yogyakarta_overview.htm

Yogyakarta is one of the supreme cultural centers of Java. Full Gamelan orchestras visions from the past, classical and contemporary Javanese dances exhibit beautiful control and poise, wayang kulit-leather puppet theaters come to life and hundreds of other traditional illustrations

of art keep locals and visitors spellbound. It is as if the city itself has an extraordinary life force and charms, which seldom fails to captivate
Southern East : Wonogiri Regency
Eastern : Klaten Regency
Northwestern :
Magelang Regency
Western : Purworejo Regency

The Indonesian Ocean borders the Southern part of Yogyakarta. The borderline of the seashore stretches from West to East of which the length is around 100 km, started from Congot Beach in Kulon Progo Regency and ended at Sadeng Beach in Gunung Kidul Regency. Because of its location,
Yogyakarta is strategically positioned for the economic activity network in Java as well as for the tourist destination area. The special region of Yogyakarta lies midway on the axis of several main tourist destination areas, Jakarta and West Java westward. Central Java northward, East Java and Bali eastward. It is linked by regular rail, road and air services to other parts of Indonesian archipelago.

Traditional dancer

Government

The government of the Republic of Indonesia consists of 27 provinces. Some of them have a status as the Special Region. Those are the Capital Special Region of Jakarta as a capital of the country, the Special Region of Aceh and the Special Region of Yogyakarta. What is now called Special Region of Yogyakarta has come into being continuing the administrations existing
far back before the Republic of Indonesia was born as an independent country. During the era of Dutch occupation there are two principalities in this region namely the Kasultanan Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Sultanate) and the Kadipaten Pakualaman (Pakualaman Regency).

Kasultanan Yogyakarta Palace

The Dutch Colonial Government in the past respected and referred to the authorities of those two principalities in carrying out their autonomous self government, arranged under a political contract. When the Indonesian independence was proclaimed the ruler of both principalities, the Sultan of Yogyakarta and Prince of Regent of Pakualaman declared a statement that Yogyakarta Sultanate and Pakualaman Regency became part of the Republic of Indonesia. Those two regions were unified to form the Special Region of Yogyakarta and the Sultan of Yogyakarta to be the Governor and the Prince of Regent of Pakualaman as the vice-governor, both were responsible for the president of the Republic of Indonesia. The special Region of Yogyakarta was formally formed after the independence war ended and legalized with the Aug 3, 1950.

In carrying out the local government administration it considers three principle those are decentralization, deconcentration and the assistance task. The provincial Government carries out the responsibilities and authorities of the Central Government, on other hand

carries out its autonomous responsibilities and authorities. The Regional Government consists of the Head of the Region and the Legislative Assembly of the Region. Such construction guarantees good cooperation between the Head of Region and the Legislative Assembly of Region in order to achieve a sound regional government administration. The Head of the Special Region of Yogyakarta has got responsibility as the Head of the Territory and titled as a Governor.

The first Governor was the late HRH. Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, Sultan of Yogyakarta and continued by HRH. Paku Alam VIII as the Acting Governor up to at present. Unlike the other Heads of the Region Level in Indonesia the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta have got privilege or special status of not being bound to the period of position nor the requirements and way of appointment. However in carrying out their duties they have got the same authorities and responsibilities.

The History of Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta was founded in 1755 and was the capital of Mataram kingdom when the Dutch came along. The Dutch granted the kings by title Sultan of Yogyakarta territory. Yogyakarta was also the scene of Indonesia's most successful rebellions against the Dutch - firstly with Prince Diponegoro who waged a holy war against colonial rule from 1825 to 1830, and also serving as the capital of the newly independent republic after World War II when the Dutch reoccupied Batavia (Jakarta).

People have lived in Central Java and Yogyakarta area since immemorial time as over the centuries they have been attracted by the rich soil caused by the numerous volcanic eruptions. The earliest recorded history dares from the 9th century and was dominated by Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms that gave rise to the magnificent temples such as Prambanan, Ratu Boko, Kalasan, Sambisari and Borobudur found in this area. Yogyakarta itself dates back to the 18th century. In the early 18th century, Pakubuwono II ruled the Muslim Mataram Kingdom of the time. After he passed away, there was a conflict between his son and his brother, which was encouraged by the Dutch who were trying to colonize the region on a 'divide and rule' basis.

