Gembira Loka Zoo

Meet and Know Animals in Easy and Attractive Ways 

When you visit Yogyakarta with family, especially kids, it will be nice to find a place to enjoy yourself with all of family member. In Yogyakarta City, there is Gembira Loka Zoo which can be nice place to visit with family. The zoo has various plant and animal collections from all over Indonesia. It also offers interesting learning and enjoyment for your holidays experience.

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Gembira Loka Zoo is one of the alternatives for family recreation in Yogyakarta. It's located around four kilometres from Yogyakarta city centre. The zoo has varies kinds of animal and plant species collections. It also has many kinds of supporting facilities and attractions that are offered for you to enjoy. 

Gembira Loka is located in Kebon Raya Street, Yogyakarta. It's about four kilometres from Yogyakarta city centre. It takes around 15 minute car rides from city centre to go to the zoo. Near the zoo, there is a Trans Jogja shelter that makes it possible to reach by this public transportation.  

The zoo was initiated in 1933 by Sri Sultan Hamengjubuwono IX idea to build amusement park in Yogyakarta. That idea then continued by establishment of Kebon Rojo (King's Garden) in west side of Winongo river, in eastern part of Yogyakrta. The establishment was led by Dutch architect named Karsten, before it was stopped because of Japanese occupation in Java. It was stalled for several years, before the establishment was continued. It was in 1953, when Sri Paduka Pakulam VIII instructed to continue Kebon Rojo establishment. Later, the name of Kebon Rojo changed into Gembira Loka, which is mean place to have fun. Then, over the time Gembira Loka has been develop to be a zoo, which is becomes one of Yogyakarta city pride.

There are varies kinds of flora and fauna collections on the zoo. There are more than 300 animals collections from various species that are can be found in the zoo. Those are such as:orang-utan, elephant, tiger, deer, hippopotamus, zebra, camel, turtle, lizard, snake, komodo, fish, frog, eagle, owl, etc. It also has more than 50 flora species collections that are planted on the zoo complex.  

Beside it varies collections, Gembira Loka has other attractions that are offered. It has interactive attractions such as: feeding the animals and skilled animals show. In feeding time show, visitor can see animals feeding process directly. In skilled animals show, it shows skilled animals action that has been trained to perform awesome actions. There are also supporting attraction such as: elephant ride, camel ride, paddle boat, touching pond, catching pond, water scooter, banana boat, fish therapy, ATV rent, bumper boat, speed boat, and katamaran boat.

The facilities that are provides in Gembira Loka Zoo is quite complete. There are basic facilities such as: toilet, rest area, and information board. It also has a building named Mayang Tirta that is located in artificial lake in centre of the zoo, in this building visitor can enjoy the artificial lake while seeing performances on stage. In that building, there is also a restaurant that offers various meals and drinks. 

Gembira Loka Zoo is nice place to visit with family. It's a best place for kids to learn about animals with safe and fun. It will be good to learn about animals with kids by seeing the animals and explain to them in easy and interactive ways. Kids also will be entertained with animal shows that are offered by the zoo, such as: animal talent shows and feeding shows. It's also possible to enjoy your time by getting into several supporting attractions that are provided. 

Tembi Village

Learn Culture with Attractive Ways in Tembi

Each village usually has its unique culture. Those are such as: way of life, arts, and customs. Here, in Tembi tourism village you will be able to learn some rare Javanese tradition.

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Tembi is a tourism village that is located in south part of Yogyakarta City. It is located in Timbulharjo Village, Bantul District, Yogyakarta Special Region. This tourism village is located around eight kilometres south from Yogyakarta City and it can be reached by car for around 20 minutes. Tembi village is easily accessible since it is located near main road between Yogyakarta City and Parangtritis Beach 

There are many activities that are offered in Tembi. Those are such as: learning how to make traditional meals, village sightseeing, learning traditional art and shopping some merchandise that is sold by villagers. Those activities can help you understand local people's way of life while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere there.

