Sights of Indonesia: what to see and where to go | Guide Club

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Indonesia’s tourist sites are scattered over the islands for considerable distances. You will be able to see only a small part of them at a time, so you will have to choose what to see and where to go. We have compiled a list of the most beautiful places and main attractions of Indonesia with photos and descriptions. It will help you plan your travel itinerary and spend an unforgettable vacation.

Indonesia is the world’s largest island nation located in Southeast Asia. Lovers of beautiful nature will find many unique landscapes here: sandy beaches, rice fields, tropical forests, mountain waterfalls and steaming volcanoes. Also, the territory of Indonesia is one of the most seismically active zones on the planet. There are more than a hundred volcanoes concentrated here, many of them active. Finally, it is a country where peoples with different cultures and religions have lived since ancient times. They have left a rich heritage: among the attractions of Indonesia there are many temples, palaces and traditional rice terraces.

Attractions of Jakarta and Java Island

The capital of Indonesia is one of the largest cities in the world, second only to Tokyo in terms of population. But Jakarta has a serious problem: every year its territory drops by 10-20 cm. Part of the city is already below sea level, so many streets flood during the rainy season. To protect the coast from water, since 2014 a huge circular dam has been built here according to the project of Dutch specialists. Water tunnels and flood channels are also being built. To combat overpopulation, the capital was decided to be moved to a new city, which is currently being built on the island of Borneo. It is planned to open on August 17, 2024, on the country’s Independence Day.

But even when the capital is moved, Jakarta will remain more attractive for tourists for a long time. This is a city with a history, where there is something to see. Lovers of ancient architecture should visit Kota Tua, that is, the Old Town. There are many 17th-century Dutch and Chinese-style buildings in the area. For a long time they were in decline and destroyed, but in recent years a lot has been restored. Interesting museums, hotels, and good restaurants have appeared. Here are some interesting sites in the Old Town:

• The Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics in a beautiful building with columns.
• The Historical museum is located in the building that was previously occupied by the city hall and the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company.
• The oldest church in the city is Gereja Zion, built by the Portuguese in 1695.
• The oldest Jine Yuan Buddhist temple in Jakarta dates back to 1755.
• The Wayang Museum of Traditional Puppet Theater.

There are many modern attractions to visit in the Indonesian capital. For example, the National Monument of Independence with a 132 m high tower. Its top is decorated like a torch made of bronze and gold. There is an observation deck at an altitude of 115 m, and a museum operates on the underground level.

To find out in advance about the best places in Indonesia, it is worth visiting the large theme park Beautiful Indonesia in miniature. You can spend the whole day or even several days here, and it’s better to get around on a rented bike or electric car. The central part of the park is a large artificial lake, where the real islands of Indonesia are recreated. You can go boating on the lake. The park also features traditional dwellings from all provinces of the country with their architecture, decor and household items. There are also beautiful gardens with Indonesian plants, cinemas, a water park, restaurants, a cable car, more than ten museums and children’s attractions.

A visit to this park can help to build a route for further travel in Indonesia. But before you go to other islands, it’s worth seeing the main attractions of Java.

Borobudur Buddhist Temple Complex

The famous UNESCO-listed temple is located about 40 km from Jakarta. This is a huge structure in the form of a 9-tiered pyramid with a large dome in the center. The complex is decorated with hundreds of Buddha statues, and the number of relief images is approaching one and a half thousand. There are no such number of Buddhist reliefs anywhere else in the world.

The temple was built for a century and completed in the IX century. For a long time it remained the most important center of Buddhist life in Indonesia, but gradually began to decline. In the XIV century, Islam spread to Java, and the Buddhist complex turned out to be completely abandoned. It is overgrown with jungle and covered with volcanic ash. Only a few centuries later, during the colonial era, the British ruler of Java learned about this monument from the indigenous Indonesians and began a project to restore it. Restoration work lasted until the beginning of the 20th century under the leadership of first the British, then the Dutch. Later, from 1973 to 1984, a complete reconstruction was carried out.

Now there are so many people who want to see Borobudur that restrictions are imposed on the number of visitors per day. It is better to go here with a guide who will tell you about the meaning of sculptures and reliefs. The temple is especially beautiful in the dawn and sunset light, as well as during fog, when it seems to float in the air.

