Java(in Indonesian "Jawa") - the fifth largest island in Indonesia, which is home to more than half of the country's population. Much of Indonesian history is inextricably linked to this island, where powerful Indo-Buddhist empires, Islamic sultanates and the colonial center of the Dutch East India Company were founded. Java played a pivotal role in the Indonesian independence struggle in the 1940s. Today the island occupies a dominant position in political, economic and cultural life country. The capital of the state, Jakarta (the most Big City Indonesia) is also located on this island.
Tourist attractions of the island
Borobudur - Buddhist temple IX century, the second largest Buddhist temple in the world after Angkor Wat, has 504 Buddha statues and 2672 stone bas-reliefs. In 1991 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. More details in the article e Borobudur
Prambanan- a complex of ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. More details in the article e Prambanan
Cities
Yogyakarta- popular tourist town in Indonesia, preserving pure Javanese and rich folk traditions. More details in the article e Yogyakarta
History
Since 2000 BC Java has already been inhabited by immigrants from the mainland South-East Asia... In the early centuries AD, the Javanese developed close trade and cultural relations with the Hindu cultures of India. The discovery of stone steles (prasasti) with texts and images carved on them testified to the existence of early Hindu kingdoms on the island.
Kingdoms of the Indo-Buddhist period
The small kingdoms of Taruma and Sunda in West Java formed in the 4th and 7th centuries, respectively. But the first major state formation on the island of Java was the Kingdom of Mataram (732-1043), founded at the beginning of the 8th century by the rulers of the Silendra dynasty. The first rulers of the Mataram Kingdom professed Hinduism, then Buddhism became the dominant religion. From that era to the present day, the great Buddhist and Hindu monuments have survived: Borobudur and Prambanan.
At the beginning of the 10th century, the Mataram Kingdom fell into decay, the center of power began to shift from central regions islands of Java to the east. Finally, Mataram disintegrated around 1043 after a conflict with the gaining strength of the Kingdom of Srivijaya from the island of Sumatra.
Another powerful state of the Indo-Buddhist period was the Majapahit Empire founded in 1293 (1293 - early 16th century). The Majapahit Empire reached the pinnacle of power during the reign of Khayyam Vuruk. An important role was played by the talented commander Gajah Mada, thanks to whom the empire of Khayyam Vuruk fully established control over the islands of Java, Bali, Sumatra and Madura.
The economy of the previous Javanese kingdoms was based on agriculture. The rulers of Majapahit established control over ports and shipping lanes, becoming the first empire to actively patronize trade. With the death of Khayyam Vuruk, the Majapahit empire began to decline and finally collapsed at the beginning of the 16th century under the onslaught of the Islamic sultanates.
The spread of Islam and the emergence of Islamic sultanates
The emergence of Islam played a key role in the history of Java and Indonesia. Muslim traders have visited the Indonesian archipelago for centuries. With the rise of Islamic trade in the region, the Hindu kingdom of Majapahit began to decline. The Javanese faced a choice: fight or convert to Islam, and many ultimately chose the latter. In the early 16th century, Javanese trading ports in east Java were completely abandoned by the dying Majapahit empire. Until the end of the 16th century, Islam became the dominant religion on the island of Java. During this period, the independent Muslim sultanates of Pajang, Mataram, Cheribon, Bantam were formed. The Sultanate of Mataram reached the greatest power (not to be confused with the Kingdom of Mataram). The sultanate reached the peak of its prosperity during the reign of Sultan Agung Hanyokro Kusumo (1613-1645). Agung managed to expand the territory of the Sultanate to the regions of Central and East Java, the islands of Borneo.
Colonial period
In 1596, four ships of the Dutch East India Company visited Java for the first time and after a short time the first Dutch trading posts began to appear on the coast of the island. In 1619, Dutch troops under the command of Peter Cohen attacked and took possession of Jaykarta (the present capital of Indonesia). The Dutch changed the name of Jaykart to Batavia and rebuilt the city according to the classical canons of Dutch colonial architecture.
Internal conflict prevented the Javanese from creating an effective alliance to counter the Dutch. Beginning in the 1670s, the Dutch East India Company began to seize control of the Muslim sultanates of Java. The West Java sultanates recognized the company's sovereignty in the last quarter of the 17th century, with the north-central and north-east following their example in 1743. In 1755, what remained of the once powerful Sultanate of Mataram, under pressure from the Dutch, was divided into two states vassal to the Dutch: Yogyakarta and Surakarta. By the end of the 18th century, the Dutch had spread their influence over the entire island.
On December 31, 1799, the Dutch government nationalized the Dutch East India Company and in 1807 officially declared that the Indonesian archipelago was part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. All Dutch-owned territory in Indonesia was ruled by a colonial administration centered in the city of Batavia (present-day Jakarta).
During the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, the Netherlands and its colonies in the East Indies fell to the conquests of the French Republic. In 1811, Java was invaded by the British and the island was briefly held by the British Empire under the governor of Sir Stamford Raffles. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of 1814, the British returned Java to the Dutch in 1816.
In the 19th century, under the influence of Europeans, cars, railways and telegraph communications appeared. The Dutch put an end to civil wars, increased the area under rice cultivation, began to cultivate new crops, primarily cassava and corn, and yields increased. All this contributed to the elimination of hunger in Java and the rapid growth of the island's population.