There are several traditional culinary making courses that are offered in Tembi Village. First, there is course about how to make Sagon. It is a rare traditional snack that is made from coconut, sugar and corn flour.  Second, there is course about how to make tempe dele. It is a popular side dish that made from soybean. Both of them are typical meal which still produced with traditional way. At the end of the course, after it has been produced, it can be together consumed. 

In Tembi you also can see unique music performance. One of the unique music performances that are shown for visitor is Bang Bung performance, which is a unique traditional music performance from Tembi Village. It's played by using several music instruments such as: kencrung, bass, gong and kendhang. The sound of this music performance is like the sound of bamboo. In the performance, visitor is invited to actively participate by playing some of music instruments.   

For art learning, there are several courses that are offered. First of all, there are batik learning courses. There are two choices that are offered, learning batik on fabric or on wooden mask. Secondly, there are art production courses about making simple handicraft. There are also courses about wayang and ceramics making process. With those various art courses, it makes Tembi known as one of the cultural centre in southern Yogyakarta.  

Others activities that are offered by Tembi tourism village are: outbound activities and village sightseeing. In outbound activities, visitor will be doing some activities such as: exploring rice field, catching duck in rice field, bakiak race, and many others traditional games Visitors can enjoy the scenery of Tembi village by using dokar or sepeda onthel. Dokar is a horse carriage while sepeda onthel is antique bike. With those vehicles visitor will be able to enjoy exploring the village in interesting ways.

Sasana Wiratama Diponegoro Musuem

Memorize the Spirit of Diponegoro 

This museum was built to memorize a prince named Diponegoro, who led Java War against Dutch which was politically control the Yogyakarta Sultanate in 19th century. In this museum you will be able to see several collections, which is shows the struggle spirit and heroism of Diponegoro.

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Sasana Wiratama Museum or usually known as Pangeran Diponegoro Museum is one of historical museums that are located in Yogyakarta. It's located in HOS Cokroaminoto Street, Tegalrejo Village, Yogyakarta. It's located around four kilometres northwest from Yogyakarta City centre and about twenty minutes car rides from Malioboro Street. 

This museum was built in 1968 to memorize and honour the heroic struggle of a prince named Diponegoro. He was a national hero who led Diponegoro War or usually called Java War against Dutch in Yogyakarta and Central Java. In that war, he was able to make strong resistance against Dutch before he was captured.

Diponegoro War was caused by conflict between Diponegoro and Dutch which was supported by Patih Danureja. Diponegoro was a son of Hamengkubuwono III the third king from Yogyakarta Sultanate Palace which has different political view in the palace. Diponegoro was not happy when he lived in the palace, it was because political policies in palace which were highly influenced by Dutch, so he decided to leave the palace and live in Tegalrejo. In Tegalrejo, he still seen by Dutch as a threat, so there was a plan to force him out from Tegalrejo with road construction that planned to pass his house. The conflicts was more complicated when Patih Danureja ordered put poles as sign of road construction that will begin while Diponegoro was never accepted the road construction plan. This action made him very disappointed and the conflict went higher when Dutch Military involved to force him out from his house and started his war against Dutch.

Diponegoro War was a bloody war, it was started from 1825 and ended in 1830 when Diponegoro was arrested. He used guerrilla war tactic against Dutch, his guerrilla base was in Selarong Cave in Bantul, south of Yogyakarta. In the cave, Diponegoro with his people troops planned attack to several Dutch important places in Central Java and Yogyakarta. The war has significant effect for Dutch, it was cost them more than 15.000 soldiers lost and 200.000 Gulden finance lost. The war finally ended in 1930 when he was tricked by Dutch, then was arrested and expelled to Sulawesi.

Diponegoro Museum complex was established in area that previously used by Diponegoro as residence. The 2,5 hectare wide area, was previously owned by the descendant of Dipenogoro, but then it was given to build the museum.