Prambanan Hindu Temple Complex

Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple complex is located about 20 km from Jakarta. It was built in the 10th century, presumably as a Hindu response to the construction of Borobudur. In the future, the complex was completed and expanded until it began to number 240 structures of different sizes. In the center stands the 47 m high main temple dedicated to Shiva. It is flanked by temples of Brahma and Vishnu, their height is 33 m.

Like Borobudur, Prambanan was abandoned for a long time. Interest in it returned only in the XVIII century, and restoration began at the beginning of the XX century. It continues to this day. Currently, work is underway to restore the auxiliary temples of the outer part of the complex, and this reconstruction may last for many more years. But the central ensemble has already been restored and attracts many tourists.

The UNESCO-protected complex is interesting for its characteristic Hindu architecture. Tall carved towers made of dark stone create fantastic landscapes against the blue sky. The backlight turns on at night. The temples are decorated with sculptures and numerous bas-reliefs telling the story of the Ramayana.

Ijen Volcano

There is a place in the east of Java that can be compared to the description of hell from Dante’s Divine Comedy. This is an active volcano, on the slopes of which large reserves of native sulfur accumulate. Because of this, it can be difficult to breathe on Ijen. It is recommended to take handkerchiefs with you and breathe through them in particularly difficult moments. Local residents collect blocks of sulfur on the slopes of the volcano and carry them down. This is hard work, which pays only a little more than the work of a farmer.

The crater of the volcano hides a beautiful turquoise lake, but it is impossible to refresh yourself in it. Instead of water, it contains a mixture of hydrochloric and sulfuric acids, moreover, heated to 90 degrees. When the activity of the volcano increases, the lake begins to literally boil and become covered with foam. At night, a blue glow is often seen on the top of Ijen, which is formed from ignited sulfur. It’s a fascinating sight.

The Ijen Plateau is a picturesque place with authentic villages and coffee plantations. The ascent to the lake takes about 1.5 hours. It can be cool at altitude, so you need to take warm clothes.

Green Canyon

One of the most beautiful places in Indonesia during the dry season is the Green Canyon. Its name speaks for itself. The waters of the Chitumang River in this canyon shimmer with different shades of greenery, and lianas, ferns and mosses on the steep slopes complement this picture. During the boat trip, you will see picturesque gorges, streams falling down waterfalls, bats, monitor lizards basking on rocks and high cliffs almost closing overhead. There is even a tunnel about 20 m long with hanging stalactites. During the walk, you can swim in the waterfalls. The whole trip along the river takes 1.5-2 hours, if desired, you can stay.

The best time to visit the Green Canyon is July and August. During the rainy season, the river becomes muddy and loses its charm, and if the water level is too high, boat trips are canceled.

Bromo-Tenger-Semeru National Park

In the southern part of Java island there is a huge Tenger caldera with a diameter of 16 km. It was formed about 800 thousand years ago. There are five volcanoes inside this circular depression, and four of them are active. The youngest and most active volcano is Gunung Bromo with a perfect conical shape. The inner part of the caldera is covered with volcanic deposits and fine black sand, which is called the Tenger Sandy Sea. This blackness contrasts with the bright greenery outside the caldera.

Nearby is also Mount Semeru, which is the highest point in Java. It has been erupting almost continuously since 1967. Clouds of steam and smoke erupt from several craters every 20 minutes.

Since 1982, all this has become a protected area with a unique ecosystem and extraordinary species, and the sandy sea has been a nature reserve since 1919. Bromo-Tenger-Semeru National Park is a great place for trekking and horseback riding, you can also travel by jeep. Although the top of Gunung Bromo is located at a solid height of 2,392 m above sea level, its height from the base is only 133 m. You can climb the neighboring volcanoes, as well as the walls of the Tenger caldera.

Trips to the national park are popular with residents of Java, and high school students often go camping. For more privacy, it is better to come on weekdays. If you plan to stay overnight, do not forget warm clothes. From May to September, there are frosts at night. During the rainy season, a significant part of the territory is flooded and becomes inaccessible.

Dieng Plateau

To explore the beauties of Indonesia, it is worth a trip to the high-altitude Dieng plateau. Here you will see many forests, mountain peaks, lakes and terraced fields. Two lakes connected by a bridge became the center of attraction for tourists on the plateau. These are Telaga Varna and Telaga Pengilon. The water in them is bright blue or turquoise in color. This shade is provided by sulfur deposits on the bottom. There is also an interesting Gua Semar meditation cave nearby. There are many viewing platforms, picnic areas and paths around these natural attractions along the most picturesque routes.