Independence
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Java developed industry and agriculture most intensively of all the islands of the Dutch East Indies. Along with the development of capitalist relations, Indonesian nationalism and the desire to achieve independence began to emerge on the island. The colonists were able to suppress the first serious uprising of the Javanese in 1825-1830 against the Dutch with great difficulty. Taking these factors into account, the Dutch changed their domestic policy. Beginning in 1903, Javanese were allowed to participate in local government, and in 1925 Indonesians gained a majority in the Volksraad ("People's Council").
During the Second World War, from 1942 to 1945, Java was occupied by the Japanese. After the end of the Japanese occupation, a war of liberation against the Dutch began on the island. Upon its completion, in 1950, the island became part of the independent Republic of Indonesia.
Geography and landscape
| Java island map |
Covering about 150,000 km2 of land, Java is the 13th largest island in the world and the 5th largest in Indonesia. The length from east to west is 1,064 km, the maximum width is up to 210 km. The island is surrounded by the Java Sea in the north, the Sunda Strait in the west, Indian Ocean in the south, the Bali Strait in the east. In the west lies the island of Sumatra, Bali in the east. Borneo in the north and Christmas Island in the south.
Java is an island of volcanic origin. Crowned with volcanoes Mountain chain stretches from east to west along the center of the island. The highest is Semeru volcano (3676 m), the most beautiful is Bromo, the most active volcano Java and Indonesia - Merapi (2930 m).
Java is located at the junction of two tectonic plates. The friction of these two plates causes the heating and expansion of gas, magma and steam in the bowels of the Earth's earth, followed by an eruption. There are 33 active volcanoes on the island and it is part of the so-called "Pacific Volcanic Ring of Fire", which accounts for about 90% of all earthquakes on the planet. Volcanoes shaped the rugged landscape, culture and religion of the inhabitants, influenced the development Agriculture, construction of cities and villages.
The longest river on the island is Solo, which is almost 600 km long. The river originates from a source on Mount Lavu and flows northward at the mouth of the Java Sea near the city of Surabaya. Other major rivers are Brantas, Chitarum, Chimanuk and Serayu. Most of Java's rivers flow northward. Large and shallow rivers serve as a source of water for irrigation of flooded fields. Large rivers are navigable only during the rainy season.
Natural environment
|
|
| Java island map |
Java's natural environment ranges from coastal mangroves on the north coast to coastal cliffs on the south, from low-lying rainforests to barren volcanoes. The natural environment and climate is gradually changing from west to east - from wet and humid tropical forests in the west to dry savannas in the east.
The world of wild animals is rich in biodiversity with big amount endemic species such as Javanese rhinoceros, Javanese banteng, Javanese pig, Javanese hawk, Javanese peacock, Javanese silver gibbon, glittering gulman, Javanese deer, and Javanese leopard. The island is home to over 450 species of birds (of which 37 are endemic), 100 species of snakes and more than 500 species of butterflies.
But it should be remembered that the island is inhabited by a huge number of people. With a population of over 143 million in 2014, that's more than half the population of Indonesia. With the growth of the population, tropical forests were ruthlessly destroyed, surviving only on the mountain slopes and isolated remote areas. In place of the rainforest, a new landscape with rice terraces, which significantly changed the ecosystem of the island.
Some of the endemic animal species have already disappeared (Javanese tiger), some are on the verge of complete extinction. To keep the peace wildlife from human economic activity, a number of national parks were founded on the island: Mount Halimun Salak, Mount Gede Pangrango, Baluran, Meru Betiri and Alas Purvo, Ujung Kulon (the latter was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1991).
Administrative division
Administratively, Java is divided into 4 provinces (propinsi):
Banten, Serang administrative center;
West Java (Jawa Barat), the administrative center of Bandung;
Central Java (Jawa Tengah), the administrative center of Semarang;
East Java (Jawa Timur), the administrative center of Surabaya;
and two special regions:
Jakarta (Special Capital Region);
Yogyakarta (semi-autonomous region).
1. Special Capital Region Jakarta
Officially, Jakarta is not a city, but a province with the status of the capital, therefore it is governed not by the mayor, but by the governor. As a province, Jakarta consists of 5 municipalities: Central, North, East, South and West (according to the geographical location on the map). it the only city Indonesia with provincial status. The Special Capital Region of Jakarta includes the cities of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi with a population of about 23 million. Until 1527, the city was called Sunda Kelapa, in 1527-1619 Jaykarta, in 1619-1942 Batavia, and from 1942 to the present day Jakarta.
2. Semi-autonomous region of Yogyakarta
The semi-autonomous region of Yogyakarta is located in the south of Java and borders the province of Central Java in the north. Unlike other provinces in Java, Yogyakarta is ruled by a sultan who is not elected in elections or appointed as the central authority in the capital. The semi-autonomous region consists of 4 districts and one large city, Yogyakarta. On the outskirts of Yogyakarta is the most active volcano in Indonesia - Merapi, and two of the most famous temples in Indonesia: Borobudur and Prambanan.
3. Province of Banten
Banten province used to be part of West Java province, but since 2000 it has received the status of a separate administrative unit. Banten Province consists of 4 municipalities and 4 cities. Serang - main city Banten province. The total population is 9 351 470 inhabitants (2006). Banten is conveniently located on the route of navigation of merchant ships between Australia and New Zealand, the countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore), the islands of Java and Sumatra.