The museum complex consists of several buildings on it. Those are such as: joglo, library, musholla and barracks. In the museum complex, there is pringgitan, it is a kind of inscription that shows relief of Diponegoro War, the inscription is located near Joglo in the centre of museum complex. In the museum complex, it can be found several objects that belong to Diponegoro period, those are such as: comboran and tembok jebol. Comboran is stone that used as water place for Diponegoro's horses. Tembok jebol is the broken wall from Diponegoro house that was broken due to the attack of Dutch military which was destroyed Diponegoro house. This broken wall was believed made and used by Diponegoro and his family to escape from the Dutch attack.

Inside the museum, there are various collections related to Diponegoro. Those are such as: pikes, arrows, keris, cannon and others weapons that used to fight against Dutch. Those weapons are believed was used by Diponegoro followers in Diponegoro War. In the museum, there are housing equipment, furniture and gamelan set that belongs to Hamengkubuwono II the second king of Yogyakarta Sultanate, which is grandfather of Diponegoro.

At the end, Diponegoro Museum is a nice place to learn history, especially about Diponegoro War. Here, you will be able to see some collections related to the war and know stories about the prince struggle.

Sonobudoyo Museum

Learn and Appreciate Javanese Culture in Sonobudoyo Museum

Yogyakarta is known as Javanese cultural centre. It has been the centre of Javanese civilization from the past in early of Ancient Mataram Kingdom until present in 21th century. In Yogyakarta you can find many Javanese cultures and traditions that still exist today, those are such as: wayang, wooden mask and batik. Therefore, it will be nice for you, if you try to see and learn Javanese culture and tradition when you visit Yogyakarta.

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Sonobudoyo Museum is a cultural museum that is located in Yogyakarta. It's located in the north side of Yogyakarta Sultanate Palace. It's situated in two locations, the first building is in Trikora Street in the north of Alun Alun Lor Yogyakarta, the second location is in Wijilan area in the east side of Alun Alun Lor. The main museum is the building that located in the Trikora Street, while the second museum building is in Wijilan area and used to showing additional museum collection.  

The museum is easily accessible due to its strategic location. It's located between the straight line of popular tourism attractions in Yogyakarta, such as: Malioboro Street, Vredeburg Fort and Yogyakrta Sultanate Palace. It's located less than one kilometre away from Yogyakarta Sultanate Palace or Vredeburg Fort, which is means you can walk to reach this museum from both places. If you are not prefers to walk, there are also some options to use becak or andhong to reach this museum.

Sonobudoyo Museum was firstly open for public in 6 November 1935. The establishment of this museum was started at 1934 and led by a Dutch architect Ir. Karsten. The establishment of this museum was the project from Java Institute, an institute that concerned to collect, preserve and develop Javanese culture. Sonobudoyo museum was established as place to preserve and show the collection that has been discovered by this institute. The purpose of this museum was symbolized in the museum name, “sono” means place and “budoyo” means culture, so this museum means as a place of culture.  

Sonobudoyo Museum is known as museum that has many collections related to Javanese culture. It has more than 43.000 collections related to the Javanese history and culture. Those collections varies from several historical period, started from pre-historic in Java, Hinduism and Buddhism period, Islamic period, until colonial period in Java. The collection type on this museum also varies from weapon, ceramic, old manuscript, old article, stamp, money, stone statue, sculpture and many others priceless collection.      

The museum building is divided into several rooms based on its collections. Museum rooms are divided into several theme rooms that show certain collection themes. Those rooms are such as: pendopo room, introduction room, batik room, Islamic and classic room, prehistory room, gold room, mask room, Central Java room, Bali room and wayang room. The themes of collection rooms are basically based on two things, historical period or type of collection. The example of collection room that has historical period based theme is such as: prehistory room that shows collection that is related to prehistory period in Java. In other side, some collection room based on its collection type, for the example: batik room shows collection about batik, wayang room shows collection that is related to wayang, gold room that shows collection made from gold. With this collection room division, visitor can more easily understand about collection in each room.

