Indonesia - attractions

If you want to plunge into the world of unusual nature and ancient Hindu temples , then you should go to Indonesia . Thanks to the peculiarities of the development of the national culture , the history of the country and the presence of bright natural sites in the Republic of Indonesia, there are many sights to see. About the most impressive of them and we will tell in our article.

Attractions of Kalimantan Island

The largest island in Indonesia will show you many interesting places and valuable objects, for which it is worth to come here again and again:

1. Tangrungputing National Park . Fans of ecotourism are eager to get here. The park is inhabited by rare species of animals, such as orangutans or smoky leopards. Especially popular are boat tours, during which the familiarity with the wild nature of the region occurs.
2. The Sabilal-Mukhtadin Mosque is a symbol of the city ​​of Banjarmasin , along with its canals and floating markets , which are worth visiting.
3. The city of a thousand Chinese temples is Sinkavang, located near Pontianak . Here you can endlessly admire the beauty of the numerous ancient Chinese churches and their architecture.
4. Monument to the equator - a visiting card of the city of Pontianaka. The monument attracts tourists from all over the world since 1928.

Bali Island Attractions

It is the most popular island in Indonesia . Here the tourist business and the high level of service in all spheres are well developed. Tropical beach vacation , water activities, as well as the history and culture of local residents - all this attracts thousands of travelers every year. The cultural capital of the island of Bali - the city of Ubud - has concentrated many of Indonesia's sights. The most popular places to visit during a holiday in Bali are:

1. The forest of monkeys near the city of Ubud is one of nature's favorite natural attractions. The name of this area speaks for itself. Here you can in close proximity to get acquainted with the many varieties of these animals. In addition, there are many beautiful ancient temples and exotic plants on the territory of the forest.
2. Rice terraces . Rice is the main food of Indonesians, so all suitable land is used for its cultivation. The farmers use the system of irrigation "subak" for this. The most picturesque terraces are located in Tegallalang, which is very near Ubud. Wavy terraces, arranged on the slopes of hills and in ravines, are constantly changing, therefore they always look different, but still beautiful.
3. Temple Tanah Lot on the island near the coast of Bali. Its name translates as "land in the sea", as it is built on a small rocky islet. The view of the temple, especially at sunset, is really stunning, so this place is very popular with tourists.
4. Elephant Cave is Bali's most famous underground attraction. There are about 15 grottoes that pass one into the other. The walls of the cave are decorated with carvings depicting elephants and mythical creatures. Presumably, Elephant Cave was previously the site of religious activities.
5. The cave of bats Goa Love is located in one of the main temples of the island of Bali. All excursions here are planned at sunset so that you can watch hundreds of small volatile creatures waking up and flying out into the fresh air.
6. Temple Besakih or "Mother of the Temples" is built at an altitude of 1000 m on the southern slope of Mount Agung . This is the highest point of the island of Bali. The architectural composition is complex and consists of 22 temples, beautifully decorated with dense carvings.
7. The Taman-Ayun Temple near the village of Mengvi bears a clear trend of Chinese architecture. Visitors can admire not only the buildings of the XVI century, but also a pond with fish, as well as an interesting landscaped garden with lotuses.
8. Temple Uluvatu , built near the village of Pekatu at an altitude of 70 m on a steep cliff. Its top is a very beautiful and inaccessible place. From the wall of the temple you can see the Indian Ocean.

Landmarks of the island of Java

Holiday on the island of Java is more affordable in comparison with Bali or the southern archipelagoes. Visiting this part of Indonesia, there is always something to see. Java is an island of volcanoes and wild jungles, and it is also the most populated island of our planet. The most popular sights of Java are:

1. The city of Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia, the largest metropolis with a lot of attractions. Here among the other skyscrapers is the highest skyscraper of the country - Wisma 46 . In Jakarta, there are more than 20 major cultural sites of the country: museums , the Palace of Independence , the oceanarium . Hotels and restaurants here fully correspond to the metropolitan level.
2. Mount Bromo . This is the most famous volcano on the islands in Indonesia, although it is not the highest (total 2329 m). A characteristic feature of this mountain is a wide crater, from which a column of white smoke constantly rises.
3. The Borobudur Temple is the main religious landmark of Indonesia. This Buddhist temple complex was built in the IX century and has 9 tiers: 6 of them square, and 3 - round. On the edges of all platforms, the main points of life and teachings of the Buddha are depicted. Visiting Borobudur can be combined with the study of neighboring sights: Prambanan and the royal palace of Ratu Boko .
4. Temple complex Prambanan. It was built in the tenth century in honor of the three deities - Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. It is a whole complex of buildings, many of which, unfortunately, are badly damaged. In the center are three most preserved temples, bearing the name "Lara Jongrang", or "Slender girl".
5. Ujung-Kulon is a national park that preserves the pristine nature of the island of Java. Here you can see marvelous natural landscapes and rare animals.
6. Bogor Botanical Garden - the largest and most ancient botanical garden in the world. Here are collected all the possible tropical plants from different places of our planet. The special beauty of the garden is a pond with blossoming lotuses and a greenhouse with orchids.
7. The second megalopolis of Indonesia - the city ​​of Surabaya - has simple sights, but interesting. Take time to visit the largest in this part of Asia zoo, the cable-stayed bridge of Suramada , the Old Town, the Masjid al Akbar Surabaya mosque.

Sights of Sumatra

Sumatra is more famous for its historical monuments, but there are also wonderful natural attractions that are worth visiting:

1. The lake is a volcanic origin of Toba , formed on the site of an ancient extinct volcano. On its shores live the tribe of the bataki, which has preserved its isolated identity and culture. Tourists are happy to combine a classic vacation in nature and a cognitive excursion dedicated to the peculiarities of the Batak culture.
2. The waterfall of Sipiso Piso near the Toba lake is fed by an underground river, which is located at the very top of the cliff. Three observation platforms are arranged here, so that travelers can comfortably admire the powerful cascade of water in the closest proximity to it.
3. The legacy of the Sumatra Tropical Forest is a common territory of three national parks: Gunung-Leser , Kerinki Seblat and Bukit Barisan. Since 2004, it is under the protection of UNESCO and is a World Heritage Site.

Other Places of Interest Indonesia

In addition to nature and temples, in Indonesia you can get acquainted with the culture and way of life of the local population. To do this, go to the following places:

• village Batubulan - the center of carving on a stone;
• Valley of Baliem - tribe tribe villages;
• Tora Land (Tana Torah) - the settlement of the Thorians;
• the island of Lombok is a true beach paradise in Indonesia. There de travelers are waiting for natural attractions, temples and landscapes: the volcano of Rinjani , the temples of Pura Meru and Suranda, the islands of Gili ;
• Mount Gunung Bintan , completely covered with jungles and water cascades, which you can climb to the observation deck and swim in the natural lakes of waterfalls;
• Taman Sari castle on the territory of the Yogyakarta palace complex - more than 50 buildings with a complex system of fountains, sewerage and water supply - UNESCO World Heritage Monument;
• The 132-meter-high national monument is a symbol of Indonesia's independence;
• the active volcano Krakatau , almost completely destroyed its island and divided forever Java and Sumatra;
• Komodo National Park on the island of the same name. Here the descendants of prehistoric lizards live - lizards, whose sizes exceed 3 m. To admire the beautiful nature of the island and see these predators, tourists come here.

This is not a complete list of interesting and stunning places. The Republic of Indonesia is abundantly decorated with many attractions, photo and description of which you can find on the pages of our website.