Lying in the shadow of the aptly named "Fire Mountain", (2914 meter-high active volcano, Mt. Merapi), is the seat of the once mighty Javanese Empire of Mataram, Ngayogyakarto Hadiningrat. Yogyakarta (Yogya) came into being in 1755, when a land dispute split the power of Mataram into the Sultanates of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo). Prince Mangkubumi built Kraton of Yogyakarta and created one of the most powerful Javanese states ever. The Kraton is still the hub of Yogyakarta's traditional life and despite the advances of the 20th century, it still radiates the spirit of refinement which has been the hallmark of its art and people for centures.
Yogyakarta is one of the supreme cultural centers of Java. Full Gamelan orchestras keep alive the rhythms the past, classical Javanese dances entrance with visions of beauty and poise, shadows come to life in the stories of the wayang kulit and a myriad of traditional visual art forms keep locals and visitors alike spell¬bound. Yogya has an extraordinary life force and charm which seldom fails to captivate.
Contemporary art has also grown in the fertile soil of yogyakarta’s sophisticated cultural society. ASRI, the Academy of Fine Art, is the centre of arts in the region and Yogyakarta has given its name to an important school of modern painting in Indonesia, best-illustrated by the renowned impressionist, the late Affandi
The province is one of the most densety populated areas of Indonesia. It strechtes from the slopes of mighty Mount Merapi in the north to the wave-swept beaches of the powerful Indian Ocean to the south.
Yogya Interesting Places
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