Introduction

Central Java is one of provinces in Indonesia that is located exactly in the center of Java Island. It borders with West Java province in the western part, while in the eastern part borders with East Java province. On the part of the southern side lies also the province of Yogyakarta special region. Central Java consists of 35 regencies and municipalities with 30.7 million population in 2002 or about 896 persons per square kilometer with living as farmer, trader, and official government. Regency headed by "Bupati" (Regent) and municipalities by "Walikota" (Mayor). Regencies and municipalities divided into sub-district headed by "Camat" and subdistrict divided into villages headed by "Lurah" or "Kepala Desa". The capital of central Java province is Semarang. Semarang is located about 466 km east of Jakarta, or 312 km west of Surabaya. Semarang is the order of the six metropolitan cities in Indonesia after Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Bandung and Makassar. Besides original tribe, some foreign tribes stay here such as Arabic, Chinese, Indian and Pakistani. The people of Central Java will welcome all of you with hospitable and friendly. Therefore, the Province of Central Java as one of The Indonesian tourist destination areas, offers various kinds of tourist attractions whether natural, cultural, or man made features. it is not only because of Semarang as metropolitan city but also there are many areas in central java that give beautiful and interesting place to visit. Besides, Central Java has attractions that are attractive and already very famous. Sightseeing in Central Java also included in the category of superior tourism in Indonesia, many sights can be an option for vacation destination such as natural attractions, historical tours, cultural tours, and etc.

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TOURISM PLACE IN CENTRAL JAVA

BOROBUDUR TEMPLE
Borobudur temple is one of famous and interesting destination to visit. Borobudur temple is located in Magelang. Borobudur temple also included in the category of major tourist destination and part of 7 wonders of the world. Access to attractions is also very easy. You can use the road either by using private vehicles or ride public transportation. As a mainstay attractions of Central Java. Borobudur can be as a choice for your destination holidays. Borobudur temple is the result of royal relics of Buddha. In each year in this place there is always an annual event. It has been hailed as the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist reliefs in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit, each scene an individual masterpiece.

DIENG PLATEU
Dieng tours, attractions Dieng, other Sightseeing is also very attractive in Central Java is the Dieng Mountains. Dieng is a tourist place in the area Wonosobo Central Java province. It is Four hours from Semarang. The road to the Dieng Plateau passes through tobacco plantations and beautiful mountain scenery. Here you can find temples and a very beautiful lake with the air temperature is very cool even at a certain season of this region until the temperature below zero.

There are some other Attractions in this area: * Lake: Telaga Warna, a very unique lake which sometimes led to shades of red, green, blue, white, and violet, Pengilon Lake, Lake Merdada. * Crater: the most famous craters in the crater Candradimuka cynical. * Some Hindu temples which include: Ghatotkacha Temple, Temple Bhima, Arjuna temple, Candi Semar, Sembadra Temple, Temple Heroine, Temple Setyaki, Gangsiran Ashwatthama, and Temple Dwarawati. * some of the Cave: Semar Cave, Cave Jaran, the Well Cave. Situated between Lake Telaga Warna and Pengilon. * Dieng Volcanic Theater, here you can see a documentary about the Dieng volcano.

JATIJAJAR CAVE
Jatijajar Cave is about 49 km west of Kebumen, or 20 km from Gombong. It is the most interesting cave in Central Java with its stalactite and stalagmite. Inside, there is Kamandaka statue which has its own legend. Krakal hot water-springs is located 13 km north-east of Kebumen. Bathing rooms are available. Like many other hot water-springs, it is an effective remedy for skin diseases. 3 km north of Gombong, is the Sempor Dam surrounded by hills forming a nice mountain scenery. Recreational facilities are also provided here.

GROJONGAN SEWU WATERFALL

Grojogan Sewu is located in Karanganyar regency, about 45 kilometers from Solo. It offers the beautiful pinus forest and many monkeys live there. Here, visitors can see very natural waterfall called Grojogan Sewu at 81 meters height. Some supporting 3

facilities are offered, such as animal garden, swimming pool, shelter, and fruits market. Grojogan Sewu has received awards as the best tourism destination in Central Java.

KARANG BOLONG BEACH

The name Karang Bolong means Rock (Karang) with a Hole (Bolong). This may have been some frozen lava, formed during the eruption of Mount Krakatau. Karang Bolong beach is the beach recreation area where there is a big rock with its hole in the center, facing the open sea. The Rock forms a gate facing the sea, making it look very picturesque. There is a small forest, which has been converted into a recreation spot. There is a river flowing down to the sea where people can have a bath of fresh water after swimming in the salty sea. Karang Bolong beach is located 50 km from Serang town or 140 km from Jakarta, on Karang Bolong Street.

