Never Ending Asia, Java's cultural heart, the soul city of Java, or planted in the fertile heartland of Central Java, (it is) the cradle of great Javanese empires... the capital of ancient kingdoms, medieval empires and modern revolution and an engaging melange of style and moods.

Yogyakarta or simply Yogya, is one of the foremost cultural centers of Java. Located at the foot of the active Merapi volcano, Yogyakarta was in the 16th and 17th centuries the seat of the mighty Javanese empire of Mataram., from which present day Yogyakarta has inherited the best of traditions.

The average daily temperature range between 26 degree and 28 degree Celsius with its minimum 18 degree C and maximum 35 degree C respectively. Average humidity is 74% with its minimum of 65% and maximum 84% respectively.

The city is divided into 14 districts (kecamatan). 1. Gondokusuman 2. Jetis 3. Tegalrejo 4. Umbulharjo 5. Kotagede 6. Mergangsan 7. Ngampilan 8. Danurejan 9. Kraton 10. Wirobrajan 11. Pakualaman 12. Mantrijeron 13. Gedongtengen 14. Gondomanan.


Kepatihan Danurejan
It was the Dalem (mansion) and office of the Patih (Sultan's Chief Minister) during feudal (colonial time). The official name of every Patih of Karaton Yogyakarta was Danurejo, So the building is locally known as Kepatihan Danurejan, now is the office of the Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region, located North of Beringharjo Market.

Stasiun Tugu  

The main railway station with its colonial style located north of Kepatihan , south of Tugu. It is a very convenient station with regular connections to Jakarta, Solo, Semarang, Surabaya and other cities in Java.


Tugu
 

Tugu monument in the past

A monument stands in the crossroad of Jl. Malioboro and Jl. Sudirman. It has a symbolic meaning for the meditation and it is one of the magical line of Yogya, consisting of (south to north); the South Sea, the Karaton Yogyakarta, Tugu and Mount Merapi.

Tugu monument in the prese

The Yogyakarta Special Region lies approximately 7 South of the equator line and is bathed in tropical; sunshine along the year. Having a tropic climate the daily atmosphere feels a little bit hot and humid. These are only two seasons along the year, the wet or rainy seasons and dry monsoon. Usually the wet seasons begin at September and lasts about August.
Generally there is no rainfalls from may to August and there fore the atmosphere feels hot and humid on the day and cool in the night and early morning. The monthly rain falling Yogyakarta varies between 3mm and 496mm in which those above 300mm take place during the month of January up to April. The heaviest rainfall usually occurs in February while the lowest commonly happens between May and October Average annually rainfall is about 1,900mm.

Museum Sonobudoyo
This museum, founded in November 1935 and designed by the Dutch architect Kersten, is built in traditional Javanese architecture. It exhibits weapons, leather and wooden puppets of wayang theater, masks, statues, textiles, curios and old Javanese gamelan instruments. The museum is situated on the northern side of the city's main square in front of the Sultan's Palace. 


Kotagede 

Welcome to Kotagede

Silver handycraft

Kotagede, about five kilometers southeast of Yogyakarta, is a neat little town which was once the seat of the mighty Mataram empire. In this old palace town with its walled-in houses, the graves of the first rulers of Mataram are still to be found. Since the 1930s, however, Kotagede has become famous for being the center of the Yogya silverwork industry. Kotagede is easily reached by andong, the four wheeled horse-drawn cart, by taxi, bus, or car.
There are a number of workshops where visitors are welcome to watch silver being transformed into beautiful works of art known as Yogya Silver.
Silver handycraft itself is a hereditary culture that used to actually craft gold. Over time, finally silver handycraft that many in the interest, so the craftsmen prefer to process the silver. Until now, the silver from Kotagede been exported to foreign countries, especially Eropa.The very popular jewelery type is the type of filigree, that the manufacturing process is very complicated, because the silver first processed into a very fine silver thread.  If you go to Yogyakarta, dont forget to visit Kotagede, go to the showroom from simple to very luxurious as HS Silver, Tom Silver, Silver or Narti Ansor Silver


Affandi Museum

Affandi Museum

On the main road between the airport and the city stands the Affandi Museum (1907 - 1990) in a lush garden next to his peculiar private home on stilts. He was Indonesia's foremost impressionist painter who built a private museum for his own paintings and of those of his daughter Kartika. Affandi's grave (died in May 1990) lies in the backyard next to the museum.