Travel to Solo, this is one of Indonesia's best cultural preserved and the least westernized city in Central Java...

... Surakarta or more famous as Solo is lying across in fertile plain terrain along the longest river in Java, Bengawan Solo or River of Solo. Flanked by mountain volcanoes Merapi and Merbabu in the north, and mount Lawu in the southeast border, is famous as a stronghold and center of Javanese culture and tradition. The main avenue is Jl. Slamet Riyadi, in the center of the city is the favorite thoroughfare of Solo. Many hotels, restaurants and offices are located along and around this avenue. This developing city has some places of interest.

... In the down town of the city, along the wide green Slamet Riyadi Avenue, at the cross road of Sudirman, turn south cross the Alun-alun Utara (North Square), That is the Karaton Surakarta Hadiningrat, with the present the newly coronated King Sri Susuhunan Pakubuwono XIII. It is opened daily at 08.30 am – 02.00 pm, Friday is closed. In the middle of the town in the North of Slamet Riyadi Avenue is another palace, Puro Mangkunagaran . The present king is Sri Mangkunagoro IX. It is opened daily at 09.00 am – 02.00 pm, Sunday 09.00 am – 01.00 pm

Both palaces have their own excellent programs to be adored by tourists, among other; court dance, gamelan music performance, museums, etc.

Karaton Kartosuro located 10 km west of Solo, the remnant of the palace is there. It was the center power of Mataram for 60 (sixty) years until 1745.

Karaton Pajang also located in Kartosuro, in the village of Makam Haji, Pajang. Some believe that it was the site of Karaton Pajang under Sultan Hadiwijaya who reigned between 1540 – 1580.

The tranquil town of Solo with its charming and soft-spoken people has several amazing names as a sign of adoration, such as: the city that never sleeps , the center of culture and the city of pleasure . Some foreign travelers say that Solo is the least westernized town in Central Java.

He was the great grand son of King Brawijaya V, the grand father of Panembahan Senopati (the First king of Mataram Kingdom II), many pilgrims visit his grave in Laweyan.

This longest river in Java flows along the eastern edge of the town from its source in the lime stones hill of the south, near East Java border to its mouth nearby Surabaya, on the Java sea. Regretfully, the river is now shallow, it is not navigable anymore. But in the past It was an important link between Solo and the north cost of East Java. There is a well-known song 'Bengawan Solo' composed by Mr. Gesang .

The main railway station with colonial style building located around 2 km from the center of the town. Solo is in the main railway roads connecting Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. It has also connection with Bandung. There are frequent day and night trains of different classes.

Located nearby Mangkunagaran Palace, it is Solo antique market where devotee of bric–a-brac, curiosities, crafts, etc should see. There are lamps of varied ornaments and sizes, dinner and tea sets, goblets, vases and various kinds of souvenirs with beautiful motifs. The buyers should know the technique of bargaining. As a fortress of culture and tradition, a traveler should see various traditional art and crafts such as wayang (leather puppets), gamelan, batik, keris, etc in every corner of the city.

Off the west gate of Karaton's North Square, this old market selling all kinds of fabrics, predominantly batik. Other traditional fabrics are lurik (hand-woven striped cotton cloth) and tenun ikat. There are hundreds of shops jammed along narrow passageways. Visitors must be prepared to bargain.

For those who are interested in deeper knowledge of batik manufacturing, short batik courses are available, among other in a alley near Warung Baru and in Kauman, off Jl. Yos Sudarso. Solo is also The City of Batik, with leading Batik Exporters in the country.
The workshop of gamelan is in Bekonang Village, Sukoharjo/Karanganyar or Hajar Satoto's Place in Kartosuro.
Solo is also famous with its Keris (Kris) collection, old and new makes. There are some experts of Keris for consultation among other Herri Sutrisno and Hajar Satoto, and the foundation of keris devotees of Solo (Bowo Roso), Fauzan and Harjonagoro.

Visit other region surrounding Solo such as Boyolali, Wonogiri, Karanganyar, Sragen, Klaten and Sukoharjo. Find excellent cooper handicrafts and magnificent ancient temples of Sukuh, Ceto etc..