4. West Java Province
This province has 17 counties and 9 cities. In 2002, the population of West Java reached 37,548,565 people. Most of the inhabitants of West Java are Sundans. The administrative center of the province is the city of Bandung.
5. Central Java Province
The central province is considered the center of Javanese culture. The majority of the population of Central Java is Javanese. Administratively, the province is divided into 29 municipal districts and 6 cities. The population of the province is 32,380,687 inhabitants. The administrative center is located in the city of Semarang.
6. Provinces of East Java
With an area of 47,922 km² and a population of 37,070,731 (2005), it is the largest province in terms of territory and the second in terms of population. The administrative center is located in the city of Surabaya. Includes the island of Maduro with a population of almost 4 million inhabitants.
Demography
With a population of over 143 million (2014) and a density of 1,029 inhabitants per km² and above, Java is one of the most densely populated islands in the world. It is home to 57% of the Indonesian population. The highest concentration of the population is in the west of the island (West Java, Banten and Jakarta), where the population density exceeds 1400 people per km².
Occupying 7% of the total area of Indonesia, the island is home to 57% of the country's population. From about 5 million inhabitants in 1815, the population grew to 143 million in 2014. The five largest and most populous cities in Indonesia are located on the island of Java: Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Semarang and Bandung.
From the 1970s until the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, the Indonesian government undertook a program to relocate Java residents to other, less populated islands in the country. During the implementation of this program, conflicts often arose between local residents and newly arrived settlers. From the 1970s until the fall of the Suharto regime in 1998, the Indonesian government managed to relocate about 3 million inhabitants.
Ethnic groups
Unlike others large islands Indonesia, Java in terms of its ethnic composition is relatively homogeneous. The bulk of the population is represented by three main ethnic groups: Javanese (approximately 70% of the island's inhabitants), Sundanese and Madurians. Javanese live mainly in the central and eastern part of the island, Sundans mainly in the west and Madurians in the east. Historically, Madurians inhabited the island of Madura off the northeastern coast of Java, and immigrated to East Java in the 18th century.
The fourth group is the Betavs (descendants of people living around Jakarta, from the 17th century to 1942 this city was called Batavia). The Betavas are a result of the mixing of the local ethnic groups of the island with foreigners: Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and Hindus. Their culture and language is different from the Sundanese and Javanese.
In the area of the Bromo volcano and mountain range Tengger is home to about 600,000 tenggers. Other minor ethnic groups: Badui, Batak, Balinese, Papua.
Of the foreigners, the most common are the Chinese, who control much of the island's trade.
Languages
Java has 3 main languages: Javanese, Sundanese and Madurian. Other languages include Betavi (one of the Austronesian languages, common in the west of the island), Osing (one of the Austronesian languages, common in the east of the island), Tenger (Hindus living in the Tenger mountains in the east of the island), Badui (living in the mountainous regions of Kedang on west of the island), Balinese (eastern areas of the island around the city of Banyuwangi, adjacent to Bali) and Banyumasan language. The overwhelming majority of the population speaks Indonesian, the state language of the country.
Religion
The Indonesian constitution recognizes 5 "official" religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Protestantism and Catholicism. Previously, Confucianism was also recognized, but in 1979 the Indonesian government removed from the list of "official religions".
According to the 2000 census, the share of Muslims is 86.1%, Protestants - 5.7%, Catholics - 3%, Hindus - 1.8%, Buddhists and adherents of other religions - 3.4%.
There are few places on Earth where the three main religions (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) are mixed so deeply as on the Indonesian island of Java. Hinduism and Buddhism were the dominant religions for 1000 years, but Islam came to replace them in the 16th century. Influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism, Indonesian Islam incorporated the rites of these two religions. Some of the excavated temples in East Java have a Hindu upper part and a Buddhist lower half, and a number of early mosques have roofs in the form of Hindu temples. Early mosques were not built in the direction of Mecca, but to the west or east, in the style of Hindu temples. Islam in Indonesia developed under the enormous influence of the more advanced Buddhist and Hindu religions.
Economy
Java is the most economically developed island in Indonesia. Based on statistics for 2012, Java produces 57.51% of Indonesia's gross domestic product.
The original economy was based solely on rice cultivation. The power of the ancient kingdoms (Taruma, Mataram, Majapahit) largely depended on the yield of rice. The island has been a renowned exporter of rice since ancient times, and the cultivation of rich crops of this important agricultural crop has contributed to the growth of the island's population. The hillsides covered with rice terraces remain a characteristic feature of the island's landscape to this day.
During the colonial period, the Dutch introduced other agricultural crops: sugar cane, rubber, coffee, tea, and cinchona. Java was the first of all the islands of the Indonesian archipelago to start growing coffee (1699). In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Javanese coffee gained worldwide popularity. The name Java has become synonymous with good coffee today.
Nowadays, two thirds of the land area of the island is occupied by agricultural land. Kapok, sesame seeds, vegetables, bananas, mangoes, durian, citrus fruits and vegetable oils are produced for local consumption. Tea, coffee, tobacco, rubber, cinchona, sugarcane, kapok and coconuts are exported abroad. Java's soils are very fertile due to the periodic enrichment of volcanic ash.
