The Long Journey of Yogyakarta Batik

Following wayang kulit and Keris, in 2009 Unison designated Batik as cultural heritage of the Indonesian nation, ending the polemic on the “copyright” of batik, which had been claimed by Indonesia’s neighbor Malaysia. This recognition by an international agency enhances Indonesia’s pride in the rich cultural heritage bequeathed by our ancestors. And whether recognized or not, batik has certainly has historical significance in the long journey of the Indonesian people.

The journey of batik to the present day can be seen by the many examples of ancient batik kept in museums, and in Indonesia’s main batik centers, mostly in Java and especially in Surakarta and Yogyakarta. These two cities are widely acknowledged as the center of a batik styles that has its roots in the Islamic kingdom of Mataram.

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Prambanan, The Largest Hindu Temple in Central Java

Prambanan is located in the village of Bokoharjo, Sub District of Prambanan, Regency of Sleman approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta. Prambanan is the masterpiece of Hindu culture of the tenth century. The temple complex can be said to be the highest level of ancient architecture in the world. The temple is extraordinarily beautiful building constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.

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Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta (Jogja, Jogjakarta, or Yogya),the Special Region of Yogyakarta (Indonesian: Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, or DIY) is a city with outstanding historical and cultural heritage. Yogyakarata is the smallest province of Indonesia (excluding Jakarta). It is located on the island of Java. It is the only province in Indonesia that is still formally governed by a precolonial Sultanate: the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat.

Located within the Yogyakarta province, Yogyakarta city is known as a center of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry and puppet shows. It is also famous as a center for Indonesian higher education. At Yogyakarta's center is the kraton, or Sultan's palace. While the city sprawls in all directions from the kraton, the core of the modern city is to the north.

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