Temples, Volcanoes & Caves: 10 Extraordinary things to do in Yogyakarta

Sarah Khan 13 Oct 2016 updated the 1 August 2017 à 18:17

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Sunrise at Borobudur
Borobudur is the largest and one of the most stunning Buddhist temples in the world. Despite being a popular tourist spot, it is still a key pilgrimage site for Buddhists from all over the world.

As one of the main tourist sites in Yogyakarta, it can get a little crowded at times. If possible, visit the temple early in the morning before dawn and catch the sunrise. The sight of the fiery orange-y gold sun ascending in the horizon and beaming through the carvings and gaps in the stupas is a vision you won't forget.
Borobudur Park, Magelang, Central Java
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Raku Boko Palace
The stunning Ratu Boko palace and temple is situated majestically atop a hill, overlooking the Prambanan temples and with Mount Merapi as its backdrop.
The palace ruins was once a place where Javanese royalty resided, during the 8th-century golden ages of the ancient Javanese kingdoms. Unlike the restored Borobudur and Prambanan temples, only parts of this palace remain today. It is said that it takes its name from the legendary Javanese king, King Boko, popular in local folklore. Visiting Ratu Boko in the evening offers splendid magenta and orange-hued views of the sunset that is definitely worth checking out.
Jalan Raya Jogja-Solo, Prambanan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan temple
The Prambanan temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was built in the 10th century and is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia.

It was built in 856AD to honour Lord Shiva and orginally had 240 temples onsite before the earthquakes left most of it ruin. Left forgotten and neglected for hundreds of years, it was then rediscovered and formally restored in 1811.
The temple is stunning, with meticulously and intricately carved stone blocks. Visiting the temple later in the day will give you a chance to catch the mesmerising Prambanan Ramayana Ballet. Based on an epic Hindu tale, it tells the story of king Rama in the form of a local Javanese-style dance, enacted by over 200 professional dancers and musicians on an extensive open air stage, with the Prambanan Temples looming in the background.
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Mount Merapi
Brace yourselves: the plane ride from Jakarta offers you a spectacular, expansive view up-close of this active volcano in Java, right from your plane seat.
Dubbed the most active volcano in Asia with its record number of eruptions, Mount Merapi literally translates to “Fire Mountain” in Javanese. Its last eruption was in 2010, and you can still see its visible effects today among the villages and residents on the volcano, who still remain despite the hazards.
You can hop on a jeep to scale different points of the mountains, or hop on the back of one the local villagers' bikes that can take you around the homes and villages of Merapi. You'll find that the locals lead surprisingly normal lives in spite living on the face of an unpredictable active volcano.
Mt. Merapi, Suroteleng, Selo, Boyolali Regency 57363, Indonesia
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Descend metres-deep into the Jomblang Cave
Abseil 7 storeys down into pitch darkness at the Jomblang Cave for a truly Indiana Jones-worthy experience.
Jomblang Cave, a collapsed forest that eventually turned into a cave, was formed thousands of years ago when an estimated 300-metre patch of land caved into a sinkhole. At exactly 12 noon, prepare yourself for the stunning and memorable light leaks penetrating through the tiny opening at the roof of the cave - something you'd think only existed on the pages of National Geographic.
Aim to arrive at the cave before 10am for a chance to abseil down the cave, as there's a limit of about 50 people per day. Expect at least a 2 hours drive from the centre of Yogyakarta.
Semanu, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Cave-tubing at Goa Pindul
Goa Pindul in Yogyakarta is the place to be for a cave-tubing experience and an up-close look at the beauty of stalactite and stalagmite rock formations on the cave walls formed over hundreds of years ago. You enter the cave on large black tyres led by a guide - there are bats as you go deeper in the cave and a point where it goes completely pitch, inky black. However, it concludes with a stunning section of the cave where generous light pours through a gap in its roof. Those seeking an adrenaline rush also have the option of a six-metre jump off a tree trunk into the lagoon!

