|
Central Java
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: 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. All of these are testimony to the ancient power and influence of the region, and should be included in your travel plans.
The first Islamic kingdom in Java was established in 1511 in Demak, about 40 km from the Provincial capital of Semarang. 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.
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. TV 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 products.
Other places of interest:
This page: http://www.cockatoo.com/english/indonesia/indonesia_central_java.htm
|
