Java
Compared to other regions in Indonesia, Java may not be the biggest, yet it is the most populous island in the country. Java is divided into six provinces, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Banten, Special Capital Region of Jakarta, and Yogyakarta Special Region. The capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta is located in Java. It’s the metropolitan with endless opportunity dubbed as the country’s industrial and business hubs.
Most of Indonesian history took place in Java, during which the island was the center of powerful Hindu-Buddhist empires. Indonesian struggle for independence during the 1930's and 1940's was also centered in Java, which may be the reason why Java dominates Indonesia politically, economically and culturally.
Some of the tourists may be attracted by the varieties of ethnicities and culture that Java has to offer, but let’s not forget four of Indonesia’s UNESCO world heritage sites located in this island, the first one is Ujung Kulon National Park that boasts beautiful sceneries. It’s an ideal place to observe one of the rarest large mammals on earth, the Javan One-Horned Rhino.
Next is the Sangiran Early Man Site, located near the city of Solo in Central Java. It is an archeological site where the fossils of Early Man or Homo Pithecanthropus Erectus were believed to be found. The third one is the famous and largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur. Sitting magnificently in Central Java, the temple was built on the 8th and 9th centuries in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and at the top of the temple, a monumental stupa. Borobudur’s walls and balustrades are decorated with beautiful low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 sqm. The last UNESCO world heritage located in Java is the second largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia, Prambanan temple, built in the 10th century and situated in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Its tall and pointed architecture characterizes this temple, towering for 47 meters high or 154 ft, this compound was dedicated with reliefs illustrating the epic story of Ramayana, dedicated to the Trimurti of Hindu divinities, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Prambanan and Borobudur temples have for long time attracted many visitors from all over the world
Kalimantan (Borneo)
Meanwhile, Kalimantan, also known as Borneo, offers a different attraction than any other islands in Indonesia. It is the home to the species with 97 percent of human DNA, the rare Orangutans. Borneo is a must visit island for those seeking to get insights into this rare species. While you are there, you should visit Tanjung Puting National Park, the last home for wild orangutans.
Kalimantan
Sumatra
Yet, Kalimantan is not the only home for Orangutans. This rare species can also be found at Sumatra forest. The habitat of orangutans is not the only thing that attracts worldwide tourists to visit Sumatra. One of the top destinations on the island is Lake Toba in North Sumatra. This magical lake is the largest volcanic lake in the world. It is 100km long, 30km wide and 505 meters deep. Visitors can enjoy various watersports, accompanied by the beauty of Lake Toba itself.
North Sumatra
Lesser Sunda Islands
Talking about Indonesia’s beauty, Bali, which is located in Lesser Sunda Island, is one of the most famous international holiday destinations in Indonesia. Bali is the home to an ancient culture that is known for its warm hospitality and also the popular beach resorts, including Kuta, Jimbaran and Seminyak. But apart from that, this so called “the Island of Gods” boasts a multitude of undiscovered extraordinary exotic sights, perfect for those who want to venture off the well-worn tourist trail.
Sulawesi
For those who like to enjoy the beauty of underwater dive in eastern Indonesia, Bunaken and Wakatobi are the best options to pick. Those areas are the marine national parks located in Sulawesi island which become homes for 58 coral reefs and approximately 2,000 species of fish. Crystal-clear water in those areas also indulges the divers’ eyes. To put the cherry on top, beautiful sceneries in Bunaken and Wakatobi are worth-seeing. No wonder in October 2017, the two national parks were awarded as the best diving spots in the world.
Maluku & Western New Guinea
Raja Ampat in Papua boasts the most exquisite coral wonder, known as one of the underwater gems in eastern Indonesia. The breath-taking beauty of bio-diversity that it offers is absolutely fascinating with beautiful beaches, 540 types of coral reefs, and more than 1,511 species of fish. To put it simply, no amount of words could describe the beauty of it, so you have to see it by your own naked eyes.
