Yogyakarta — Cultural Capital of Java

Yogyakarta (called "Jogja" by locals) is the cultural heart of Java and the best starting point for the two largest temples in Southeast Asia. The city is the only Indonesian province still ruled by a reigning Sultan — Sultan Hamengkubuwono X resides in the Kraton, the 18th-century Sultan's Palace, which is both a museum and a vibrant cultural center.

The Kraton is much more than a palace: It is the spiritual and cultural center of Javanese civilization. Daily gamelan performances, batik workshops, and the strictly hierarchical court culture provide insight into a world that has existed for centuries. The surrounding alleys of the Kampung are full of silversmiths, batik workshops, and wayang puppet makers.

The Jalan Malioboro is Yogyakarta's most famous street: An endless stream of becaks (bicycle rickshaws), vendors, street performers, and food stalls. In the evening, the entire sidewalk transforms into a night market where you can find batik shirts, silver jewelry, and the local Gudeg (sweet jackfruit curry).

The Taman Sari (Water Castle) was once the Sultan's pleasure garden — a labyrinthine complex of pools, underground passages, and mosques, now half-ruined, half-inhabited, exuding a surreal charm.