The need to transport rice, coffee and other goods from the plantations of the hinterland to ports on the coast has stimulated the construction of roads. In 1808, construction began on the Great Javanese Road, connecting the cities of Anyer in West Java and Panarukan in East Java. Developed network toll roads began to be built during the reign of President Suharto, connecting large cities and industrial centers.
Oil is produced in the Arjun region near the northwest coast and refined at the refineries in Chilakap and Surabaya. There is also limited mining of manganese, sulfur, phosphates, gold and silver. Small-scale production includes the manufacture of clothes and fabrics with batik painting, iron casting, silver jewelry, agricultural tools, leatherwork, and ceramics. Large-scale production is represented by the textile industry, car assembly, brewing, large industries are engaged in the manufacture of shoes, paper, cement and cigarettes. Surabaya and Tanjung Priok (near Jakarta) are the main ports of the island.
Climate
Java's climate is hot and humid throughout the year. Average temperature +22 ° С +29 ° С, average humidity 75%. The maximum temperatures are observed in the plains along the northern coast, with an average of + 34 ° C in the dry season. South coast colder than in the north, in the mountainous interior regions the temperature is even lower (on average + 22 ° C, but in the dry season it drops to zero or even lower). Like other areas on the tropical island, Java's climate has two seasons: the rainy season (November to March) and the dry season (April to October). Precipitation tends to fall in the afternoon, with the wettest months in January and February. During the dry season from April to October, it can also rain, but overall the weather is sunny and cloudless.
Precipitation is distributed extremely unevenly, for example, West Java is more humid than East Java, the inner mountainous regions receive much more precipitation. Thus, the annual rainfall on the Parahyangan Highlands in West Java is more than 4,000 mm, on the northern coast of East Java only 900 mm, and in the capital Jakarta, on average, about 1760 mm.
The dry season (April to October) is the best time to visit the island.
central stupa
Prambanan
18 km east of Yogyakarta is another unique temple complex- Prambanan. It is believed that this Buddhist shrine was built in the 10th century. In the first half of the last century, the restoration was carried out by the efforts of Dutch scientists. Especially popular with tourists is the Prambanan Temple - a 47 m high structure, consisting of four tiers, made in the form of concentric square platforms.
There are smaller temples around. The walls of the temples are decorated with bas-reliefs based on scenes from the Ramayana. A visit to the Prambanan complex for foreigners is paid - $ 15. A beautiful green alley leads to the complex. Although the main restoration phase is over, there are piles of stones everywhere. Excavation and restoration work continues.
Surabaya
In the east of Java is Surabaya - one of the main ports in Indonesia, the second largest city. 
For most tourists, it is a “staging post” on the way to Sulawesi and Bali. However, Sarabaya has its merits. Here you can experience a charming mixture of old and modern. Noteworthy is the Masjid al Akbar Surabaya - a majestic mosque in the Arab quarter, the height of which is 65 m. Taking an elevator to its upper part, you can admire Surabaya from a bird's eye view.
You should definitely see the Suramada suspension bridge, which connects Fr. Java from about. Madura. Its length is 5.5 km, width - 32 m, height - 35 m.
Volcanoes
Human nature is such that danger is both frightening and fascinating at the same time. The volcanoes of Indonesia attract a huge number of tourists who want to see the natural beauty and power of active volcanoes. On about. Java has more than 35 active volcanoes, and the island itself is also of volcanic origin. Each of them is famous for something: Merapi - activity, Semeru - height, Krakatoa - destruction, Kava Ijen - sulfur lake, Tangkuban - accessibility.
In the east, about. Java is home to the beautiful Bromo volcano, one of the most active in the world and the most visited in Indonesia. A formidable volcano, whose height is 2329 m, among the surreal alien landscape from time to time, puffs of smoke are released. Tourists come here to meet the sunrise in order to watch the miracle of nature in the early morning.
volcano bromo
The next in the popularity rating is the Kawah Ijen volcano, at an altitude of 2400 m. It became famous for its unique emerald lake located inside the crater - the largest acid lake in the world, containing sulfuric acid instead of water. In the daytime, a white haze swirls over it, and at night, tongues of blue flame appear.
Sulfur collectors work in the crater of the volcano, mining pieces of sulfur on the shores of the lake in very harmful and dangerous conditions. The temperature on the surface of the lake is about 60 ° C, and at the bottom - 200 ° C. Despite the unusual and frightening beauty, the crater of the Kawa Ijen volcano and the lake are used not so much to attract tourists as for the extraction of sulfur. In this case, manual inhuman labor is used.
Active volcano Tangkuban - popular tourist site... Perhaps its fame was facilitated by its easy accessibility - you can get to the top of Tangkuban by car along a specially built convenient road. The height of the volcano is 2000 m, its hollow outwardly resembles an inverted boat, as the name says - Tangkuban Prau.
The main crater constantly reminds of activity, emitting volcanic gases. The relatively small lower crater is filled with hot springs and steam. Tourists can walk around the main crater of the Tangkuban volcano, see it from all sides. The ubiquitous merchants here sell souvenirs and pieces of sulfur from stalls.
Ujung Kulon National Park
Ujung Kulon is located in the southwest of about. Java. It includes the Ujung-Kulon peninsula, as well as the group of islands of volcanic origin Krakatau. The third part of the park is occupied by the sea. The places here are very picturesque, especially on the part of the land where unique low-mountain tropical forests grow.
