While the aforementioned Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in Indonesia and the world, Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple site in the country. Also dating from the 9th century, and also under the auspices of UNESCO, Prambanan represents the grandeur of ancient Java's Hindu art and architecture.

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Ujung Kulon National Park -

If you're patient and more than a little lucky, you might set eyes on a Javan rhinoceros while traveling through the Ujung Kulon National Park. Ujung Kulon is the last known refuge for this critically endangered species. The Javan tiger, which once roamed the same area, became extinct in 2008. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Mount Batok -

Stately Mount Batok is another star in the collection of volcanoes clustered together in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. A cinder cone, Batok is in fact inactive, but still dazzles in its form and grandeur.

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Jakarta -

Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, lies on the northwest coast of Java. Incredibly, the city is the world's second-most populous urban area, after Tokyo. Put aside several days to absorb its many sights and attractions.

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Surabaya -

The capital of East Java, Surabaya is a potpourri of colonial, Asian, Javanese, modern, and post-modern architectural influences. Standout structures include the beautiful Al-Akbar Mosque (pictured) and the Suramadu Bridge, the longest bridge in Indonesia.

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Kampung Warna-Warni Jodipan -

Kampung Warna-Warni Jodipan is a village set south of the city of Malang and coated in color, the result of an art project that transformed a once drab, whitewashed community into a rainbow oasis.

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Sangiran -

According to UNESCO, Sangiran is one of the most important sites in the world for studying fossil man. The archaeological site in Central Java is supported by a excellent museum (pictured), the exhibition of which chronicles the history and exploration of the site.

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Madakaripura Waterfall -

Another fantastic Javanese water feature is the secluded Madakaripura Waterfall, hidden away within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. It's fondly dubbed the "eternal waterfall," since its waters never cease to pour down an endless rain of blessings on those fortunate enough to walk underneath it.

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Alas Purwo National Park -

Alas Purwo means "ancient forest," after a Javanese legend that says the Earth first emerged from the ocean here. The park, located on the Blambangan Peninsula, is noted for its resident population of wild banteng (pictured), a species of cattle found in Southeast Asia. Nearby Grajagan Bay is a internationally renowned surf break. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Mount Sumbing -

One of Central Java's most prominent natural wonders is Mount Sumbing, a 3,371-m (11,060-ft) stratovolcano that last erupted in 1730.

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Semarang -

Central Java's largest city, Semarang was a major port during the Dutch colonial era. The city's Old Town is certainly worth a few hours of your time exploring. Elsewhere, a must-see is the extraordinary Great Mosque, the grounds of which can be visited by non-Muslims.

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Bogor -

A diversion to the city of Bogor, 60 km (37 mi) south of Jakarta, is rewarded by the lush expanse of Bogor Botanical Gardens. The grounds contain 13,983 different kinds of trees and plants of various origin, more than enough flora to keep budding botanists happy.

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Cikubang Bridge -

An amazing man-made wonder is the Cikubang Bridge, located in Padalarang, West Java. This is the longest active rail bridge in Indonesia, and carries the railway line from Bandung to Jakarta. It's worth catching a train just to trundle over it!

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Kawah Ijen -

The Ijen volcano complex in East Java is known for an especially bewitching natural wonder, Kawah Ijen. But the tranquil turquoise-colored acidic crater lake is also the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation, where the pay is good but the work dangerous.

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Taman Sari -

The 18th-century Taman Sari Water Castle in Yogyakarta is the site of a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. Back in the day, this tranquil retreat served as a resting area, a workshop, a meditation area, and a defense complex. The central bathing complex (pictured) is especially well preserved.

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Thousand Islands -

Scattered like emeralds across the Java Sea are the Thousand Islands, a chain of islands to the north of Jakarta's coast. Only 13 of the islands are developed for tourism, which makes the destination an enticing if somewhat exclusive vacation option for anyone seeking a spot of me time.

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Jakarta History Museum -

This is where to go to glean an idea of Jakarta's colorful and sometimes chaotic past. Among the exhibits are archaeological finds from prehistory, a rich collection of 18th- and 19th-century ethnic furniture, and artifacts from the Dutch East Indies Company. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Candi Sukuh Java -

Set on the border between Central and East Java provinces is Candi Sukuh Java, a 15th-century Javanese-Hindu temple known for its distinctive thematic reliefs, those of life before birth and sexual education. A number of statues in very suggestive poses embellish the grounds. You've been warned!

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Java tea -

No visit to Java is complete without a tea plantation tour. The island is celebrated for this popular beverage, which includes a range of herbal infusions. Pictured are nimble-fingered pickers working the Puncak Cisarua Tea Plantation near Bogor in West Java.

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Mount Halimun National Park -

The conservation area of Mount Halimun National Park serves as sanctuary for a wealth of wildlife, including the endemic and endangered gibbon-like Javan lutung (pictured). Ornithologists flock here to observe any one of the 145 known bird species rarely seen anywhere else in Java.

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Merdeka Square -

Jakarta's huge Merdeka Square is dominated by the 132-m (433-ft) obelisk at its center. Built to commemorate the struggle for Indonesian independence and inaugurated in 1975, the monument encloses a museum and a ceremonial hall. An observation deck affords an impressive panorama of the city below.

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Candi Ceto -

Hugging the western slope of Mount Lawu on the border between Central and East Java provinces is Candi Ceto, a late 15th-century Javanese-Hindu temple that was one of the last to be built before the island's courts were converted to Islam in the 16th century.

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Mendut -

Solid looking and weather worn, Mendut has stood since the 9th century and is not far from the bigger complex of Borobudur. The Buddhist temple is famed for its interior, where a collection of mesmerizing statues and bas-reliefs enhance the shadows.

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Javanese cuisine -

While influenced by Indian, Arabic, and Chinese textures and flavors, Javanese cuisine is for the most part indigenously developed and noted for its simplicity. A dish to try while on the island is sambal tahun, a unique and exotic dish the ingredients of which include beef, onions, galangal (spice), ginger, coconut milk, salt, sugar, and a lot of bird's eye chilies.

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Dance culture -

Try and catch a traditional dance show while on the island. Dance reflects the diversity of culture from ethnic groups that compose the nation of Indonesia and takes many forms, including Topeng, Reog Ponorogo, and Bedhaya.

Sources: (UNESCO) (Tea Cultures) (World Wildlife Fund)

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Javan jaunt: a journey to Java

Discover this enchanting Southeast Asian destination

02/02/21 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Far east

Java in Indonesia is the the most populous island in the world. The country's capital, Jakarta, is located here. But so, too, are four of Indonesia's eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as some of the most dramatic and inspiring volcanic scenery on the planet. Add to the allure incredible wildlife, a centuries-old culture, and delicious local cuisine, and you have all the ingredients for a spectacular and memorable Southeast Asian vacation. So, are you ready to journey to Java?

Click through this gallery for inspiration on where to go and what to see.