Yogyakarta in a glance

Yogyakarta city is located within the Yogyakarta province, one of the special region provinces in Indonesia and has about 32.5 km2 area. With the total population in 2004 is about 511,744, the density achieves 15,601.2/km2 (40,406.9/sq mi). The city of Yogyakarta has also a long and rich history in Indonesian literature not only at the time when it was formed in 1755, when the existing Sultanate of Mataram was divided by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in two under the Treaty of Giyanti i.e. the Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat with Yogyakarta as the capital and Surakarta Hadiningrat with Surakarta as the capital, but also contributing important roles during the Indonesian National Revolution against the Dutch after World War II (1945-1950).

The kraton, or Sultan's palace become the centre of culture and in many ways influence the values and tradition in the society. The location of the kraton, which is at the centre of Yogyakarta, determined how the city sprawls in all directions from kraton. At the north from the kraton lies its influential street to the lives of Yogyakarta city, called Jalan Malioboro (Malioboro Street). It runs north from the Yogyakarta kraton (palace) towards the roads that lead to another city, as well as to Mount Merapi, at the north. This is in itself is significant to many of the local population, the north south orientation between the palace and the volcano being of importance. The street is the centre of Yogyakarta's largest tourist district, with many historical Dutch colonial-era architecture mixed with Chinese and contemporary commercial district. Sidewalks on both sides of the street are crowded with small stalls selling a variety of goods. In the evening several open-air streetside restaurants, called lesehan, operate along the street. The street was for many years two-way, but by the 1980s had become one way only, from the railway line (where it starts) to the south - to Beringharjo markets, where it ends, not far from Fort Vredeburg a restored Dutch fort. The largest, oldest Dutch era hotel, Hotel Garuda, is located on the street's northern end, on the eastern side adjacent to the railway line. It also has the former Dutch era Prime Minister's complex, the kepatihan, on the eastern side which is then become the Provincial Government office complex.