Dusun Gelaran 1, Desa Bejharjo, Karangmojo, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta
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Kalibiru National Park
Along the Menoreh mountain range lies the recently built Kalibiru National Park. It is an approximately 1 to 2 hour drive from the city and a welcome change of cool, fresh air and the conspicuous absence of motorcycles that is characteristic of the main city.

The fully-scaled rock climbing and tight rope walking activities both offer stunning views from the top of the mountain, while the flying fox option ends at a high treetop deck overlooking the stunning Lake Sermo (pictured). At an entry fee of only SGD4, this is the perfect adrenaline-inducing option for those who love the outdoors, heights and beautiful landscapes.
Kalibiru, Hargowilis, Kokap, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta 55561, Indonesia
Photo: Kalibiru National Park (Facebook)
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Taman Sari Water Palace
Taman Sari, a garden chateau complete with swimming pools in the middle of the courtyard, was a gift built by the Portuguese for the wives of the Sultan during their short stay in Java in the 18th century.
Walk through the meandering corridors that lead to the main castle tower, and you'll find a tunnel and a system of mysterious underground catacombs. You can explore the various passageways, hidden chambers and even Sumur Gumuling, an underground mosque, as you wander further into the catacombs.
Jl. Taman, Kraton, Yogyakarta, 55133
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Malioboro Street
Bustling, vibrant and perpetually whizzing with motorbikes and rickshaws, Malioboro Street is Yogyakarta's answer to Bangkok's famous night markets.
An endless line of vendors selling handicrafts, textiles and other souvenirs flank the sides of the road. They typically mark up the prices of their goods if they can tell you're not local, so persist in your bargaining!
You can also find great restaurants along the street that serve authentic Javanese meals (although they do have their share of fast food establisihments too).
Jalan Malioboro, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Ullen Sentalu Museum
The National Geographic named this must-visit museum as Indonesia's best museum, and rightfully so. It features a privately-owned collection depicting the history, culture and lives from the 8th-century Mataram Kingdom era, one of Indonesia's most powerful kingdoms responsible for building the world-famous Borobudur.
There is a complementary tour of the various exhibit rooms, each displaying historical artefacts like furniture, pictures, batik and art. The tour concludes in a lush garden surrounded by mossy stone walls, where you will be served a glass of Ratu Mas, a secret Javanese cocktail infused with seven natural herbs believed to bring health and preserve beauty.
Jl. Boyong Km 25, Kaliurang Barat, Kec. Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

From watching the vermilion sunsets atop the majestic Borobudur, to abseiling metres-deep into the pitch black Jomblang Cave, Yogyakarta is the perfect city for a culture and adventure-hungry spirit.

If Jakarta is the financial powerhouse and heart of Indonesia, Yogyakarta is its soul.

Yogyakarta (pronounced ‘Jogjakarta’, or ‘Jog-ja’ for short) is where the Javanese language, arts and tradition are at its purest and most visible. It is a city with a rich and distinct centuries-old heritage attributing to its role as the former capital of several historical kingdoms (like the Ancient Mataram Kingdom spanning from the 8th to 18th century), and the intertwining of its strong Hindu, Buddhist, and more recent Muslim influences.

Unlike the rest of Indonesia, Yogyakarta is independently governed by a traditional Sultanate system today. Despite its growing urban center, Yogyakarta has managed to straddle its polar identities as a city and a purveyor of Javanese heritage. If you want to have a true taste and insight into the Javanese culture, you’ll have to venture from the city’s bustling centre to its quieter outskirts. Here you’ll find Indonesia’s most important cultural and archaeological UNESCO World Heritage sites – the breathtaking and imposing Borobudur and Prambanan temples – and stunning natural landscapes you’d never expect to find, where you can abseil into pitch darkness, or sit in treetops overlooking a lake from miles above.

Just approximately an hour’s flight from Jakarta, Yogyakarta is truly an underrated travel destination. Head up to the gallery to see 10 extraordinary things this city can offer.

Photos: Getty Images

Sarah Khan

This post was written with the collaboration & support of the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia. Air Asia offers the best connectivity to Indonesia, check out their 15 destinations here!

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