Bali Island Attractions

Bali Island is not the largest in Indonesia, but it is the most popular among tourists. In the 20th century, when there was almost no infrastructure here, representatives of the hippie movement fell in love with the island. They came to this heavenly place in search of a free life in the bosom of nature. Over time, good roads and comfortable hotels appeared here, and the ancient buildings were gradually restored. By the 1970s, Bali had become a high-level international resort. There are beautiful beaches, ancient temples and wildlife. This is the best place to go in Indonesia if you don’t have time to visit different islands.

You can stay in Bali in the city of Ubud — this is the cultural center of the island, located among rice fields and picturesque gorges. Attractions in Ubud include the Puri Saren Royal Palace, Hindu temples and several art museums. Opposite the palace there is an art market, which occupies an entire block. This is the best place to buy souvenirs, because there is the largest selection of beautiful handmade products. At the same time, you can buy light clothes in the market, which are convenient to go on excursions. Ubud is a place from where you can go to any attraction in Bali. Let’s talk about the most interesting of them.

Temples of Bali Island

Bali has thousands of shrines of different sizes, which is why it is called the Island of a Thousand Temples, or the Island of the Gods. In the past, Bali and Java shared the same Hindu culture. But in the XIV century, Muslims began to occupy Java, displacing the Brahmins in Bali. In the following centuries, a unique form of Hinduism with strong influence of Buddhism and paganism was formed here. In particular, it was believed here that the most sacred part of the island is the mountains, and evil comes from the sea. To protect against this evil, sanctuaries were built along the coastline so that two neighboring ones could be seen from each of them. Many of these sanctuaries have been preserved and remain in operation.

Although there are many temples in Bali, there are several of the most famous and important. Let’s list the monuments that have become the hallmark of the island:

• Besakih. Since the mountains are sacred to Hindus, the largest and main temple complex in Bali is built on the slope of the Agung volcano. The first three temples appeared here in the VIII century. Then new structures were completed, and now there are more than 50 of them. There are landscapes with rice fields, mountains and streams all around.
• Uluwatu. This temple complex of the XI century can be called the second most important in Bali. It is built on a 70-meter high cliff that rises above the sea on the Bukit Peninsula. From here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the sunset, against which a performance based on the plot of the Ramayana is played out in the evenings. The temple is also famous for the monkeys that live here and are believed to protect this place.
• Tanakh Lot. The name of this temple translates as “Land in the sea”, it is built on a rocky ledge in the middle of the sea. Only at low tide can you walk along the shallows to it, and at high tide the ledge turns into an island. Also, during low tide, small caves are freed from water. They are inhabited by sea snakes. It is believed that they protect the temple from evil spirits.
• Lempuyang. This complex is one of the most revered in Bali. It consists of seven temples. The main one is located at the top of the sacred Lempuyang Mountain, and the rest are on the slope along the trail. To bring home beautiful photos of Indonesia’s attractions, take the time to get up. From the height there is a magnificent panorama of the ocean, rice terraces and the Agung volcano. But the way there and back takes 3-4 hours, it is necessary to overcome 1,700 steps.
• Goa Lavah. The name of this temple means “Bat Cave”. It was built about a thousand years ago near a cave where countless bats really live. According to legend, the cave goes deep into the mountain, where there is a river with healing water and a giant snake with a crown. It is also believed that underground passages can cover a distance of about 20 km and walk to the Besakih temple.

Taman Ujung and Tirta Ganga Palaces

Where to go on vacation in Indonesia to spend a quiet day among the gardens and fountains? In the eastern part of Bali there are two palace complexes at once, which will surely enchant you. The distance between them is only 10 km, so you can visit both places in one tour.

Taman Ujung Water Palace is older. It was built by the last rajah of the Karangasem state located in this territory. The construction lasted two years and was completed in 1921. As Dutch architects and gardeners worked on the project, the palace complex acquired European features. It is compared to Versailles and Peterhof. The former royal residence is not very large, it can be easily bypassed in about an hour.