The flora and fauna of Ujung Kulon is well preserved due to the fact that the surviving inhabitants left this area after the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. Since then, the volcano has become much lower. Several years ago, 6 km from this place, a young volcano became active, and smoke smokes over it from time to time. The Ujung Kulon Park is home to the rarest species of animals, in particular, the Javanese rhinoceroses.
Entrance tickets to Ujung Kulon are sold at the office, which is located near the village of Taman Jaya. Here you can rent a boat, hire a guide. You can sunbathe on luxurious beaches or exercise hiking trip into the jungle to see the rich natural world of Ujung Kulon. The best option is a three-day trek through the park to explore the area. Individual tours are organized - recreation with fishing, snorkeling and spearfishing in the coastal waters of Ujung-Kulon. Tourists are provided with a boat with a crew and Russian guides.
Karimunjava Archipelago
In the northern direction from the central part of Java in the Java Sea is the Karimundjava archipelago, which is a marine national park of Indonesia. Its main attraction is pristine nature with coral reefs and deserted white beaches. The unique archipelago includes 27 islands, of which only 5 are inhabited. The wealthy inhabitants of Indonesia love to visit the islands of the Karimunjava archipelago for the purpose of a resort vacation.
The archipelago is popular with surfing and diving enthusiasts. Coral reefs are right off the coast inhabited islands, therefore, novice drivers do not need to rent a boat. A mask and a snorkel are enough for them to explore the coastal bottom right from the beach. More experienced scuba divers go to uninhabited islands of the Karimunjava archipelago as part of excursions, or by agreeing with fishermen to rent a boat. Underwater world in the waters of the Java Sea is very diverse. There are 250 species of fish, about 90 species of coral.
Most big Island has the same name as the archipelago - Karimunjava, but the abbreviated name Karimun is more often used. It has the main city of Karimun, which is the capital of the entire Karimunjava archipelago. From this port city in the north direction there is a road that ends with a bridge. Long bridge connects the main island with the neighboring one, which is called Kemujan. On these two islands there are campgrounds, hotels, dive centers, restaurants, boat rentals. By renting a boat for $ 40, you can go around several deserted neighboring islands in one day.
The landscape of about. Karimun is represented by green hills covered with tropical forests. There are over 30 species of mangrove trees alone. The islanders especially revere a rare breed - the Devadara. They believe that an amulet made from this tree prolongs life, protects the house, and heals from snake bites. Amulets and other items from Devadaru are the most popular souvenirs that tourists bring from Karimunjava.
Beaches about. Karimun is quiet and secluded. The free Nirvana Beach is located near the town of Karimun. It looks very beautiful - palm trees by the coast, white sand, turquoise water, but swimming here is problematic. The coast is very shallow and there are corals in the water. At Tanjung Gelam Beach, a 30-minute bike ride from the main city of the Karimunjawa archipelago, swimming is much more comfortable, and the nature is no less delightful. The entrance is paid - 1 thousand rupees, there are varungs with Indonesian food. The most beautiful beach on the island is Pantai Anora.
The Karimunjava archipelago has its own airport on the island. Karimun, where small planes arrive several times a week, making flights from Semarang, a port city on the northern coast of Java. From here you can get by speedboat to the islands of Karimun and Kemujan. It is better to come to the islands of the archipelago during the dry season, which lasts here from late April to October. Public transport no, so it is better to rent a scooter.
The main Indonesian island has 120 million inhabitants, 120 active volcanoes and at least one wonder of the world. Java changed rulers and creeds like gloves. History looks here at the tourist from all sides: in the form of the grandiose ruins of the Hindu temple Prambanan, the smiling stone Buddhas of the grandiose stupa of Borobudur, royal palace in Jogyakarta, old mosques and Dutch armories.
The island of Java has dense tropical vegetation, crystal clear ocean waters, temples of unprecedented beauty, a somewhat difficult climate and ... various disasters are not uncommon. Java has long been known for its earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. If we take into account the size of the island of Java and divide its territory into about one hundred and twenty parts (the approximate number of volcanoes on the island), then it is safe to say that the main island of Indonesia, Java, is completely strewn with volcanoes. In addition, many of Java's volcanoes (there are over thirty of them) emit acrid smoke and smog, often stretching for several hundred kilometers. The tops of the volcanoes, which are close to purple in color, emit tons of gray-black ash and poisonous gas vapors. All this boiling "hell" sometimes descends on the villages, washing away and carrying them away from the face of the earth. And the hot dust burns the lungs at a distance of ten kilometers from the eruption site.
The most active active volcano in Indonesia is Merapi, on the island of Java. No wonder that thousands of local residents of the island of Java in 2006 managed to collect their belongings and livestock in time and wait out the moment of volcanic activity away from the volcano.
In Java, incredible luxury coexists with dire poverty, pastoral rural landscapes with ultra-modern megacities, the corners of the pristine jungle with rice fields. Holidays on the island of Java can combine walks in bustling cities and jungle treks.
