Our Destination Solo
Surakarta
Surakarta (its formal name; locally it is referred to as Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500,000 people located in Central Java. It is some 65 km (40 miles) northeast of Yogyakarta, and 100 km (60 miles) southeast of Semarang. The city was a center of power during the 18th century Mataram Kingdom.
Name
The local inhabitants are more familiar with and use the name of "Solo" or "Sala" for the city, rather than "Surakarta". "Surakarta" is however used in formal and official contexts. The city has similar name with neighboring district of "Kartasura", which the preceded capital of Mataram located.
Geography
The eastern part of the town is bordered by Bengawan Solo River, the longest river on Java. The river is the inspiration for the song Bengawan Solo, a 1940s composition by Gesang Martohartono which became famous throughout much of Asia.
Government
The royal head of Surakarta has the title Susuhunan.
History
This is the older of the two royal cities in Central Java (the other is Yogyakarta), and its ruling family can lay claim to being the rightful heirs to the Mataram dynasty. Like Yogya, Solo has two royal palaces and a number of museums, yet its tourist industry is nowhere near as developed. The city's main source of income is from textiles, and Solo has the biggest batik market on Java. Solo also makes an ideal base from which to visit the home of Java Man at Sangiran, as well as the intriguing temples Candi Ceto and Candi Sukuh.
Founding The Dynasty
Serials of wars were clashed between the Adipati (dukes) following the death of the last Sultan of Demak Bintoro, the first Islamic kingdom in Java. One of prominent powerful dukes was Jaka Tingkir, son-in-law of the late sultan. After defeated the last opponent duke of Jipang-Panola, Jaka Tingkir aka. Sultan Hadiwijaya claimed the throne and moved the capital to the city of Pajang, located ± 8 miles from the present-day Surakarta. His adopted son, Sutawijaya, set a conspiracy and killed him with the favor of an assassin. Then, he ascended the throne and once again, moved the capital to Mataram in present-day province of Jogjakarta, and the new dynasty was founded. It was such an irony to find out that Sutawijaya was the man of the battle which fought against the duke of Jipang-Panola and killed the duke, gained the victory for Pajang.
Pakubuwono II
Up until 1744, Solo was little more than a quiet backwater village, 10km east of Kartasura, the contemporary capital of the Mataram kingdom. But in that year the Mataram susuhunan (king), Pakubuwono II, backed the Chinese against the Dutch, and the court at Kartasura was sacked as a result. Pakubuwono II searched for a more auspicious spot to rebuild his capital, and in 1745 the entire court was dismantled and transported in a great procession to Surakarta, on the banks of the Kali Solo. It was said that the place he chose to be the new palace was cited on a small lake. It was also said by the "babad" or official record of court historians that the lake was drain by the favor of the mythical queen of southern sea, Nyi Roro Kidul. However, the decline continued, and in 1757, after the kingdom of Mataram was divided to Surakarta Sunanate (northern court) and Jogjakarta Sultanate (southern court), another rival royal house of Mangkunegoro was established by Raden Mas Said aka. Pangeran Samber Nyowo (The Slayer Prince) right in the centre of Solo. It marked the success of Dutch's politic in East Indies, which was known as "divide et impera" (divide and conquer). Mataram held so much influence in Java, yet it remained nothing more than falling under the Dutch's hands. Thereafter, Solo's royal houses wisely avoided fighting and instead threw their energies into the arts, developing a highly sophisticated and graceful court culture. The gamelan pavilions became the new theatres of war, with each city competing to produce the more refined court culture. Wayang Kulit and Wayang Wong are several theatrical arts still performed today.
Pakubuwono X
Perhaps the most significant ruler of the twentieth century, was Pakubuwono X. His relationship with the Dutch, and his large family, and his popularity contributed to perhaps the largest funeral procession that ever occurred in Solo. He had contributed large expenditure on the Royal Graveyard at Imogiri in the main sections of the graveyard, as well as towards the new section that he was buried in.
Local dialect
Although people in Central Java use the same language named "boso jowo" ("basa jawa", Javanese) they have special characteristics which differentiate them from which region they come. For example, for the word "cold" ("dingin" in Indonesian, especially for weather), people in Surakarta use the word "adem", but people in Semarang use the word "atis". The Javanese language of Surakarta and Jogjakarta is well known as the standard for all Javanese speakers throughout the nation.