Beside, varies collections on the museum, Sonobudoyo Museum also offers another activity. At night, when the museum has closed, it has wayang kulit performance on the museum complex. Wayang kulit is shadow puppets theatre that is commonly played in Java and Bali area. The usual wayang performance mainly played during the whole night, with more than six hours of performance. But, in Sonobudoyo Museum you can see the performance in shorter duration. It's usually take only two hours for this short wayang performance. You just need to come to the museum complex and pay the performance ticket for Rp20.000 and you will be able to see wayang performance. It will be started at 20.00 until 22.00 and can be a nice way to spend night in Yogyakarta

Kotabaru, Yogyakarta

Explore Remaining Colonial Heritage of Yogyakarta

Located in the east side of Yogyakarta Train Station, Kotabaru is a unique part of Yogyakarta City. This area has several important buildings that are still maintain its Dutch architecture, which are stand firmly with harmony in this city. 

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Yogyakarta City history cannot be separated from Dutch influence on it. Dutch not only influences the political condition in Yogyakarta Sultanate, but also influence condition of social, economy and culture on the Yogyakarta city in the past. One of Dutch influenced heritages that are still exist today in the city is Kotabaru area.  

Kotabaru is an area in Yogyakarta that has high Dutch influence on it. It has several historical buildings which are still maintain its European architecture style. This area was projected as the alternative resident area for Dutch and European people that lived in Yogyakarta at that time. It was planned and conceptualized followed the model of European cities in that time.

The establishment of Kotabaru was caused by the development of Yogyakarta City in the early of 20th century. At that time, after Dutch initiated sugar factory production and developed business in Yogyakarta, there was European flow to the city. This make the city need a new residential area for them, it was because Loji Kecil that located near Yogyakarta Palace cannot accommodate the increase of Dutch and European that lived in the city. 

Kotabaru area concept was highly influenced by cities in Europe. It has radial layout patterns that imitate from the city pattern in Dutch. It was quite different with Yogyakarta city pattern in that time, which was still based on wind direction layout pattern. It was planned to be a garden city that has various plants which were planted on the roadside and boulevard. The area was also designed with complete facilities on it, there were several important office building and facilities: such as: schools, hospital and churches.

Today's, Kotabaru is part of modern Yogyakarta city and become one of the important city part. In this area, there are some important offices building that based on it, those are such as: Telecommunication Office, Yogyakarta City Tourism Office, Schools, Kridosono Sport Centre, and other private institution office. With those important buildings situated on this area, it makes this area become one of the busiest area in Yogyakarta.

Although has been develop to be a modern area, there are still some Dutch influence on that can be seen in Kotabaru. Some of the buildings in the area still maintain and well preserve its European architecture with good building condition. Even though some of buildings has been changed its function, but those buildings are still well-preserved, so it's not lost its identity. The area also not get much of change from its original layout design, it's still be a unique city part of Yogyakarta.

There are several interesting buildings that can be seen in Kotabaru area. Firstly, there is Saint Antonius Church, this church has European architecture and located just after Syuhada Mosque. There is also Bimo building that has art deco architecture and has unique curve roof. There are several schools that still maintain the original architecture, those schools are such as: SMA Negeri 3 Yogyakarta, SMA BOPKRI 1 Yogyakarta and SMP Negeri 5 Yogyakarta. There are also buildings that have historical story on it such as: Yogyakarta Tourism Office, Brigade General Katamso House and Jiwasraya Insurance Office.

There are many choices about how to enjoy your time in Kotabaru. Walking or cycling around is good alternative to see and explore the area. You also can spend your time by visiting some cafes and art galleries that spread on the area. It will be nice experiences to feel this historical city part of Yogyakarta that still exist in harmony.