SINDORO SUMBING, TWINS MOUNTAIN ARE CHALLENGING IN JAVA

Sindoro and Sumbing are two adjacent mountain, and have the shape and height are nearly equal. High Sumbing Mountain approximately 3340 m above sea level (asl), slightly higher than Sindoro (3155 m asl). If mapped, Sumbing Mountain located adjacent to the southwestern city of Temanggung and east of the town of Wonosobo. Meanwhile, on the northwest Sindoro Temanggung and northeast Wonosobo. Society in both regions were called Sindoro4

Sumbing as Mount twins. Both save huge tourism potential, although not everything can be managed optimally. Mountain filled with legends about the loyalty of their partners and epic heroism that was not strange for the climbers. Many groups of nature lovers who climbed the peak Sumbing and Sindoro, especially on certain days which has become a tradition.

BANDENGAN BEACH OR TIRTA SAMUDRA BEACH

Bandengan Beach or Tirta Samudra Beach is the famous beach in jepara, Kudus that is very beautiful and romantic. This place is located 7 km north of Jepara city center. The way to get there is very easy. Just follow the traffic sign and you will find it. From the town square, follow the road to Bangsri then turn left when reached kuwasen village. The white sandy beach which has pure water is good for swimming. The beach is save enough for swimming because the beach is shallow and the wave is not so big. This place is more beautiful at dusk. We can see the beautiful sunset with our family or friends. In this location, we can sit and relax on the shelter while enjoy the natural beach breezy wind. It also has large pandan tree field. It is suitable for youngster activities such as camping.If we want to sail, we can rent the traditional boat owned by local people. We can make voyage around the beach or we can go to pulau panjang (panjang island). Some time we can find banana boat and jet ski for rent. In this place we can find many traditional footstalls. We can order traditional foods sold by the trader such as roasted fish, crab, boiled shell. Pindang srani is one of the delicious food enjoyed by the visitors.

KARIMUNJAWAS MARINE LIFE

The archipelagic Karimunjawa, thought not as known the Marine reserves near Ambon and Manado, has unexpectedly good beaches, reefs and lovely sea scapes. Corals seem to blossom in to gardens, with an Amazing variety of form 5

and colour fishers and marine plants. Karimunjawa consist of 27 island and only a few of which are inhabited. It lies 90 kms away from Jepara and can reached by "KM. Adison I & KM Kota Ukir" boat, the only ferryboat connecting Karimunjawa and Jepara.

CURUG SEWU
It is situated at Patean sub district Sukorejo about 41 km from Kendall To visit it, visitors can take public buses on route Semarang - Kendal - Weleri - Sukorejo. It can also be reached from the southern part of the province, via Wonosobo / Temanggung onroute to Parakan - Ngadirejo Candroto - Patean. It is the highest waterfall in the province with three levels. The highs are 45 metres, 15 metres and 20 metres. Visitors can enjoy walking along the forest near the waterfall and also enjoying the forest near the waterfall and also enjoying the mountainous part of the forest called "Lintas Hutan Indah".

BATURADEN
Baturaden is the interesting place to see located 15 km north of Purwokerto. Baturaden is a classical highland country in the foot of Gunung Slamet volcano. Central Javas outstanding resort is approximately 14 km north of Purwokerto. It occupies a fine site on the slope of Mount Slamet, at an elevation of 650 m above sea level. It has remarkable weather with a cool mountain breeze. The temperature ranges from 18 degree C to 25 degree C. The resort area is surrounded by nice gardens, hot springs, ponds and bungalow-style hotels. Other features include 200 ha of pine forest, a nearby market and marvelous views. Always green, the area is blessed with an abundance of natural water resources spouting out in numerous waterfalls and rivers, which flow between the huge boulders of hardened lava.

MANGKUNEGARAN PALACE OR PURA MANGKUNEGARAN

Another palace built 1757, with a typical Javanese architecture consisting of "Pendopo" (an open front hall to receive 6

guests), "Pringgitan" (an porch to hold leather puppet shadow play) and private apartments. Two sets of 17th century Javanese gamelan instruments are exhibited and played every Wednesdays in the pendopo. The palace also exhibits complete collection of masks, wayang orang costumes, leather and wooden puppets, religious articles, jewelries, etc.

AMBARAWA RAILWAY MUSEUM

Fifty kms, south of Semarang, Ambarawa is the home of Java'` antique locomotive, Established into a museum, it has locomotives of various types and ages, and it is still possible to ride or a cog railway between Ambarawa and Bedono, a village nearby Prior arrangements should be made for groups. Also of interest are a collection of antique telephones and other instruments used for railway communication.

