Malioboro Street is one of the iconic tourist attractions in Yogyakarta that is always crowded with tourists. Located not far from Tugu Jogja Station, this street has become a favorite destination for travelers from various regions. However, behind its popularity, Malioboro Street holds a history and meaning that is interesting to know.

Malioboro Street was built by the Dutch colonial government and originally did not only serve as a transportation route. It has a long history of witnessing Indonesia’s struggle for independence. Its strategic role in the past made Malioboro an important center of economic and social activities.

So, what is the history and meaning behind Malioboro Street? Read the full story to understand more about this historical icon of Yogyakarta.

History of Malioboro Street

In Yogyakarta, there are three main roads that stretch from Tugu Jogja to Jogja Post Office. They are Jalan Pangeran Mangkubumi, Jalan Jenderal A. Yani, and Jalan Malioboro. Among the three, Malioboro Street has an important role as it is part of the imaginary line of the Yogyakarta Palace.

In the 19th century, the Dutch East Indies government built Malioboro as a center of economic activity. The name Malioboro became popular during the colonial period, precisely between 1790 and 1945. In 1790, the Dutch built Fort Vredeburg at the southern end of the street. In addition, they also built various important facilities such as the Dutch Club or Societeit Der Vereneging Djokdjakarta (1822), the Dutch Governor’s Residence (1830), Javasche Bank and the Post Office.

Malioboro’s rapid development cannot be separated from trade activities, especially between the Dutch government and Chinese traders. In 1887, after Tugu Station was established, Malioboro Street was divided into two parts. Apart from being an economic center, this street also holds the history of Indonesia’s independence struggle.

One of the historical events that took place in Malioboro was the March 1, 1949 General Strike. In a six-hour battle, Indonesian fighters managed to reclaim Yogyakarta from the hands of Dutch colonial forces. This event became one of the important moments in the struggle to defend Indonesia’s independence.

Until now, Malioboro Street remains the center of Yogyakarta’s life by maintaining its original concept and design. Various strategic places can still be found in this area, such as the DIY Governor’s Office, DIY DPRD Building, Beringharjo Market, Malioboro Terrace, and the Presidential Palace. Malioboro continues to be an inseparable cultural, historical and economic icon of Yogyakarta.

The Meaning of Malioboro

The name of Malioboro Street, which is thought to have been built by the Dutch government in the 1750s, has an interesting historical background. The name was inspired by a royal road mentioned in the Ramayana, which served as the main road and had an important role. This road was used to welcome the king and his guests and was believed to bring various blessings.

The street was originally named Malyabhara, which was later adapted as the name of the main street in the center of Yogyakarta. Later on, the Javanese pronunciation changed the sound to Malioboro, along with the habit of pronouncing the letter a into o. In Sanskrit, Malya means flower, while bhara means wearing. Therefore, Malyabhara can be interpreted as “the street adorned with flowers”, reflecting the specialty of the street.

The post History of Malioboro Street Jogja: Economic Center of the Dutch East Indies appeared first on Authentic Indonesia.

Here are 5 ecotourism destinations in Central Java worth exploring for an unforgettable, eco-friendly and meaningful travel experience.

1. Umbul Sidomukti

Located at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level (masl), the atmosphere at Umbul Sidomukti is very cool and refreshing. In this tourist spot, visitors can swim while enjoying the view of Semarang City from a height. Its location at the foot of Mount Ungaran adds to the coolness and beauty of this place. After swimming, visitors can relax while enjoying a cup of coffee at Villa Pondok Kopi located in the same area. If interested in camping, tourists can continue their journey to Mount Ungaran Rose Post or do some light trekking to Promasan Tea Garden.

2. Grand Maerokoco

Another ecotourism destinations in Central Java is the Grand Maerokoco in Semarang. The city of Semarang has a complete topography, including mountains, hills, and coastal areas. One of the city’s interesting natural tourist destinations is the Grand Maerokoco mangrove forest. In this place, visitors can explore the mangrove forest with a bamboo path as high as one meter from the water surface. The path is made in various ways, some surrounding the forest and some going deeper into the shady and beautiful area of the mangrove forest. Grand Maerokoco has reopened with a maximum visit limit of 3,000 people per day.

3. Tembi Tourism Village

For travelers who want to experience the rural atmosphere and avoid the crowded city, Tembi Tourism Village can be an option. Here, visitors can enjoy fresh air, green views of rice fields, and experience the wisdom of local culture. Activities around the village can be done by riding an andong, becak, mini train, or onthel bicycle. Special tour packages to learn farming are also available. Tembi Tourism Village also has the Tembi Cultural House Museum which exhibits various Javanese heirlooms, such as keris and gamelan.

4. Pindul Cave

River tubing may be a common experience, but exploring a river in a cave can be a unique and unforgettable experience. At Pindul Cave, visitors can experience the thrill of cave tubing. The cave is located in Bejiharjo Village, Karangmojo District, Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta. With a length of 350 meters, this cave tubing activity takes about 45 minutes. Along the way, visitors will be treated to charming views of stalactites and stalagmites. During the tour, the guide will explain about the history of the cave and the fauna such as bats that inhabit this cave. For those looking for a challenge, there is a spot to jump off the cliff inside the cave.

5. Nglambor Beach

The next ecotourism destinations in Central Java is Nglambor Beach. One of the top beach destinations in Yogyakarta is Nglambor Beach. Here, visitors can do snorkeling to enjoy the beauty of the turquoise sea, see coral reefs, and interact with small fish that swim freely. The area of Nglambor Beach is quite small and not so wide. This made Nglambor Beach initially empty of visitors. However, some tourists realized the potential of Nglambor Beach that can be used for snorkeling. As a result, Nglambor Beach is now one of the tourist destinations for visitors who want to experience snorkeling in Yogyakarta. The underwater beauty is worth exploring.

The post Explore Central Java Through These 5 Ecotourism Destinations appeared first on Authentic Indonesia.