Indonesia became popular with Russian tourists a couple of decades ago, when travelers discovered the island of Bali. But in a distant country, you can find a lot of interesting things and significantly diversify your beach vacation with educational excursions. Exoticism awaits tourists here at every turn, and everyone finds their own answer to the question of what to see in Indonesia. Nature lovers enjoy walks in national parks, animal lovers interact with monkeys and even dragons, and self-seeking citizens meditate on the ocean shore in complete harmony with the world.
Top 15 attractions in Indonesia
Borobudur
One of the largest temple complexes in the world, Borobodur on the island of Java was built in the 8th-9th centuries by the rulers of the Mataram state. It was erected as a stupa with a rectangular base in the form of a mandala, representing the scheme of the universe according to the Buddhist version.
The side of the stupa foundation is 118 meters, on its upper tier 72 small stupas surround the central one. Borobodur is decorated with 504 Buddha statues and 1460 religious bas-reliefs. The construction of the stupa took 2 million stone blocks. Scientists have established that originally Borobodur was built in the shape of a lotus flower, in the center of which was a statue of Buddha. Passing all levels of the stupa, pilgrims get acquainted with the life of Buddha and the canons of his teachings.
Pura Tanah Lot
Translated from Balinese "Pura Tanah Lot" means "Temple of the Earth". The religious building was built on an island connected to the land by a narrow isthmus. It can only be overcome at low tide. Believers are allowed to climb the stairs carved into the rock, and tourists are allowed only to the lower part.
Legend has it that Pura Tanah Lot was built in the 15th century. A Hindu brahmana saw the light from a spring gushing nearby, and decided to build a temple on this divine place. The water in the spring is considered curative.
Pura-Besakih
This Hindu religious complex in Bali is called the "Mother of Temples". More than two dozen religious buildings were built on the territory of the complex in the X-XI centuries, and today they amaze with the special skill of ancient architects. Pagodas and bas-reliefs, sculptures of fantastic creatures and Hindu gods, stone and wood carvings - in the Mother of Temples every corner can be looked at for hours.
Prambanan
The Prambanan temple complex dates back to the 10th century. It is located at the southern slope of the Merapi volcano near Borobodur. UNESCO protects the complex on the World Heritage List.
The main temple of the complex is called Lara Jongrang. This is how the locals call the statue of Durga in the sanctuary. The construction of the "Slender Maiden" temple for Prince Bandung Bondosovo was a test from an insidious bride. The guides will tell you the details of the sad story, and you can look at the most beautiful religious building in Indonesia by driving 18 km from Jokarta by taxi or tourist bus.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
A theme park representing the ethnic, architectural, religious and natural diversity of Indonesia is open in the eastern part of the capital. Each province is represented in its own pavilion, where visitors are shown the interiors of houses, national costumes, household utensils and even musical instruments.
In the center of the park is a lake, whose shape follows the geographic outlines of Indonesia. There is a cable car over the reservoir, and you can move between the islands by boat. Visitors can rent bicycles and electric cars.
Noteworthy in the park:
- Purna Bhakti Pertivi Museum. Most of the exhibition is represented by the collection of President Suharto. The head of the country donated the works of art received as a gift to the museum.
- An amusement park with roller coasters, numerous carousels, labyrinths, dread rooms and other entertainment.
- A craft center where you can not only watch the work of folk craftsmen and buy souvenirs, but also take part in the creation of a ceramic plate, beads from sea shells or a basket wicker made of palm leaves.
There are cafes, cinemas, shops and hotels in the park.
Komodo park
The national park between the provinces of the Eastern and Western Lesser Sunda Islands is famous all over the world. The main inhabitants of Komodo are huge lizards called Komodo monitor lizards. On the island of the same name in the park, half of the population of the Komodo monitor lizard lives - about 3,000 individuals.
Tourists can move in the park, accompanied by an instructor guide, since the lizards from Komodo, although peaceful, are still predators.