And, despite the fact that the "wrath of the Gods" sometimes falls on the island of Java, Java is still called paradise. All the volcanic ash that falls asleep on the earth, monsoon downpours that then irrigate it, the sun that feeds the earth with its warmth - all this contributes to the growth of lush, rich vegetation on the island. Not so long ago, tigers, rhinos, wild buffaloes, crocodiles, pythons, screeching monkeys, jumping coconut squirrels and flying foxes were found in the bright thickets of tropical forests. But now there is no such abundance. Although something on the island of Java can still be seen.
The island of Java is simply a real priceless treasure for nature lovers, for people who are fond of culture, religion, linguistics. After all, the volcanoes of the Java island are not all that this region is rich in. On the territory of the island there are reserves with the rarest animals and tropical forests untouched by man. And also, the Javanese language is of great interest. It is an ancient branch of the Austronesian language group. His vocabulary has absorbed many words borrowed from the languages of different countries and peoples - Dutch, Indian, Arabic, Portuguese, Malay and English.
The temples of Java are truly beautiful. But they are of other religions - Hindu, Buddhist. And the Javanese, unfortunately, have not professed them for a long time. Today the temples of Java are simply museums and memorials. Locals are very rare in them. Today they look down on them, considering their religion more, so to speak, advanced. So, without tourists, they look completely lonely and forgotten. The only ones who sometimes walk around the island of Java nearby are local goats in search of delicious grass and bushes.
The island of Java is the administrative, cultural, historical and political center of the country, it is here that the capital of Indonesia Jakarta, the famous volcanoes Krakatoa and Mont Bromo, the Ujung-Kulon National Reserve with Javanese rhinoceroses, and the oldest cultural center of the country - the city of Yogyakarta, famous for its universities, are located. art galleries, craft workshops, and undoubtedly the grandiose temple complexes of Prambanan and Borobudur.
Here is the city of Surabaya - an industrialized city, the second largest in Indonesia, located in the eastern part of the island of Java. Here is a large seaport, metalworking and machine-building enterprises of the country, as well as oil refineries and chemical plants are concentrated.
How to get there
Major international airlines fly to Jakarta, the capital of Java. The most convenient flights from Moscow are Singapore Airlines via Singapore, or Transaero + Garuda. The flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta or Surabaya is 1 hour 10 minutes.
Population
Java is the most populated island in the world, with about 125 million inhabitants, which is 60% of the population of Indonesia.
Location
The island of Java is the economic and geographical heart of the archipelago, the most populated island in Indonesia, but a third of its territory is still occupied by impenetrable jungle.
Java is separated from Sumatra by the Sunda Bay. In Java, there are at least 16 peaks whose height reaches 3000m. Active volcanoes(and there are about 17 of them) united in Java into the most active volcanic chain in the world. Most often, Semerenu erupts - the main giant among all Java's volcanoes.
The territory of Java is divided into three provinces: western, eastern and central. West Java attracts tourists with the ancient capital of the Sundanese, Cirebon, a gorgeous beach in Pandaran, famous volcano Krakatoa, the virgin jungle of the national park and the Bogor Botanical Garden, which contains the most diverse and bizarre forms of equatorial flora.
In Central Java, you can see the material traces of various cultures and peoples: temples and ancient buildings, the ancient capitals of the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim kingdoms, the modern centers of Yogyakarta and Solo. But even here, in the central regions of the Dieng plateau, areas of virgin nature have been preserved.
Climate
A tropical climate with a fairly even temperature throughout the year: 28-32 ° С. Climatic conditions differ in different islands, but in general, two seasons can be distinguished: rainy - from November to February and dry - from March to October. Humidity is quite high, with an average of 75 to 95%.
City `s history
The island has been a "melting pot" since ancient times, in which various peoples, cultures and religions were mixed. In the Middle Ages, the island was divided into dozens of kingdoms and sultanates. Descriptions of the wars between them make up a large part of the content of the Indonesian history textbooks. In between the wars, the Javanese built grand temples and palaces, created unique forms of theater and music, and developed literature.
sights
Jakarta(until 1949 - Batavia) - the capital and the most Big city Indonesia, located on the northwest coast of Java. It is a city with an original mixture of numerous 17th-18th century buildings, canals and many "national" quarters, each with its own unique look. One of the centers of old Batavia is the stone-paved Taman Fatahila square in the Kota district, surrounded by old buildings overlooking the canal. Nearby: the historical museum of Jakarta in the building of the former city hall (1627), the old cannon "Si Yago", the museum of dolls and ritual accessories "Wayang", the Chicken Market Bridge (17th century), the Bahari Museum observation tower, the ancient port of Sunda Kelapa and the Chinese region of Glodak with the oldest temple in the city - Jinge-Yuan (17th century). The second recognized center of the capital is Medan Merdeka Square (Freedom Square) with the 132-meter National Monument (Monas), the National Museum of Indonesia with unique historical and ethnological collections, the Museum of National History and the Museum of the Institute of Indonesian Culture and many others. historical monuments... Also at your leisure, you can visit the Taman Mini Park ("Indonesia in Miniature"), which presents traditional dwellings (in full size with the preservation of all interior details), characteristic of all 27 provinces of Indonesia; Taman Impian Jaya Ancol Park (Anchol Dream Park) - an amusement park with many attractions: water slopes, cars, roller coasters and much more; Taman Safari - a safari park in the suburbs of Jakarta will allow you to see in close proximity the Sumatran tiger, llamas, bulls, giraffes, bears and other animals from America, Europe and Asia.