The second palace was built by the same rajah, but much later — in 1946. Tirta Ganga is located on a hillside near a sacred natural spring. Its waters gather in a large stone pool where you can swim. This palace is also famous for its multi-tiered fountain and beautiful ponds with lotuses and koi fish.

Forest of monkeys Alas Kedaton

In the central part of Bali there is a small temple complex surrounded by a dense forest. There is a nature reserve here, which is home to several hundred Balinese long-tailed macaques. Monkeys live completely freely without cages and fences. You can see them up close, like in a zoo. You can even buy fruits and feed the animals. But monkeys are wild, so you need to be careful. In addition to macaques, more than 80 species of trees and birds, squirrels, deer and lizards can be seen in the forest.

Bedugul Mountain Region

In the central part of Bali there is a vast mountainous area with several villages and three lakes. Lake Bratan is especially popular, on the shore of which stands the temple of Oolong Danu. Another local attraction is the country’s largest botanical garden with a rose garden, bamboo grove, a large collection of orchids, rhododendrons and ferns. In addition to flowers and trees, the botanical garden has an adventure park with cable cars, bridges and bungee rides. There are more than 60 attractions in total. Some are suitable for kids, while others are intended for adults only.

You can go to Bedugul for a day to take a break from the heat. It is cooler here than in other parts of Bali. But the humidity is high, which provides favorable conditions for plants. In addition to gardens, there are many strawberry plantations, and berries are sold everywhere.

Tegallalang and Jatiluvi Rice Terraces

What is a must-see in Indonesia? Of course, there are picturesque rice terraces that descend from the slopes in emerald cascades. There are several most suitable places for this. One of them is the Tegallalang area near the city of Ubud. Another is the more remote Jatiluvi rice terraces in the central part of the island.

Since rice is grown in Bali in just three months, the landscapes of the terraces are changing rapidly. You can come to the same place several times, and the scenery will be different. At first, the pools filled with water are visible, in which the blue sky is reflected. Then tender rice sprouts appear from the water. Then the plants gain strength, and the terraces turn bright green. When it’s harvest time, everything turns golden.

Sights of Sumatra

If you are wondering which islands of Indonesia are worth visiting after Java and Bali, pay attention to Sumatra. There are many natural attractions here. A significant part of the island is covered with tropical rainforest. Three national parks have been created to protect it. The largest of them has become the largest in Indonesia, this is the Kerinci-Seblat National Park. On its territory there is the highest volcano in the country — Mount Kerinci with a height of more than 3,800 m. Kerinci Seblat is home to tigers, cloud leopards, Malay sun bears and about 370 species of birds.

Gunang Leser National Park is located in the northern part of Sumatra. It is famous for orangutans and black and white gibbons. Bukit Barisan National Park is a strip about 45 km wide, stretching between the sea and the mountain range. Mountain, tropical, coastal and mangrove forests alternate on this strip, and countless plants, animals and birds are found in them. Sumatran elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses and rare striped rabbits can be found here. Bukit Barisan has a beautiful forest waterfall and thermal springs.

In addition to the rainforests, there are many other attractions in Sumatra. Here are a few more places that the island is famous for and that are worth seeing when traveling to Indonesia.

Lake Toba

This lake is a giant caldera of the Toba supervolcano. Its eruption occurred about 75 thousand years ago and became a truly catastrophic event that affected the entire planet. The volcanic winter began, which aggravated the climate of the ice age. Genetic data indicate that humans and some primate species almost became extinct during that period and were able to survive only thanks to a small number of surviving pairs. Today, Toba is the world’s largest volcanic lake, where you can swim, fish and go boating.

Cipiso-Piso Waterfall

An underground river flows near Lake Toba, which suddenly bursts out of a hole in the rock and flows into the northern part of the lake from a height of 120 meters. Since fog and moisture constantly emanate from the waterfall, the vegetation around is especially lush and bright, even by Sumatran standards. You can admire the waterfall from the panoramic observation deck, where cars drive up. You can get closer along the hiking trail, the descent will take about 45 minutes.

Jembatan Akar Bridge

This unusual bridge consists of living banyan roots woven together, which have been growing for many years and making the structure more and more durable. The idea of such a bridge came to the mind of a local teacher. He wanted it to be easier for children to get to school across the river. He made a bamboo frame and began to wind on it the aerial roots of banyan trees from both banks. Residents of two villages supported the idea. After about 30 years, the bridge became strong enough to be used. Now the structure is reinforced with wooden planks and steel cables, because thousands of tourists come here. But the roots continue to grow, making the bridge more and more durable.

