Cetho Temple, The Resemblance of Ancient Aztec and Mayan Cultures of Central America

Cetho temple was built in the 15th century it was a Hindu-style temple. This temple is a relic of the Majapahit kingdom, a Hindu kingdom whose territory is very wide in its heyday. The mysterious thing about this relic is that Cetho temple shape has similarities with Mayan heritage building in Central America. Both temple have terraces and pyramidal shape. Both were also built in the hills or areas that are higher than surrounding areas.

The first scientific report about this temple made by a researcher from the Netherland, Van de Vlies in 1842.  Excavation (digging) for the purpose of reconstruction was first performed in 1928 by the Archaeological Department of the Dutch East Indies. Under the circumstances when the rubble started to study, this temple has the age that does away with Sukuh. Cetho temple located on the west slope of Mount Lawu, located on Sukuh. Locations Ceto temple located in the hamlet, village Gumeng, District Jenawi, Karanganyar district, at an altitude of 1400m above sea level.

Until now, the temple complex is used by the locals as a place of Hindu worship and popular as the hermitage for the original religion of Java or Kejawen. When the state discovered the stone ruins of this temple is the fourteen-story plain, stretching from the west (the lowest) to the east, although at just 13 rooms, and the restoration was carried out on nine terrace only. Structure the terraces will make allegations of native culture revival ("punden terraces") at that time, were synthesized with the Hindu religion. This assumption is reinforced by the shape of the body in relief like shadow puppets, similar to the depiction in Sukuh.

When you travel to Cetho Temple, you will be fascinated by the incredible beautiful natural scenery. The beauty of the wide tea plantation  area with typical cool of mountain fresh air. Two waterfalls will present a panorama of your own for travelers  who love the beauty of nature.

Cutural Festival, Solo Batik Carnival (SBC)

Surakarta or Solo is famous for  batik clothes, one of the products of high cultural  value of Indonesia. In Solo there are some special rules about the use of batik, include: social status of the one who wear  some special pattern  and special events where batik should be used in conjunction with the hope or blessing  through batik designs. Solo batik designs are also often associated with Hindu Javanese culture, a symbol Sawat or supreme power of the crown, the symbol of the mountain Meru or earth, symbol of the water dragon, symbol of the wind or the birds of the upper world and the symbol of Fire Tongue of fire. Batik in Solo is not about fahion. Various efforts have been made to introduce and preserve batik products.  One of them  is like the annual event held by The Government of Surakarta , Solo Batik Carnival (SBC).

This Event,  Solo Batik Carnival (SBC) is an annual event conducted by The Government of Surarakarta City. The participants  is actually  only from the local region.  But  on Batik Carnival in Solo in 2010 there were 20 participating countries Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (AMCHUD) that come to enliven the Solo Batik Carnival. Countries taking part include Iran, Laos, Fiji, Cambodia, Brunei, Oman, Iran, Maldipes, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Buton, Afghanistan, India, Qatar, Palestine, Armenia, and Jordan.

The delegates followed the carnival carriage  horses. Along the way they always smiled and waved to the thousands of people who thronged  Slamet Riyadi Street.

Solo Batik Carnival (SBC), which has become an icon of the Solo can be seen starting from the intersection of Jalan Slamet Riyadi Purwosari  and will end up in the Ngarsopuro. Carnival dispatched at 15:00 pm.

The festival is of course very helpful to attract foreign tourists to visit Indonesia. Just for you know that in 2011, there are around 200 000 tourists from the America. visited Indonesia. This year, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry expects the number of tourists from the U.S. visiting Indonesia to reach 225.000 tourist.And Solo as festival organizers will be known internationally, as a city that has a lot of cultural tourism attraction to visit.

Enjoy Travelling By Old Dutch Train In Solo

In Indonesia, railway transportation  is the most popular vehicle. This  railway transportation first built in the Dutch colonial era. History of railways in Indonesia has been started since the 19th century in 1864 y on the island of Java. In that time  the train was growing rapidly,  in addition to public transport as well as freight commodities at the time considering many plantations  are opened by Dutch Colaonial Governments.Along with the development of technology, the train continues to change and grow .  Ancient train steam engine is now no longer operated.  Replaced with modern fast diesel or electricity train.

This old train gives an ancient and nostalgic atmosphere related with the old period of Dutch colonialsm. "Kluthuk Jaladara Train " I s an old-fashioned steam train in Solo, which is currently re-operated again. Of course train  is only used as a tourist train that can be rented by anyone who wants to reminisce, to feel the sensation of ancient impression of an old railway Dutch colonial era. The idea to revive this Jaladara Railway came from the Governor of Jakarta, Joko Widodo or better known as the Jokowi, when serving as mayor of Solo. The Trains has been the collection of Ambarawa Museum for years.

Jaladara C1218 is a locomotive, the locomotive type C12. C12 locomotive types are small and designed for short l destinations. This steam locomotive is a train with locomotive C1218.  C1218 locomotive was made in the Netherlands by Hartmann Chemnitz locomotive plant in 1986 and operated in the same year in Indonesia. The company operates is Staatspoorwegen or SS, the Dutch government-owned railway company.

Travel with ancient steam train departed from station of  Purwosari to Station of Solo City. Travel by steam train will take passengers Jaladara see the attraction in the form of Solo city centers, shopping centers and historical attractions. In an ancient train tour package, passengers will be treated to food and herbal medicine, and traditional musical performances and other entertainment during the trip.

This old train travelers continues to increase from time to time. Generally, tourist train passengers are from upper middle class. They are entrepreneurs who do business in Solo and foreign tourists who were traveling in Solo. The rate charged for passenger train travel is about $ 15 to $ 20 per person one way. There are also packages with a capacity of 70 passengers collectively worth $ 337. Do you really want to get a new experiences with old train? Just come and visit Solo.

Kraton Surakarta, Another Palace in Java

Kraton Surakarta, another palace in Java Island is located right in the center of Surakarta, central Java Province.  It is adjacent to the landmarks of  Solo (Surakarta) such as City Hall, Klewer Market and Gede Market. You can use so many  transportation  to reach the palace. And do not forget to try the traditional vehicle of  transportation such as rickshaws and “andong”.

Physically Kraton Surakarta has much in common with the Yogyakarta Palace, because one of the architect is The Prince  Mangkubumi or Sultan Hamengkubuwana I , which is also the main architect of the palace of Yogyakarta. The similarity of the spatial pattern is evident in the layout of the square to the north and south of the palace. Surakarta palace building consists of the main building and supporting environments such as Gate (the gate) called Gladag to the South. And then there were two square in the northern and southern palace complex.

Surakarta Palace is a symbol of  the origin of  Surakarta or Solo. Kraton Surakarta or the official name, Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat, is a historic place you must  visit  when travelling to Solo. Built in stages since the first was established in the year 1744 by Sunan Pakubuwono II, making Kraton Surakarta an exotic place that also saves a lot of historical value.

Keraton Surakarta built by Pakoe Boewono II in 1745 AD. Formerly the capital palace in Kartasura, located approximately 12 km west of the city of Solo. Kraton Surakarta experienced the golden era during the reign of Sunan Paku Buwono X in the year 1893-1939. In Surakarta Palace there is an Art Gallery with  various historical objects that have historical value and high art. Some of the collection is the carriage, an assortment of weapons, shadow puppets and objects of other relic. Kraton Surakarta open to the public every day at 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Sunday 8:30 to 13:00 hours. Kraton closed on Friday.