The Kingdom was divided into two regions namely Surakarta Hadiningrat kingdom under Sunan Pakubuwono III rule, and Nyayogyakarta Hadiningrat kingdom under Sultan Hamengku Buwono I rule. He was the founder of the present line of Sultans who still live in the Kraton and play important role in Javanese culture. The second kingdom was later called Yogyakarta, now better known as Yogyakarta.

After the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was proclaimed, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX and Sri Paku Alam VIII launched a statement that the Kasultanan and Kadipaten (the two royal regions), belonged to Republic of Indonesia as a part of the whole area of Indonesia Republic. Since then, it has been known as Yogyakarta Special Region and was given a provincial status in 1950 in recognition of its important role in it fighting for the independence.

People

Yogya at night

The number of population of Yogyakarta Province in 1994 (mid year is 3,124,280 people and the average density is estimated to be 980,69 persons per square kilometer. The most heavily populated district in the region is in

Yogyakarta Municipality that has 461,800 inhabitants spread over 32,50 kilometers or the average population density is thus over 14,200 persons per square kilometer. The least densely populated districts is in Gunung Kidul regency which has 720.643 inhabitants and cover 1,485 square kilometers or the density rate is 485 persons per square kilometer. Since a very long time ago the Provincial territory of Yogyakarta Special Region and its surrounding has been decently populated. The Merapi Volcano in the northern part has always erupted its volcanic materials and therefore its surrounding area has been fertile land and thus densely populated. It has been widely known that some realms have ever

Culture

Life Puppet

Culture The province of Yogyakarta with its status as a special region lies in the Southern part of Central Java, in the heartland of Javanese culture. As the former capital and the center of several kingdoms in the past, this region and its
people are very rich in a variety of cultures. It is widely known from to historical records that the civilization, art and culture had developed well in the center of those kingdoms respectively in the era of the Ancient Mataram Kingdom (8th - 10th Century) the second Mataram Kingdom (17th - 18th Century) and Sultanate Ngayogyokarto from the mid of 18th Century up today.

It can be mentioned here that the cultural heritage in the past are the magnificent temples, the ruins of palaces and monasteries, the various kind of traditions cultural events, traditional folk performing arts, traditional ritual ceremonies, customs, traditional handicrafts, traditional architecture and other traditional activities. Most of them still exist and are coloring the daily activities of life and behavior of the local inhabitants, particularly the Javanese community with its traditional way of life and customs. Because of its richness in culture therefore Yogyakarta has been known for long as the cradle of the Javanese culture.
The Kraton Ngayogyokarto Hadiningrat (the Sultan's Palace) at the present being is known as a center of Javanese art and culture activities. Generally the community of Javanese people still respect their Sultan and are proud of the aristocratic influence of the Sultanate
court. The name of the Sultan holds a special significance for all Yogyanese evoking the traditional Javanese aristocrat. As a cradle of the Javanese culture, various art activities still flourish here. There are many traditional events and ceremonies that have been hold regularly such as Sekaten, Grebegan, Labuhan and others. A lot of traditional art and performances can be found with its daily program of cultural presentations, such as The Ramayana Ballet, Javanese Classical Dance, The Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet play), the Ketoprak (folk drama) and others. Not less interesting are also the old traditional rites of the esoteric custom kept alive by the people, particularly by village inhabitants. In respect of modern art. Yogyakarta excels with a dozen of art galleries and studios of Indonesia's prominent painters, sculptors, modern batik designers and choreographers. The educational institutions of art and craft both provided by state or private are available here, such as Indonesia Institute of Art, the Conservatorium of Classical Javanese Music and Dance, some of art foundations, art exercise and rehearsals etc. The richness in variations are that this city has in store is one of many aspects that makes Yogyakarta is a city of endless wonder and fascination.