SARANGAN
Sarangan is a hill station favored by the Dutch in colonial days. It is half way between Madiun and Solo. The village straddles the southern slope of Mount Lawu, an inactive volcano. At an altitude of 1,287 meters evenings are chilly. Sarangan Lake that also called Pasir Lake is stay at mount Lawu foot; its about 16km (west side) from Magetan city. The tourists can enjoy the nature scenery. The wide of Sarangan Lake is 30 Ha with its depth 28 meters, and its 7

cold air with temperature 1825 C. There are various facilities in this area, such as; hotel, restaurants, paddle canoe, play ground and horses which has supplied for the tourists from various region and even foreign tourist.

LAWANG SEWU
Once again that is very attractive old building in Semarang is Lawang Sewu building. The building stand up sturdy and luxury is named Lawang Sewu because it has many doors ( lawang in Javanese language means door, sewu means a thousand) beside the out fill the alley alley fulfill surface of this building. This building is centering white colars colonial train or in Dutch language referred NIS ( Nederlandsch Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij) is the first train company in Java. Lawang Sewu building is designed by architect C.Citroen from Firma J.F. Klinikhamer and B.J. Quendang.

TAMAN KYAI LANGGENG

Kyai Langgeng Park located at the western part of Magelang and occupying land of about 19 hectares functions not only as a means. The park with the tranquility of rural atmosphere is easily accessible as it lies only about 1 km from the centre of the town. Convenient public transports bring you there, leaving the business of town life to go back to nature. Built by the Local Government of Magelang Municipality and opened its gate to the public in 1987, Kyai Langgeng Park is now providing you with,: Collection of many kinds of rare plants from all over Indonesia, collection of dinosaurs statues, fishing pond, traffic gardens, aquariums green house, swimming pool, open air theatre, large cages of various kinds of tropical 8

birds, various kinds of animals from the bigger to the smaller ones, arena for go carting, a river for canoing and wild water surfing, restaurants, souvenir shops, tropical fruit market, indoor tennis court, hotel and many other things to see, to do and to en joy. This park is named after the name of one of the followers of Prince Diponegoro, one of the Indonesian heroes who fought bravely againts the Dutch Colonialist during Diponegoro's war (1825-1830). The late Kyai Langgeng was buried in this area and his burial can still be found here. For now and the future the Local Government of Magelang Municipality will keep on the move to invest new things in the frame of providing recreational facilities for all levels of the community.

SANGIRAN, THE LAND MYSTERY

Located 15 kms from Surakarta. It is a fossilizes land of prehistoric living things. In 1891, Eugene Dubois, a French anthropologist discovered fossils of Phitecantropus Erectus, the oldest Java man known. Again in 1930 and 1931, Ngandong Village, Trinil-Mojokerto, was marked with the discovery of fossils of a man that belonged to the Pleistocene Period. It revealed human history from many centuries ago. Prof. Dr. Van Koenigswald in 1936 found more evidence about human evolution. He discovered some fossils that support the theory of human growth from an apeman to be man as we are now. Other fossils, which include those of mammoths (pre historic elephant) are now preserved in Bandung Geological Museum. In mid 1980, scientists were started by the finding of a complete 4 m tall elephant.

GUCI HOT WATER It is about 19 kilometres away from Tegal southward. Guci is a mountain resort at the height of 1,050 metres above sea level with
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the temperature ranging from 12.8_ to 21.9_. The main point of interest is the hot water spring. You can take a bath in either indoor and outdoor bathing place or the swimming pool. The water contains chemical compound such as zinc, sulphure, iodine. Therefore, it can cure various kinds of skin deceases. The Guci Hot Water Spring is also provided with facilities to meet the tourists requirement such as hotel, restaurants, conference room, children play ground, camping site, parking lot, ect.

CONCLUSION
Central Java includes one of the best places to visit. There are many tourism places in Central Java that can be your holiday destination. Each place has their uniqueness and their beauty attraction to visit, such as natural attractions, historical tours, cultural tours, and etc. Among those destinations I recommended you to visit Dieng Plateau that is located in Wonosobo area. In Dieng Plateau you do not only see one attraction but some interesting attraction of nature. Beside beautiful Dieng Mountain scenery, you can see a unique Lake (Telaga Warna), some Hindu temples, caves, and volcanic theatre. It will be interesting travelling for you if you visit Dieng Plateau.

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REFERENCES
http://www.indonesiacommerce.com/portal/indonesia-tourism/centraljava/places.html http://cahandong.org/2007/02/21/wisata-semarang.html http://indotourismplace.com/java-2/central-java/central-java-tourismbaturaden.html http://y0645.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/bandengan-beach http://artikelnyafety.blogspot.com/2011/02/sindoro-sumbing-twinsmountain-are.html

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