Indonesia is a land (well, over 17,000 lands) of intrigue and wonder. You got Bali, Jakarta, Sulawesi, Komodo, Lombok, the Gilis; all wonderful destinations that will conjure up tons of memories. Don’t forget to include Jogjakarta in the list. This is the art and education capital of Indonesia, as well as your starting point to some UNESCO temple ruins. And not just any, these are grand in stature.

Before we take you to Borobudur and Prambanan, let’s take a tour around the city. One thing you’ll notice is its colonial flavor, with the Bank of Indonesia building a prime example. You’ll also see lots of structures that seem quite traditional and Indonesian such as Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono’s Palace. This is what Jogjakarta is about, the blend of locality and colonial flair.

If you’re looking for nice silver craft work, you’ve definitely come to the right place. The city is also renowned for shadow puppet (wayang) making (and of course the performance itself). If these Indonesian Pinocchios interest you, just go ahead and step into one of several museums dedicated to them. The Sonobudoyo Museum displays numerous Javanese archeological artifacts such as the mentioned puppets as well as masks, textiles and musical instruments. The Kekayon Museum is an exhibition solely dedicated to wayangs. It is divided into ten sections, with each displaying a vast array of gamelan from various regions in Indonesia.

This is also the batik capital of Indonesia with unique techniques and end results. Jogjakarta is also known for its gamelan (traditional Indonesian a musical ensemble), which was developed in the courts during the height of the Javanese Empire.

And now the UNESCO temples. Let’s start with Borobudur. Did you know that this is the world’s largest Buddhist temple? And just a short transfer away is another impressive temple, this time of Hindu nature. That is Prambanan. And surrounding these marvels are a bunch of Candi temples. Nope, no candies here, instead you’ll get a good bunch of Buddhist and Hindu ruins in varying degrees of shape. If you like the aura and feel that 1000 year old structures exude, then this is heaven for you!

Ready to bask in Jogjakarta and its surroundings? Whether it is temples, history, art or colonial flair, you’re sure in for a memorable Indonesian experience. If Indonesia is not allowing you to go back home just yet, see what your extension options are right here.

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