KISKENDO CAVE

Kiskendo Cave is located in the Menoreh mountain, Kulon Progo Regency. The area lies + 700 m above sea level, so that the air there is cool and fresh. The panorama of its environment is beautiful indeed. To the east, vast lowlands extending around the Progo river can be admired and to the south, vaguely, the Indian Ocean.

This cave can be reached by motor bikes or cars. But those using big vehicles ( big buses ) are advised to stop at the Kecamatan ( district ) Girimulyo and to proceed by smaller vehicles because of the narrow road. Along the way to the cave the beautiful view of the mountainous area and the terraced rice field are beautiful sight.

Apart from the stalagmites clinging to the roof and mounting from the floor of the cave, it is said that the cave treasures a well known legend about the fight between Mahesasura, Lembusura and Jathasura against Sugriwa and Subali.

This story is depicted by relief made in front of the cave. In connection with above story, inside the Kiskendo cave local people belief the presence of several places as being the remainders of Sekandang Kingdom, among others:

Santri Tani and Subali meditation places, Selumbung (royal food storage), Kraton Sekandang (centre of the Kingdom), Selansur (hiding place of royal soldiers during the fight between Subali againt Mahesasura and Lembusura; this place can only be reached by crawling ) and Sumelong (a hole through the roof of the cave the escape of Subali from the cave because Sugriwa has blocked the entrance of the cave).

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SONOBUDOYO MUSEUM

The Sonobudoyo museum is located on the north side of the North Square of Sultan's Palace. It was built in 1935 according to Javanese architecture. The architecture of gateway resembles to the entrance of the mosque in Kudus in the way to the auditorium and main joglo structure which are connected, while Kudus is the most ancient town in the island of Java beside Kotagede. The museum has the second most complete collection of cultural artifacts after the central museum in Jakarta, like ceramic from the Neolithic Age, statues and bronze articles from the 8th, 9th and 10th century originating from the temples of Central Java, various kinds of masks and wayang (puppet for shadow play ), a gamelan or orchestra, an ancient weapon collection, heir looms and artifacts from Bali. This museum is also an interesting library that keeps various ancient books related to the Javanese culture.

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NGAYOGYOKARTO HADININGRAT

The palace building, with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture, lies in the centre of the city. It was founded by Pangeran Mangkubumi in 1755. The Prince was then called Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono 1. He chose the right place for the site of the building, right between Winongo and Code river, a swamp area that dried up then.

The Palace building stretches from north to south. The front yard of the palace is called alun-alun Utara (North Square) and the back yard called alun-alun Selatan (South Square).The design of the building shows that the palace, the obelisk (The Tugu, the column), and Mount Merapi lie in one line. It is believed that the axis is sacred.

In the olden time. Sri Sultan used to concentrate his mind along this axis before leading a meeting or giving orders to his people. Each part of the building has its own name. The palace meeting hall is called Pagelaran. It is the place where formal meeting of the Palace officials are held. Manguntur Tangkil Hall is the place where the Sultan has his seat. This hall lies in the Siti Hinggil. Siti means ground and Hinggil means high. It is named so because the place where it was built is higher than any other ground around it. It was once a tiny island on the swamp.

The front gate is called Danapratopo. It is guarded by two giant statues called Gupala. One is called Cingkorobolo and the other is Boloupoto. The two statues are supposed to protect the palace from any harm or evil. The main part of the building is called Purworetno, there are two storeys buildings called Panti Sumbaga. This building is the Sultan's private library. The building where the Sultan live is called Gedong Kuning.

The visitor of the palace can enjoy the Atmosphere of the Kraton as it was some centuries ago. Wedding ceremonies, palace meeting which is often held with puppet shows to create such an atmosphere. Many sets of gamelan music instruments, antiques, and heirlooms make the palace of Yogyakarta the most interesting tourist attractions in Yogyakarta. The palace of NgayogyokartoHadiningrat is now the dwelling place of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and the family.

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BANYU NIBO TEMPLE

Banyu Nibo temple can be visited easily after visiting King Boko temple. It is located solitarily amid the farmland about two kilometers southeast of King Boko's Palace, flanked by Gunung Kidul hills to the south. The fantastic view of its exotic scenery makes this temple most enjoyable. This Budhist temple is fairly small. The slightly curved roof functions as the top of the stupa and gives the temple certain allure. This temples dates from the 9th century and has been restored.

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SARI TEMPLE

This Buddhist temple is located about 600 meters north east of Kalasan temple on the north side of the main road between Yogyakarta and Solo. It is a slender and beautiful temple consisting of two floors. The upper floor was formerly used to keep religious relics. This temple was formerly a Buddhist sanctuary or Vihara where the Buddhist priest used to live, meditate, and teach their followers. The wall of the temple is also protected with Vajralepa.

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BENTENG VREDEBURG

Benteng Vredeburg is opposite Gedung Agung. It was built in the year 1765 by the Dutch during the colonial domination against the cannon shot from the Sultan's palace. Its function was to protect the residence of the Dutch Residence. This fort is also surrounded by a moat which still can be seen at present. The fort is rectangular in shape with bastions on the four corners and ramparts which enable the Dutch soldiers to walk around and shoot from. From the base of the cannon on the southern rampart, one has a good view of the Sultan's Palace and other historical buildings and busy traffic around these places. The fort is within walking distance from the centre of town.

source by http://www.jogjatourism.com/html/vredeburg.htm

PLAOSAN TEMPLE

Plaosan temple is about one kilometer east of semu temple . This Buddhist temple consist of two main temples standing side by side, each having terraced bases. The relief carved on the southern main temple depict a man and the other temple a woman. Another peculiarity of this temple is its perwara temple, which takes the shape of a slender stupa.

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SEWU TEMPLE

Sewu temple is located just several hundrer] meters north east of Prambanan temple. It is a large and vast Buddhist temple including several other small temples like Lumbung, Asu, Bubrah and Lor Kulon temple.

source by http://www.jogjatourism.com/html/sewu.htm