LOCAL CRAFTS AND CENTURIES-OLD TEMPLE COMPLEXES
Indonesia's cultural centre is Yogyakarta,one of the country's most enjoyable cities and known for its arts and cultural riches. You will find many galleries where old crafts are still proudly practiced such as batik tulle, silver working, silk weaving and pottery. Walking along the Malioboro, the main street of the city, you can see the Kraton: the sultan's palace with magnificent floors, specially designed halls and gold painted ceilings.
Nearby Yogyakarta are home to centuries-old temple complexes that have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The remains of the hundreds of temples of the Hindu Prambanan are very impressive, especially when you realize that within a few kilometers of the complex many temples still need to be discovered and the size only increases.
The largest Buddhist shrine in the world, the Borobudur,is also an absolute highlight. The complex with nine floors and no less than 1,500 reliefs on the walls illustrating the life of Buddha is almost unreal. Experience the magical sunrise as the sun enchants the surrounding landscape and overlooks an intense green rainforest surrounded by more than 400 stupas. Meanwhile, Buddhist monks are engaged in their daily ritual.
