Java Island
Java is popularly associated with the pearl of Indonesia, despite the fact that it does not have the picturesque beaches that Bali boasts or the majestic jungles of Kalimantan, the energy of this place still attracts millions of tourists to the island. Here they can appreciate the splendor of ancient buildings, visit volcanoes and natural parks, and admire endless tea and rice plantations.
Brief information
Java is just over 1000 kilometers long and cannot boast of a large width: its maximum is only 200 kilometers. But with almost 140 million people living in such a small area, many say that Java is overpopulated and not at all suitable for a comfortable holiday. But you shouldn’t spend too long on the streets of big cities: the island will reveal its true beauty away from populated areas.
A little history
Java has long served as a bone of contention and a place for applying the strategic skills of all the inhabitants of Indonesia. The reason for such a clear desire to capture the island is the favorable conditions for growing rice: the main crop, which is still the only chance for the local inhabitants not to die of hunger.
The first state was formed on the island of Java around the 3rd century BC. Over the next few centuries, the kingdoms changed like gloves on the hands of a fashionista, until the Mongols settled here in the 13th century. True, they did not rule here for long, and power was again seized by one of the local sultans. His sensitive leadership or skillful military actions helped create an empire that included almost all of modern Indonesia. But in the 16th century the state again split into separate principalities. In the 17th century, Java was captured by Holland; in the 20th century, it came under the patronage of Japan, from which it was able to free itself only in the middle of the last century.
Sights of Java
Lovely beaches, fire-spewing volcanoes, magical forests - this is the island in all its natural splendor. In Java, travelers will have no time to lie on the sand, because only here you can feel the heat of the earth's magma on the Krakatoa and Broma volcanoes, stroll through luxurious gardens and parks, admiring the imagination of nature, and explore ancient temples that have miraculously survived to this day.
The most important of them remains the Borobudur Temple, built in the 8th-9th centuries. The structure is often compared to a stone book of Buddhism: you can spend hours studying ancient pictures telling about the earthly life of Buddha. Moreover, they are all carved on the external walls. The inside of the temple is completely empty. The Prambanan Temple boasts a special charm of stone embroidery. It is believed that it was built as a competitor to Borobodur.
The Sultan's palace is still inhabited ─ in fact, it is an entire city, which has its own schools, mosques, houses, streets and squares. At the same time, the Sultan himself is served by 1000 people, the rest simply live in the historical area. The Chandi Sukuk temple complex is probably the most shocking and mysterious place on the island. The Sampoern House is considered the best museum of kretek cigarettes, but not only tobacco lovers should visit it.
The Taman Sari Water Castle has long been a park only for royalty. Moreover, the architect who created this masterpiece of human creativity was ordered to be executed so that he could not tell about all the wonders and secrets of the charming haven. True, now only ruins remain of the magnificent palace. But they are enough to imagine all the former beauty. It is simply impossible to list all the attractions of Java; it is easier to come to the island and see everything with your own eyes.
