SUMATRA
Sumatra is the fifth largest island in the world and the third largest in the Indonesian archipelago. In the seventh century A.D. in the southeastern part of the island was the Buddhist kingdom of Srivijaya. At the end of the twelfth century, Arab and Indian traders brought the religion of Islam to the island.
The best time to travel to Sumatra is from May to June and from September to October. At this time, the weather is sunny and dry. Now Sumatra is the third largest tourist island in the archipelago after Bali and Java. The coasts are predominantly covered with dark sand, due to the volcanic origin of the island. This reserved island attracts tourists with secluded beaches, resorts on the shores of mountain lakes, ruins of ancient temple complexes, magical mosques and palaces.
According to City Population Review, the capital of the province of North Sumatra is the port city of Medan. Medan is a link between Sumatra and Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, about. Penang, Amsterdam and Vienna. Rich vegetation, diverse wildlife, volcanic mountain ranges and lakeside resorts attract many tourists to Sumatra.
Lake Toba is a huge reservoir of the purest blue water, located in the crater of an ancient volcano. On the shore of the lake is the main resort – Parapat, which houses luxury hotels and boarding houses, many restaurants of national cuisine. Various water sports diversify leisure. In the northern part of Lake Tobo, one can observe an amazing and breathtaking spectacle – a mountain waterfall, its height is 360 feet, and the discharged transparent mountain air creates an effect of unreality of what is happening. In the very center of the lake is the island of Samosir, where the Batak tribes live. Here you can get acquainted with their culture, visit the royal grave, the palace and one of the villages, hear folk songs and see traditional Batak dances.
JAVA
Java Island is the economic and geographical heart of the archipelago, the most populated island in Indonesia, but a third of its territory is still occupied by impenetrable jungle. Java is separated from Sumatra by the Sunda Bay. Java is an island of contrasts: incredible luxury with poverty, romantic rural landscapes with ultra-modern megacities. Wonderful corners of primeval nature have also been preserved here. The middle of the island is crowned with a picturesque mountain range, at the foot and on the slopes of which emerald rice fields are scattered. The culture of Java has been created over the centuries and today it is a unique fusion of ancient Hindu, Hindu and Islamic movements.
Java is divided into three provinces: western, eastern and central. The West is a land with the ancient royal city of the Sundanese Cirebon, a gorgeous beach in Pandaran, the remains of the famous and formidable Krakatau volcano, the wild beauties of the Yung Kulon National Park. Central Java is a huge bowl in which traces of cultures and peoples are mixed: temples and ancient buildings of all eras, ancient cities of Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim kingdoms, modern centers of Yogyakarta and Solo. Yogyarta is the ancient capital of Indonesia. Here, magnificent hotels, shopping centers, modern neighborhoods coexist with one-story buildings and picturesque streets filled with bicycle rickshaws. In these places you can buy the most famous black and white hand-printed Indonesian batik, which is made here, as well as the famous Javanese silver and many other souvenirs. 17 km northeast of Yogyarta is the Prambanan temple complex dating back to the 9th century AD. This is the greatest shrine of Hinduism dedicated to the god Shiva, the main temple on the territory of the complex is also dedicated to him, the other two main temples are dedicated to Brahma and Vishnu, another 280 temples lined up in four rows, many of which have not been restored. Near Prambanan there is an open-air theater where, since 1960, performances with national dances based on the story of the Ramayana have been held. Another 42 km northwest of Yogyarta is another temple complex – Borobudur. The name of this gigantic structure is most often translated as “many Buddhas” or “temple of a thousand Buddhas”. In architectural terms, Borobudur is a stepped pyramid 34 meters high. It is built on an artificial hill, as the earthly incarnation of the sacred Mount Meru (a real mountain located in the Himalayas), which, according to ancient Indian mythology, is the center of the world. The mighty Gunung Bromo volcano is the master of the eastern province. The coast will welcome you with a special flavor of traditions, and in the hilly regions you will find the best sanatoriums offering, among other things, assistance to those who like to travel on foot.
The heart of the island is Jakarta, in the region of the northwestern coast of the Java Sea. The city attracts with significant museum collections, rare examples of colonial architecture, as well as many excellent shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.