:: Java Island Travel Guides ::
Java (Indonesian, Javanese,
and Sundanese: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia and the
site of its capital city, Jakarta.
Once
the centre of powerful Hindu kingdoms and the core of
the colonial Dutch East Indies, Java now plays a
dominant role in the economic and political life of
Indonesia. Housing a population of 124 million, it is
the most populous island in the world. Java is also one
of the most densely populated regions on Earth.
Formed mostly as the result of volcanic events, Java is
the 13th largest island in the world and the fifth
largest island of Indonesia. A chain of volcanic
mountains forms an east-west spine along the island. It
has three main languages, and most residents are
bilingual, with Indonesian as their second language.
While the majority of Javanese are Muslim (or at least
nominally Muslim), Java has a diverse mixture of
religious beliefs and cultures.
the capital city of the
Republic of Indonesia, is a
special territory enjoying the status of a province,
consisting of Greater Jakarta, covering an area of
637.44 square km. Located on the northern coast of West
Java, it is the center of government, commerce and
industry and as such has an extensive communications
network with the rest of the country and the outside
world. As Indonesia's main gateway, the Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport serves a growing number of
international airlines and domestic flights. Jakarta is
a city of contrasts; the traditional and the modern, the
rich and the poor, the sacral and the worldly, often
stand side by side in this bustling metropolis.
Even its population, gathered from all those diverse
ethnic and cultural groups which compose Indonesia, are
constantly juxtaposed as an ever- present reminder of
the national motto; Unity in Diversity.
Ba
nten
is a province of Indonesia, located at the western end
of Java Island. Banten has an area of 9,160.7 km˛ and
population of 9,083,114 (2005). Banten was established
in October 2000 after being separated from West Java
province. The capital of the province is Serang.
Banten in the fifth century
was part of Tarumanagara kingdom. A stone inscription,
called Prasasti Cidanghiang, coming from Tarumanagara
era can be found at Lebak area at the bank of
Cidanghiang river, in Pandeglang Regency, Banten. The
Prasasti Cidanghiang, found in 1947, contains 2 lines of
poetic sentences in Sanskrit written in Pallava
characters. The inscription proclaims Purnawarman as the
standard for rulers around the world.
West
Java (Indonesian: :Jawa Barat), with population around
35.72 million, is the most populous province of
Indonesia, located on Java Island. Its capital city is
Bandung.
Sundanese share Java island with other Malayan people:
Javanese people. They primarily live in their home
province of West Java. Although Sundanese live in the
same island with Javanese, they consider themselves a
distinct cultural area called Sunda. Someone moving from
West Java Province to Central or East Java Provinces, is
literally said to be moving from Sunda to Java.
Flanked
by West and East Java, this province is centrally
located on Java island with Semarang as its provincial
capital situated on the northern coast. A network of
good roads and highways in addition to solid railways
linking its major cities and villages plus the
accessibility to reach it by air through three main
airports, all assure the visitor that he finds himself
in a region with more than adequate communications
To most Indonesian visitors Central Java's history and
its social influence over the whole nation are
relatively known. The very first Moslem kingdom on the
island was founded in 1511 at Demak, about 40 km from
Semarang, which became the beachhead from which Islam
spread out throughout the island. Today Demak is a
sleepy little town, however, its glory of the past is
still visible from one of the major relics now still
well preserved, the Grand Mosque, a quaint blend of
Hindu and Islamic architecture, still honored and
worshipped by Javanese pilgrims.
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.
Magnificent
mountain scenery include the crater and sea of sand at
Mount Bromo, the "sulfur mountain" Welirang and rugged
lien Plateau. Little of the Majapahit empire's former
glory still stands in East Java to day with the
exception of temple ruins and some archaeological
discoveries. East Java's claim to fame in modern history
is its vanguard role in the struggle for independence
against colonial forces in 1945.
Surabaya is the capital city for the east Java province
that has the most bustling city. Business and leisure
trip as a choice to visit the east of Java.
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