Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, also known as Jogjakarta, is a city in Central Java that serves as the cultural, intellectual, and literary center of Indonesia, especially for Javanese fine arts, which span from theatre to ballet acts. It is also the center of Indonesian heritage. Due to its close vicinity to the well-known temples of Borobudur and Prambanan, Yogyakarta, a lively metropolis of around 500,000 people, is a major tourist attraction on Java. Jogja, or Yogya as it is frequently referred to, is only a short journey from the country's capital Jakarta and is also easily reachable from Bali or Singapore. In addition to being the location of Indonesia's largest Hindu temple site, Prambanan, Yogyakarta is also bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the raging active volcano Mount Merapi to the north. Its status as a multicultural mecca is further supported by its immediate contact with Borobudur, the greatest Buddhist temple in the world, given that Jogja is a largely Muslim area.

Jogja, which was founded in the eighth century as the seat of the Medang Kingdom, developed into the center of Indonesia's rich and varied past and came to represent its multiculturalism and modernism. Yogyakarta played a key role in Indonesia's liberation war and developed into the epicenter of revolutionary ideas against Dutch colonialism. Due to its role in the fight for freedom, the city was given exceptional permission to continue to be governed by a monarchy.

Yogyakarta is the best place to sample the great array of gastronomic delights that make up Indonesia. Every nook and corner is filled with tiny food stands serving mouth-watering sweets and savory Javanese treats, which are sure to satisfy any food enthusiast visiting Jogja.