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Yogyakarta
or simply Yogya, is one of the foremost cultural centers of
Java. Located at the foot of the active Merapi volcano, Yogyakarta
was in the 16th and 17th centuries the seat of the mighty
Javanese empire of Mataram., from which present day Yogyakarta
has inherited the best of traditions.
The city itself has a special charm which seldom fails to
captivate the visitor. This province is one of the most densely
populated areas of Indonesia. The city came into being in
1755, after the division of Mataram into the Sultanates
of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo). Gamelan, classical and
contemporary Javanese dances, the wayang kulit leather puppet
theater and other expressions of traditional art will keep
the visitor spellbound.
Local craftsmen excel in the arts of batiks, silver and leather
work. The Sultan's palace is the hub of Yogya's traditional
life and despite the advance of modernity, it still emanates
the spirit of refinement which has been the hallmark of Yogya's
art for centuries. Next to the traditional, contemporary art
has found fertile soil in Yogya's culture oriented society.
ASRI, the Academy of Fine Arts is the center of arts and Yogya
itself has given its name to an important school of modern
painting in Indonesia, perhaps best personified by the famed
Indonesian impressionist, the late Affandi. Yogya is often
called the main gateway to the center of Java where it is
geographically located. It stretches from Mount Merapi to
the Indian Ocean. There is daily air service to Yogya from
Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali as well as regular train service
and easy accessibility by road.
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