A journey to Surakarta -- it's nice and easy

A journey to Surakarta -- it's nice and easy

Text and photos by Kartika Bagus C.

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): The city of Surakarta, or Solo,
is a seat of nobility and culture in Java, offering visitors
glimpses of a bygone era when the palace held sway over the area,
ruling with elegance and refinement.

For those visiting the city, there are numerous royal events,
festivals and exhibitions on offer. The two most important such
events are the Bengawan Solo Fair (BSF) and the Sekaten, which is
a ritual to remove evil and restore balance in life.

The BSF and Sekaten, however, are held according to the
Javanese calendar, so their dates cannot be definitely fixed in
advance. The highlight of the BSF is the coronation day
celebration of King Pakoe Boewono XII, while Sekaten reaches its
peak on Garebeg Maulud, which is the commemoration of Prophet
Muhammad's birthday.

The uncertainty of the dates of the two events is due to the
11-day difference between the Javanese calendar and the Gregorian
calendar, which means the events are held on different days each
year.

"It makes it difficult to compile a fixed timetable of major
celebrations for tourists," said Febria Roekmi Evy, the head of
the Surakarta tourism office.

Nonetheless, these court events are popular with both local
and foreign tourists, with foreign visitors, particularly
Europeans, mostly visiting Surakarta in June, July and August,
when it's summer in their countries.

Those who wish to take home typically Surakarta souvenirs can
visit several handicraft and gift centers, such as Pujasari on
Jl. Slamet Riyadi, which has a large selection of souvenirs and
traditional foods from Surakarta.

It is also worthwhile to stroll through the city's northern
square, where vendors sell kris, gemstones and other souvenirs.

Another potential tourist site is Pasar Klewer, said to be the
largest textile market in Central Java and one which has become
associated with the city. It is famous for the wide range of
batik and other traditional fabrics on sale, which draw buyers
from all over the country, particularly eastern Indonesia.

Although many have called for the market to be improved to
accommodate foreign tourists, particularly because it lies in the
center of the city near the Grand Mosque and the Palace, it
remains crowded and difficult to navigate. Visitors will need a
strong sense of adventure.

The city boasts a large number of lodgings and hotels, from
traditional to star-rated hotels, with the rates varying from
tens of thousands to millions of rupiah a night. And for those
who wish to enjoy a local touch, there are "home-stays" located
throughout the city.

There are numerous buses and taxis in the city to ferry
visitors wherever they wish to go. And for a more relaxed look at
Surakarta, there are becak (pedicabs) and andhong (horse carts),
which are not only less expensive but also a somewhat more
exciting means of transport for those accustomed to getting
everywhere by car or bus.

Communication should not be a problem, as most pedicab
drivers, taxi drivers and coachmen take English courses organized
by the tourism office and the Association of Indonesian Travel
Agencies (ASITA).

"We provide routine guidance and training for them, especially
in the command of English for routine communication in serving
foreigners," said Febria Roekmi.

For those planning a trip to Surakarta, the city is accessible
by both air and land. Garuda Indonesia has three daily flights
connecting Surakarta and Jakarta.

And the city has become even more accessible by air with Adi
Sumarmo airfield having recently been upgraded to an
international airport. Silk Air now has flights connecting
Surakarta and Singapore, while two local airlines, Mandala and
Merpati, have flights linking Surakarta and Jakarta.

"Malaysia's airline is scheduled to begin operating the Solo-
Malaysia route in August, and another airline in Taipei is now
finalizing arrangements to open air links with Solo," said Seseno
Hadiparwono, the chairman of ASITA.

Surakarta can also be reached by bus or railroad, with dozens
of buses and trains connecting Surakarta with Jakarta and several
other major cities.