Surakarta (its formal name; locally it is referred to as Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500,000 people located in Central Java. It is some 65 km (40 miles) northeast of Yogyakarta, and 100 km (60 miles) southeast of Semarang. The city was a center of power during the 18th century Mataram Kingdom.
Name
The local inhabitants are more familiar with and use the name of "Solo" or "Sala" for the city, rather than "Surakarta". "Surakarta" is however used in formal and official contexts. The city has similar name with neighboring district of "Kartasura", which the preceded capital of Mataram located.
Geography
The eastern part of the town is bordered by Bengawan Solo River, the longest river on Java. The river is the inspiration for the song Bengawan Solo, a 1940s composition by Gesang Martohartono which became famous throughout much of Asia.
Government
The royal head of Surakarta has the title Susuhunan.
History
This is the older of the two royal cities in Central Java (the other is Yogyakarta), and its ruling family can lay claim to being the rightful heirs to the Mataram dynasty. Like Yogya, Solo has two royal palaces and a number of museums, yet its tourist industry is nowhere near as developed. The city's main source of income is from textiles, and Solo has the biggest batik market on Java. Solo also makes an ideal base from which to visit the home of Java Man at Sangiran, as well as the intriguing temples Candi Ceto and Candi Sukuh.
Founding The Dynasty
Serials of wars were clashed between the Adipati (dukes) following the death of the last Sultan of Demak Bintoro, the first Islamic kingdom in Java. One of prominent powerful dukes was Jaka Tingkir, son-in-law of the late sultan. After defeated the last opponent duke of Jipang-Panola, Jaka Tingkir aka. Sultan Hadiwijaya claimed the throne and moved the capital to the city of Pajang, located ± 8 miles from the present-day Surakarta. His adopted son, Sutawijaya, set a conspiracy and killed him with the favor of an assassin. Then, he ascended the throne and once again, moved the capital to Mataram in present-day province of Jogjakarta, and the new dynasty was founded. It was such an irony to find out that Sutawijaya was the man of the battle which fought against the duke of Jipang-Panola and killed the duke, gained the victory for Pajang.
Pakubuwono II
Up until 1744, Solo was little more than a quiet backwater village, 10km east of Kartasura, the contemporary capital of the Mataram kingdom. But in that year the Mataram susuhunan (king), Pakubuwono II, backed the Chinese against the Dutch, and the court at Kartasura was sacked as a result. Pakubuwono II searched for a more auspicious spot to rebuild his capital, and in 1745 the entire court was dismantled and transported in a great procession to Surakarta, on the banks of the Kali Solo. It was said that the place he chose to be the new palace was cited on a small lake. It was also said by the "babad" or official record of court historians that the lake was drain by the favor of the mythical queen of southern sea, Nyi Roro Kidul. However, the decline continued, and in 1757, after the kingdom of Mataram was divided to Surakarta Sunanate (northern court) and Jogjakarta Sultanate (southern court), another rival royal house of Mangkunegoro was established by Raden Mas Said aka. Pangeran Samber Nyowo (The Slayer Prince) right in the centre of Solo. It marked the success of Dutch's politic in East Indies, which was known as "divide et impera" (divide and conquer). Mataram held so much influence in Java, yet it remained nothing more than falling under the Dutch's hands. Thereafter, Solo's royal houses wisely avoided fighting and instead threw their energies into the arts, developing a highly sophisticated and graceful court culture. The gamelan pavilions became the new theatres of war, with each city competing to produce the more refined court culture. Wayang Kulit and Wayang Wong are several theatrical arts still performed today.
Pakubuwono X
Perhaps the most significant ruler of the twentieth century, was Pakubuwono X. His relationship with the Dutch, and his large family, and his popularity contributed to perhaps the largest funeral procession that ever occurred in Solo. He had contributed large expenditure on the Royal Graveyard at Imogiri in the main sections of the graveyard, as well as towards the new section that he was buried in.
Local dialect
Although people in Central Java use the same language named "boso jowo" ("basa jawa", Javanese) they have special characteristics which differentiate them from which region they come. For example, for the word "cold" ("dingin" in Indonesian, especially for weather), people in Surakarta use the word "adem", but people in Semarang use the word "atis". The Javanese language of Surakarta and Jogjakarta is well known as the standard for all Javanese speakers throughout the nation.
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