The Borobudur Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered a must-visit for tourists visiting the area. The temple is located on the Menoreh Mountain, surrounded by the four mountains of Sindoro, Sumbing, Merapi, and Merbabu, and is also located between the Elo and Progo rivers. In addition to the magnificent beauty of the temple, the natural landscape also provides a unique view.
After visiting the Borobudur Temple, exploring the surrounding environment will be the traveler’s next choice. In nearby towns, the traditional life of traditional rituals, arts, performances, and handicrafts remains intact. They also look forward to various activities, as listed below.
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1. Rafting on the Elo and Progo rivers
To enjoy rafting on the Elo and Progo rivers, they have fast waters and beautiful scenery. It costs IDR 1 million (US$71) to rent a rubber boat. The difficulty level of Elo River is level two (medium), suitable for beginners. The rafting route starts in Pare village and ends in Ngentak. The average duration of the tour is two to three hours and the whole journey is 11 kilometers.
During the annual Elo River Festival, the rafters can enjoy various traditional art performances and watch the decorated boats in the parade. On the Progo River, rafting can be done at two locations: the upstream and downstream routes. The route above is level three, 9 kilometers long, and takes two hours to complete. The lower route is more difficult, ranging from level III to level IV downstream of the Temanggung Regency. The route is approximately 26 kilometers long and takes five hours to complete. All activities are carried out under the supervision of professional guides.
2. Explore the villages around Borobudur Temple
With the help of a horse-drawn cart or safari jeep, visitors can see the villages around Borobudur Temple. Bicycles are also available for tourists to rent. Popular destinations in the area include Junkyard Parking, Gereja Ayam Chicken Church, and Punthuk Setumbu Mountain. The tourists were invited to Balkondes (Village Economic Hall) in 20 different towns in the region. The balconies also serve as a resting area for tourists, where they can taste the town’s specialties, buy handicrafts, or spend the night in a cabin with old buildings.
3. Pottery making in Klipoh
Klipoh is located about 5 kilometers from Borobudur and is a town famous for its ceramic products. On the walls of Borobudur, one of the reliefs represents the making of these products. For generations, residents here have created clay cookware, plates, cups, ashtrays and home decorations. When approaching the village, people can easily notice the smoke coming out of the kiln because they work with clay in front of their houses.
In Klipoh, visitors can make their clay products. Several production centers also provide courses for tourists to learn how to make them.
4. Visiting art galleries
Recently, hotels around Borobudur Temple began to provide their venues as art galleries, displaying artists from various cities in Indonesia. Paintings, statues, and other works of art are often displayed in hotel lobbies, restaurants, cafes, and corridors. The area also has many art spaces that regularly hold art exhibitions or events. There are Galeri Unik dan Seni Borobudur Indonesia (Borobudur Unique and Art Gallery Indonesia) and Lima Gunung Museum owned by senior artist Sutanto Mendut in Mungkid, 4 kilometers from Borobudur. Other art studios and galleries include Padepokan Apel Watoe, Limanjawi Art House, and Eloprogo Art House.
5. Sip Menoreh Coffee
In the past, Menorah Hill was known as the hideout of Prince Diponegoro during the Anti-Dutch War. After the war, the Dutch government used this hill to grow coffee and, until now, coffee remains a staple in the region. The coffee production center is located in Sidoharjo and Gerbosari in the Kulonprogo Regency, and places like Kerug Batur and Majaksingi are also known as coffee producers.
In the cafeteria near the Borobudur temple, you can taste the coffee grown on the Menore mountain. At Menore Mountain Cafe, visitors can enjoy traditional coffee and snacks while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Whether your trips take you on a long stroll on beaches, delicious cuisines, relaxing spas, and resorts or urban attractions, extra research will give you the best experience for your visit. Get to know more about Borobudur by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.
