Surakarta has lots to offer, besides 'keraton' tour

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.