It’s not always known that Surakarta and Solo actually refer to the same city. The name Solo originated from the village Sala, the prototype for the Kingdom of Surakarta. Founded by King Pakubuwono II, Surakarta is a silent witness to many historical matters from the Dutch colonial era, to the recent age where the old, wise heritage merges with newer, livelier ways.
In the city, which is claimed by its residents to never sleep, there’s always something to do. Walk around the city to observe cultural heritage preserved at every corner and alleyway, enter the vibrant, long-established traditional markets and head out on some shopping quests but always leave empty space in your belly to gorge on its diverse and delectable cuisine.
Culture
As the meeting point of five cities in the region, Surakarta acts as a melting pot of Javanese culture, and in the center of all of those is the Keraton (palace) Surakarta Hadiningrat. Built gradually from 1745 to 1939, the palace houses records of the kingdom’s history, which can be accessed from the museum and is attended by English speaking guides.
For a little insight in Batik culture, travelers can find Go Tik Swan and Museum Batik Danar Hadi to sate their curiosity. Go Tik Swan is a one-of-a-kind batik studio where not only special batik designs are created and the process can be observed, but the compound also hosts a historical museum and keris knife forging studio.
The peculiarity of Go Tik Swan includes incorporating elements from Chinese culture such as lotus flower and fenghuang (Chinese phoenix bird). On the other hand, Museum Batik Danar Hadi is a treasury consisting of all sorts of batik design.
Visitors will be guided through the many types of batik found in Indonesia. From the contrasting Surakarta and Yogyakarta batik design, to the story-telling Dutch batik which was popular during the colonial era to vivid coastal batik to name a few. For a more beaten track around town, there are batik villages (Kampung Batik) scattered around town namely Laweyan and Kauman.
At night, travelers will be able to attend the Wayang Orang show. Essentially a theatrical take on classic Javanese mythological tales, the shows are each and every single actor and actress’s own interpretation of the characters they play. Because if there’s one trait that makes Wayang Orang special it is that there is no script. The actors and actresses are urged to know the role from bottom up, so every single show has its own uniqueness.
The newly established Museum Keris opened in 2017. It holds four stories of keris knives and other traditional weaponry. Keris has been awarded an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, meaning a keris is not just a result of a master smith’s handiwork, but each aspect of it has its own meaning and philosophy, and the museum guides are eager to answer every question regarding it.
For a breather, located at the foot of Lawu mountain due east, is the Sukuh Temple. It remains an anomaly because of its out-of-the-box structure which resembles more those from the Inca/Maya civilizations, yet Sukuh Temple is Hindu and was built in 1347AD
Culinary
Omah Sinten is a hotel/restaurant with an authentic Javanese feel. Situated in the vicinity of Surakarta’s main roads and across from the Mangkunegaran Palace, Omah Sinten offers the people of Surakarta’s favorite food and beverages with an extra personal touch. Traditional staple foods such as skewered meat and garang asem can be found as well as international dishes such as chicken Cordon Bleu and grilled sirloin.
Located in the hilly region of Karanganyar and surrounded by tea plantations, Ndoro Donker Tea House started as a place where travelers could ease their exhaustion by sipping freshly brewed cups of tea and later evolved into a restaurant that serves international as well as local food.
Discovery
Pasar Gedhe Hardjonagoro is a masterpiece by Thomas Karsten, a Dutch architect whose works can be found throughout Indonesia. Still functioning as a people’s market, Pasar Gedhe is where the townsfolk congregate for the freshest ingredients from the vicinity. The main building is a marriage between Dutch and native style and built in anticipation of tropical climates.
Located next door westward from the Palace, Pasar Klewer is a major textile and batik-trading center. Around three thousand traders are there to challenge buyers’ bargaining skills.
During a certain time of the day, a loud whistle can be heard from afar, announcing the arrival of Jaladara Steam Locomotive. Departing from Purwosari station, the 1896-German-made steam powered train will travel the Slamet Riyadi main road, allowing passengers a historic glance throughout the city’s vein, revisiting significant landmarks such as Lodji Gandrung, Sriwedari Park, Batik Museum Danar Hadi, and Kauman Batik Village before stopping at Solo Kota Station to refuel and make the trip back.
Last but not least, on 29 April 2018, Slamet Riyadi Street bore witness to Solo Menari. Held during the Car Free Day event, Solo Menari is an event assembling more than 5000 female dancers to perform the record breaking Gambyong Dance. Determined to hold it annually with a different theme, the event is Surakarta’s special nod to the World Dance Day.
Pariwisatasolo.surakarta.go.id
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