THE CITY
ABOUT JOGJAKARTA
Jogjakarta – also sometimes spelled Yogyakarta and fondly called “Jogja” – is a city and a province on Java Island. It is located about 600 kms southeast of Jakarta and 1000 kms west of Bali. Now that it has an international airport, Jogja is easy to reach from other countries. and airlines, trains and buses service domestic connections. Jogjakarta is a great place to visit and an ideal place to study; it has long earned its reputation as the center of Javanese tradition, cultural heritage, academic excellence and intellectual trendsetting.
Due to its status as a university city, Jogja is a melting pot where different cultures from throughout Indonesia meet. Every year thousands of students from Indonesia and abroad come to study at over 30 universities, one of which is Gajah Mada University, an Indonesia’s oldest and most prestigious. As the second most popular tourist destination after Bali, Yogyakarta is not only famous for its rich heritage and cultural performances, such as gamelan music, classical dance and shadow puppet shows, it is also known for its vivid contemporary art scene. In the Jogja area, numerous ancient temples and monuments, ruins of great past kingdoms, art galleries, and historic buildings stand magnificently side by side with more contemporary development.
Surrounding Jogja is breathtaking nature that contributes to the unique equilibrium of the people. To the north of the city is the beautiful active Merapi volcano, “the fire mountain”, which is filled with awe-inspiring traditional beliefs. Within an hour drive to the south is the Indian Ocean with kilometer after kilometer of stunning natural beaches.
Views of endless rice fields are near to most of the major highways. This gives Jogja a timeless rural atmosphere which can only be found in a few large cities in Indonesia.
Cost of Living
In general, the cost of living in Yogyakarta is relatively inexpensive compared to other major cities in Indonesia. In fact, according to the recent Indonesian cost of living survey conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Jogja was named the cheapest city in Indonesia.
Food stalls vary from small warungs, which are traditional, semi-permanent stalls selling local dishes, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of food from different regions of Indonesia. International fast-food such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken are available in Jogja. European dishes are available in upper-end restaurants.
As a city of students, there are many low-cost accommodations available in Jogja. Accommodation options vary from renting room in “homestays” with Indonesian families, student boarding houses (rumah kos) or budget hotels, which are inexpensive, to internationally known 5-star hotels.
Climate and Weather
The average temperature ranges between 26-28°C with a minimum of 18°C and maximum of 35°C. Average humidity is 74% with a minimum of 65% and maximum of 84%. Throughout Indonesia there are two seasons: wet and dry. Usually the wet season begins in October and lasts until April. The heaviest rainfall is likely to occur in January and February. During the rainy season, it gets very hot and humid during the day and cool in the night and early morning. In the dry season it is hot and humid during the day and into the night.