It is considered the third largest Buddhist-Hindu temple complex in the world, behind Angkor in Cambodia and Burmese Shwedagon. It is believed that if you can touch the little finger of the Buddha, which is in the mortar, reaching through one of the carved holes, then you will be in luck.
A temple complex located on a plain dotted with the ruins of ancient structures and known by the locals as the "Valley of the Kings". Prambanan is considered the finest of Indonesian historical sites. The largest temple building, located in the center, is dedicated to the god Shiva.
Craton- the Sultan's palace complex, which the Javanese call the "navel" of the world. The palace was for them the center of not only the Sultanate, but the entire Universe. It houses the private chambers of the Sultan and his family members, a repository of royal regalia, a majestic throne room, chambers for contemplation, pavilions for performances, a mosque.
From Jakarta, it is best to escape to the neighboring (55 km) calm Bogor, famous throughout the island for its imposing botanical garden. An hour by train from the metropolis - and you are in the former summer residence of the Dutch and British rulers. It's cool and quiet here, rooms in hotels and guest houses are much cheaper, and if you're lucky, even with a gorgeous view of mountain valley... Locals call Bogor "the city of rain", and indeed, it is guaranteed to rain in the afternoon, so walking in the garden is best done on a cool morning. In the Botanical Garden there are trees that look like bell-bottomed trousers, there is an orchid garden, a Mexican garden and other natural "installations". In the neighboring royal park deer roam. Idyll.
sights
Guide
Java is the most famous island in the Greater Sunda Islands. It is located near Sumatra and attracts thousands of tourists every year. Rich culture, unique flora and fauna, specificity of local color, authentic atmosphere - all this makes the island especially popular among visitors.
There are several options for interpreting the name of the island. The first says that the word "Java" is translated from the ancient Indonesian language as "dwelling". According to another version, the name of the island comes from the Sanskrit word "barley". Until now, researchers cannot determine the exact meaning of the name.
By its origin, Java belongs to both mainland and volcanic natural objects. The island's landscape is based on a long mountain range stretching along the central part. There are more than 110 volcanoes of various sizes along the entire mountain range. At the same time, high point is the Semeru volcano, which is still active. In addition, there are many water areas on the island.
Archaeological excavations indicate that the first man set foot on the island's land in the second century BC. In the third century AD, urban settlements were formed in Java and statehood appeared. One of the most prosperous states was called Mataram and existed for many years.
At the end of the 13th century, Java was under the rule of Kublai Khan, who created on the island great empire... It existed for over 200 years, after which it disintegrated. In the 17th century, the island was occupied by the Dutch, under whose influence many European colonies appeared in Java. However, after World War II, the island became part of the independent state of Indonesia.
How to get there
The fastest and most convenient way to get to Java from Russia is by plane. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport International Airport daily takes several dozen flights from different parts of the world. From large Russian cities air carriers such as Emirates fly to Jakarta, Qatar Airways, Singapur Airlines, Thai Airways. At the same time, you will spend from 17 to 22 hours on the flight and make a transfer in Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok or Doha.
It is better to buy tickets in advance, as travel to Java is in demand all year round. To find more cheap option, regularly monitor the offers of airlines and watch for price changes.
If you are already in Indonesia, then you can try to get to Java by ferry. The Pelni company provides tourists with the opportunity to ride a ferry. However, take into account the fact that ferries do not differ in an increased level of comfort and the lack of free seats is the main problem of this type of transport. A ferry ticket is bought either at the box office at the pier, or on a specialized website.
Railway Is another way to get to Java. The railway service connects the cities of Jakarta, Semarang, Surakarta, Bandung, Jogdzhu. When purchasing a ticket, pay attention to the class of the carriage. All three of them. The first class involves traveling in a comfortable compartment and air conditioning, the second class is a seating area, and the third is a wooden bench.
Features of the hotel base
The choice of accommodation in Java is huge, from guesthouses to five-star hotels. There are several options that suit different categories of tourists: apartments; hostels; bungalow; hotels.
Couples and large companies often choose to rent apartments or guesthouses. Such housing will be inexpensive, and its size will pleasantly surprise you. Guesthouses, as a rule, are located in the sleeping areas of the island. The price of the apartment includes a standard set of services: bedding, kitchen and bathroom accessories, a parking space, free internet, a sitting area in the garden. You can also rent cozy bungalows on the coast with beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.
Hostel accommodation is geared towards students or solo travelers. This type of housing in Java is considered to be very inexpensive and clean. Recently, hostels have begun to be built in every district. The cost of a room depends on the location, conditions and occupancy.
As for hotels, you won't have any problems finding them. Hotels are traditionally divided into different categories and differ in cost. The most expensive ones are in the central part of the island, and the cheapest ones are on the outskirts. A special system of discounts has been developed for tourists, which allows them to book rooms at an affordable price.
sights
A few kilometers from Surabaya is the rarest national park called Bromo-Tenger-Semeru. On an area of over 750 square meters, there are forests, volcanoes, waterfalls with their own unique ecosystem. Visitors note the unusual nature of the park's landscapes, since most of it is covered with volcanic sand. Thousands of years ago, tribes lived in the park, from which this natural object and got its name. The pearl of Bromo-Tenger-Semeru is the five volcanoes. They are close to each other, and their appearance is shrouded in legends. According to one of them, if you go up to the crater of the volcano, then there you can see the entrance to the afterlife. Thanks to this legend, the popularity of the park is growing every day, as many tourists want to reach the top of mystical volcanoes.