Monkey forest
Four-handed residents inhabit an entire forest in Ubud, Bali. They love the attention of tourists and often take advantage of the weakness of foreigners who forget about the danger at the sight of charming monkeys. And the danger lies in the fact that four-handed thieves grab glasses, wallets and even cameras from gape of tourists. In general, if you are careful not to relax, the Monkey Forest is a very pleasant place to walk and explore the fauna and flora of Indonesia.
Bromo-Tenger-Semeru
The national park on the island of Java was created in the 80s of the last century to protect a unique natural formation called erg. Erg is a sandy sea that appeared as a result of the retreat from the land of the sea of the present. This process took place millions of years ago. Other relics of the Bromo-Tenger-Semeru park are the caldera of the ancient Tenger volcano, the modern Semeru volcano, which is the highest peak of the island, several lakes, waterfalls, temples and caves.
The flora of the park is represented by 220 species of orchids, beech trees, acacias and begonias. Many of the 130 bird species are protected as rare and endangered, and the most beautiful inhabitants of the park are the marble cat and the Javanese leopard.
Garuda Vishnu Kencana
In the southern part of Bali you will find a national park, the main famous of which are parts of a giant sculpture of the god Vishnu. In perspective, the 146-meter deity will be depicted sitting on an eagle Garuda. In the meantime, in the park, you can look at individual elements of the future sculptural composition and admire the magnificent landscapes typical of Indonesia.
Istiklal Mosque
The largest mosque in Southeast Asia, the Independence Mosque was built as a thanksgiving of the people of Indonesia to God for the sovereignty of their state.
The idea of building a mosque was born in 1949, when the country declared independence from the Netherlands. President Sukarno personally supervised the process and laid the foundation stone in 1961. In 1978 he opened a new mosque that can accommodate 120 thousand people at a time.
Ragunan Zoo
270 animal species and over 170 plant species are protected and displayed to the public at Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta. Most of the park's inhabitants are endangered or rare.
In the spacious enclosures you can see orangutans and Sumatran tigers, Komodo monitor lizards and tapirs.
The zoo was opened more than 150 years ago and since then its territory has undergone many changes. All cages and aviaries are designed so that their inhabitants do not feel cramped or discomfortable, and on Mondays, animals have a day off, and Ragunan is closed to visitors.
Jakarta Historical Museum
The exposition of the Historical Museum in the capital of Indonesia is located in an old building, built in 1710 for the municipality of West Java, and then serving as the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company. The architectural features of the building - huge rafters and natural wood floors - impress visitors.
Museum guests can look at artifacts that tell about the prehistoric period of the development of Southeast Asia, at exhibits dedicated to the period when Jokarta was founded and Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch.
The most valuable items of the collection are a rich collection of furniture of the 17th-19th centuries, and the treasures of Sultan Agung.
Open from 9 am to 3 pm except Mon.
National Museum of Indonesia
The first exhibits in the collection of the National Museum of Indonesia appeared in 1778, and today the collection has 140 thousand items. You can look at products made of precious stones and metals in the "Golden Room", get acquainted with ancient manuscripts, enjoy works of art. One of the most valuable exhibits is a gilded 9th century Buddha statue.
The entrance to the mansion is decorated with a sculpture of an elephant, cast in bronze and donated by the King of Siam in 1871.
Pasar Seni Ubud
The complex name hides a charming market in Ubud where you can buy souvenirs from Indonesia. Traders daily offer tourists wicker hats, caskets and baskets, mother-of-pearl jewelry, silk stoles, ceramics and much more. You can bargain, but not too aggressively.
The prices for Pasar Seni are quite high, but the quality of the goods can be called first-class.
Batabulan
The village in Bali, where stone carvers live, is popular with tourists who come to the island for a beach holiday. In addition to charming volcanic tuff figurines in Batabulan, exotic dance performances and friendly, almost tame inhabitants of the Bird Park await them.
