Surakarta has lots to offer, besides 'keraton' tour

Kartika Bagus C., The Jakarta Post, Surakarta, Central Java

Surakarta has long been famous for the richness of its cultural heritage and has become a leading tourist destination in Indonesia. One of the city's landmarks is the Keraton Kasunanan Surakarta Hadiningrat or Surakarta Hadiningrat Palace, which was built centuries ago to mark the birth of the city.

The old palace building is still well maintained and remains intact despite the clear signs of its age.

Retaining its magnificence and glory, Surakarta Keraton, along with the Mangkunegaran Fort, has continued to serve as a symbol of Javanese culture. Both the palace and the fort are frequented by local and foreign tourists interested in history and culture.

The presence of the Surakarta Keraton is inseparable from the city's daily life, and its long history has made Surakarta, a center of Javanese cultural values and traditions, an influential place for many people.

These cultural features have become a major tourist attraction. Its relatively pristine atmosphere makes tourists feel at home, and the prevalence of local values distinguishes Surakarta from other cities on Java island, including Yogyakarta.

In terms of facilities, infrastructure and tourism potential, Surakarta can count itself lucky.

The city has at least 14 homestays, dozens of ordinary and star-rated hotels, cafes and restaurants as well as various tourist attractions such as the Radyapustaka Museum, Sriwedari Cultural Tourism Park, Taru Jurug Zoological Garden, Klewer textile market, Triwindu antique market and the Depok Bird Center.

Surakarta also offers cultural attractions and traditional art performances such as Wayang Orang (classical dance dramas) in Sriwedari, Kethoprak (history and legend based dramas) in Balekambang and various theatrical and choreographic pieces presented by the Surakarta Cultural Park (TBS) and the Indonesian Arts College (STSI).

Wayang Orang has become a favorite option for evening entertainment. However, 70 percent of the spectators are foreigners. The residents of Surakarta themselves seem less interested in this form of artistic expression.

Besides its plentiful handicraft and souvenir centers, the city, which has a population of 520,000, is strategically located as a tourist destination. It offers easy access via various land and air routes.

One of the tourist sites frequented by foreign visitors is the Sukuh temple on the slopes of Mount Lawu in Karanganyar, southeast of Surakarta.

According to Suseno Hadiparwono, chairman of the Surakarta branch of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASITA), this temple possesses something special in the eyes of overseas visitors.

"It's due to the unique features of Sukuh, with its typical Javanese reliefs depicting ancient teachings and erotic images," he said.

In addition, several places in Surakarta offer facilities for spiritual activities, such as the Lemah Putih boarding house in Mojosongo, and Sapta Tirta in Kasunanan Keraton, where visitors can practice meditation.

The latest data from the Surakarta tourism office shows that the number of foreign tourists visiting the city totaled 13,467 in 2000, compared to 774,479 domestic tourists from all across the country.