Solo City: February 2008 | Self Guide Tourism Solo City

Shopping and Gifts

BATIK
- Klewer Market (Pasar Klewer)
Located next to Alun-Alun Lor (Nothern Square) of the Kasunanan Palace. It's the largest Batik market in Java, provides various kind of Batik from traditional to modern style.
Open : 11.00 - 16.00

- Ndalem Tjokrosoemartan
A beautiful historical house that has been restored by several generations of batik emporium family. It's the site of the first major batik produces & exporter in Indonesia, based in Solo. Located in Kampoeng Batik Laweyan.
Open : by appoinment only, phone +62271-711011

- Kampoeng Batik Laweyan
This ancient area is famous for the biggest batik producing area since 1930. The street's names represent the batik motifs. Many beautiful houses hidden behind the high walls can be found within the area.

- Galery Ancient Batik Danar Hadi
Representing one of place which can be visited to witness the most complete ancient batik collection and batik making process.
Jl. Slamet Riyadi 261 Solo, phone : +62271-714326
Open : 09.00 - 16.00

- Batik Keris
Another place which can be visited to witness the difference pattern of ancient batik collection.
Jl. Kom. Yos Sudarso 62 Solo, phone : +62271-643243
Open : 09.00 - 21.00

TRIWINDU ANTIQUES MARKET
Located in front of Mangkunegaran Palace. Take a walk around dozens of shops located in this market. You would be surprised by the quality and beautiful designs of porcelain made dinner and tea sets; goblets; vases and other souvenirs. All the items sold here can be bargained. Do not however forget to negotiate before you pay for them.
Open : 09.00 - 16.00

DEPOK BIRD MARKET
You'll be surprised with the number of species of birds & other animal you can find here. Occasionally there are bird competitions held in the market.

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Cultural and Points of Interests

KASUNANAN PALACE (Kraton Surakarta Hadiningrat)
Kasunanan Palace / Kraton Surakarta founded by Pakubuwono II in 1745. A royal heirloom, decorated with ancient relics, consist of art gallery and museum, exhibit many ancient precious antiques, traditional weapon such as daggers / keris.


MANGKUNEGARAN PALACE (Puro Mangkunegaran)
The 2nd palace in Solo, with interesting traditional Javanese architecture. The Palace reserved priceless treasures, mostly from Majapahit & Mataram empire eras (1586 - 1755).

RADYA PUSTAKA Museum
The oldest museum in Central Java, located beside Sriwedari Park, featuring ancient stuff, such as keris, Dutch & Javanese books, etc.


JURUG Park
A recreational park consist of zoo & children playground. Located on the western bank of Bengawan Solo river.

SUKUH Temple
The Sukuh temple has a highly distinctive character, not to be found in any other shrines in Indonesia. Located on the slopes of mount Lawu, it consists of three terraces that resembles the architecture of the Incas. The first terrace is adorned by a carved Phallus aimed at Yoni, that depicts sexual relations & growth in the womb before birth. In Sukuh temple, visitors will enjoy many unique and erotic reliefs surrounded by a beautiful & impressing panorama.

CETO Temple
Dating from the 15th century, the Ceto temple located 12 km above the Sukuh temple. The journey to the temple is a trip for the real adventure along a winding road tea garden of Kemuning, rubbers forest and some Agro tourism up. The temple has fourteen terraces and it's architecturally reminiscent of ancient Aztec and Mayan culture of Central America.

TAWANG MANGU Resort
Just a few kilometers to the South of Sukuh Temple, this resort offers a cool and refreshing escape from Solo city life. Try the walk from here to the temple; it takes about 2 1/2 hours & takes you through monkey in-habited, forested hills pass the impressive Grojogan Sewu waterfall.

KEMUNING Agrotourism
Tea plantation area with a beautiful landscape, owned by PT. Kemuning Agrotourism. It's the right place to visit after breakfast in the sunny morning. This place, 38 km eastern of Solo or 8 km from Sukuh temple, at the slove of mount Lawu.

PENGGING BATHING POOL
(Pemandian Umbul Pengging)
It is located in Dukuh village, Banyudono subdistrict, 12 km from Boyolali city to the east. Years ago the Bathing Pool was privately used by Pakubuwono X and his royal family.

SELO Pass
A beautiful landscape between Merapi and Merbabu mountain, a short cut road from Solo to Borobudur temple. Very interesting and challenging.

SANGIRAN Museum
Less than 20 km to the north east of Solo is one of the world's riches beds of prehistoric fossils, at Sangiran. Human, animal & plant fossils dating back hundreds of thousands of years can be found lying around the area in great abundance; for more orderly viewing of preserved ancestors, check out the Sangiran Museum.


GAJAH MUNGKUR DAM (Waduk Gajah Mungkur)
In the early 1980's the Gajah Mungkur dam was built, forming a reservoir that sank 51 villages. Fortunately the population of 60.000 had been previously relocated to west Sumatera. The reservoir today is a great place to indulge in all sorts of watersports; boating, swimming, waterskiing & hang-gliding from the top of the hill near the dam.

GONG CAVE (Goa Gong)
Gong cave has incredible ornaments which cannot be found in any other caves. This 256 mt underground cave, has 12 rooms, 7 springs & natural both. It's located about 7 km from Punung market on the way to Pacitan (70 km south-east of Solo). People believe that on a certain day of Friday, there is a traditional song called 'Jaranan' coming from the cave. Until now the song sometimes still can be heard. The sound of Gong (traditional drum) heard louder than others, that is why this cave is named Gong Cave.

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