Be sure to visit the Borobudur temple complex, located 35 kilometers from Jakarta. Scientists still disagree about the date and authors of this architectural artifact. For a long time, the shrine could not be found due to the fact that it was hidden in the dense thickets of the jungle. After the discovery of this amazing masterpiece, tourists rushed to it in order to get better acquainted with the traditional culture of the island. Presumably, the complex was built in the 8-9 centuries.
For connoisseurs of large-scale architectural projects you will love the Taman Sari Water Palace, founded by one of the rulers of Java in the 18th century. The complex is formed by the premises of the palace, fountains, a lake, rest rooms and scenic spots for meditation. A large amount of money was allocated from the local budget for the palace, which made it possible to create a masterpiece incredible beauty and harmony.
If you want to get to know more about the nature of Java, then visit the Bogor Botanical Garden. It is considered one of the largest in Indonesia and is known outside the country. The garden area is 88 hectares, where more than 14,000 plants from different parts of the world grow. The garden has the largest collection of orchids. They are located in special greenhouses and delight visitors all year round.
Beach vacation
The pride of the island of Java is its magnificent beaches, stretching for several kilometers. All beaches are united into tourist zones, which differ slightly from each other. The difference is only in the level of infrastructure and features of the surrounding landscape.
Couples with children strive to get to Karita beach, where there are all conditions for a quiet pastime, as well as diving or snorkeling. There is a separate area for children on the beach with buoys, rescue posts and playrooms. Besides, coastline the beach is covered with fine sand, and the entrance to the water is comfortable and gentle. While resting on Carita, you can enjoy the view of the majestic Krakatoa volcano.
Be sure to include in your excursion program visiting the island of Panaitan with its beautiful beaches... You can come to the island only with the permission of the local authorities, since its territory is considered closed to outsiders.
The western part of Java is famous for its resort of Asnier. Here you will find an abundance of restaurants, beaches, hotels for every taste. Also on Asnieres there is an old lighthouse built by Dutch colonists. Hundreds of tourists come to see it every year.
Exotic lovers should go to Plengkung Beach, which is famous for hosting surfing competitions on its territory. The waves here reach heights of 2-6 meters, which is ideal for professional surfers. Competitions have international status and participation in them is considered very prestigious.
If you want to surprise the kids, then head to Sukamade Beach. A fascinating sight awaits you here: hundreds of little turtles hatch from eggs and strive for the water surface. Also on the beach you can swim and enjoy the amazing views of the sunset. The only disadvantage of Sukamade is the lack of mobile communications and the Internet.
What to bring
Java's shops and markets are overflowing with original products that tourists often buy for family and friends. A wide range is presented in the capital of the island, however, in small resorts you can find what to bring with you. Of the most popular things that come from Java:
- wooden masks for celebrations or ritual activities;
- genuine leather goods;
- caskets and jewelry covered with mother-of-pearl;
- items made of porcelain, pewter, stone, silver;
- dolls made in the national technique;
- umbrellas, rattan bags, paintings, panels;
- unusual ceramic dishes with traditional painting;
- fabrics made using a special technique;
- sandalwood figurines and figurines.
At local markets, tourists often buy aromatic spices, sweets, jasmine petal tea, soy milk and other unusual products.
The most famous and one of the most expensive types of coffee, Kopi Luwak, is exported from Java. The peculiarities of its production were created not by man, but by nature itself: a small musang animal from the vivver family eats the fruits of coffee trees, and people only have to collect the grains that have passed through the musang digestive system.
Java (in Indonesian "Jawa") is the fifth largest island in Indonesia, home to more than half of the country's population. Much of Indonesian history is inextricably linked to this island, where powerful Indo-Buddhist empires, Islamic sultanates and the colonial center of the Dutch East India Company were founded. Java played a pivotal role in the Indonesian independence struggle in the 1940s. Today the island occupies a dominant position in the political, economic and cultural life of the country. The state capital Jakarta (the largest city in Indonesia) is also located on this island.
Yogyakarta is a popular tourist city in Indonesia, which has preserved its pure Javanese language and rich folk traditions.
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia, cultural, political, financial and industrial center of the country. The capital of Indonesia, of course, cannot be considered a popular tourist destination, but there are good museums, small on the territory Old city has retained its architecture and atmosphere with an interesting perspective on the city's long history.
Java island: photos
Java Island: where it is
Covering about 150,000 km2 of land, Java is the 13th largest island in the world and the 5th largest in Indonesia. The length from east to west is 1,064 km, the maximum width is up to 210 km. The island is surrounded by the Java Sea in the north, the Sunda Strait in the west, the Indian Ocean in the south, and the Bali Strait in the east. In the west lies the island of Sumatra, Bali in the east. Borneo in the north and Christmas Island in the south.
How to Get to Java Island
You can fly to the island by plane, there are quite a few major airports serving both local and international flights - to Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Solo and Yogyakarta. The local aircraft Garuda, Merpati and Lion Air, as well as AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, JAL, etc. regularly land here. It is most convenient to arrive from Moscow on a regular basis via Dubai.