Other attractions in Indonesia

The country’s territory includes more than 17 thousand islands, and most of them do not even have a name. This is a real paradise for lovers of adventure and exoticism. We tell you where else you can go in Indonesia.

Liang Bua Cave on Flores

In 2003, the existence of a large limestone cave on Flores became known all over the world. Then the remains of a dwarf species of people were found here, along with tools. The age of which, according to recent estimates, is about 50 thousand years. Although this species was named the Flores Man, more often extinct people from the island of Flores are called hobbits. They are unusual in that their height was just over a meter, and the brain was three times smaller than that of a modern human. At the same time, they were able to make about the same tools as the ancestors of modern people who settled in the same territory later.

Liang Bua Cave is spacious and picturesque. Its depth is about 30 m, and its height is about 13 m, the entire upper part is covered with huge stalactites. There is a small museum and guided tours inside. During the rainy season, the road to the cave sometimes becomes impassable.

Rice fields on Flores

Rice paddies are ubiquitous in Asia, including on many islands of Indonesia. But on Flores, you can see unique fields that look like a giant spider web. The local indigenous people had a tradition of making fields in the form of large circles that belonged to the whole village. Each family received a part of this field, which was measured from the center. The result was a sector of a circle of one width or another. When the children grew up, this sector was also divided among them. This created a pattern similar to a spider web or a fancy diagram. To see these fields, it is best to rent a car in Ruteng.

Komodo National Park

There are islands near Flores where Komodo National Park was founded. It was named after the largest island of the group. This is one of the most interesting places in Indonesia. It is home to the world’s largest lizard, known as the Komodo dragon. Giant Indonesian monitor lizards grow up to three meters in length and pose a danger to humans.

If you do not forget about caution, Komodo and the neighboring islands are a great place for hiking with routes of different lengths. Due to the significant elevation difference and the preservation of wildlife, the local landscapes are extremely beautiful. In addition to monitor lizards, buffaloes, monkeys and smaller lizards live in the national park. The rich underwater world attracts divers. In the south of Komodo there is a unique pink beach, the sand of which is colored with crushed corals.

Tambora Volcano

There is a volcano on the island of Sumbawa, the eruption of which in 1815 was the largest in the history of observations. A three-meter layer of pyroclastic deposits destroyed a settlement with a developed culture overnight, so that the excavation site was later called eastern Pompeii. There was a “year without summer” in Europe, and grain prices increased 10 times due to crop failures. This contributed to increased migration to the United States. In India, due to the cold, humid weather, a cholera epidemic broke out, which became worldwide in the next two years.

Since 2015, the area around Tambora has become a national park. Dense evergreen forests grow here, which are home to many endemic birds. The tourist infrastructure is poorly developed, but several routes have been laid. The hike to the top at an altitude of 2,815 m above sea level takes 2-3 days, if desired, you can descend into the caldera. The volcano is active, but has not shown significant activity since 1815 and is constantly under observation.

Krakatoa Volcano

There is a border between the islands of Java and Sumatra, where two tectonic plates meet. One of them forms the bottom of the Indian Ocean, the other forms the Eurasian continent. This border stretches for more than 3,200 km, and there are volcanoes all along this line. But Krakatoa is the most famous of them. In 1883, an eruption of such force occurred here that only three small fragments around the perimeter remained of the entire island. The three volcanic cones that were on the island also collapsed.

In 1927, a new cone appeared out of the water at the same place, which was named Anak Krakatoa, that is, the Child of Krakatoa. Since then, this young and extremely active volcano has continued to grow and has now reached a height of 813 m. The last significant eruption occurred here in 2018, and clouds of smoke and flames above the crater are visible almost all the time.

During periods of calm, the Krakatau volcano attracts fans of active and extreme recreation. People often come here overnight to see the glow over the crater in the dark. In addition to hiking, you can go diving among the reefs and swim to the neighboring islands.

Now you know what you can see and where it is better to go in Indonesia. It is convenient to explore the sights accompanied by a Russian-speaking guide. He will recommend the most interesting places and routes, take care of transport and tell you in detail about what you will see. It is easy to find a tour on the Guide Club that suits you by dates and direction. Choose the appropriate option and book it online!

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