Solo Sights

  1. Danar Hadi

    Directly behind Batik Danarhadi, Danar Hadi is a small museum big on batik, with row after row of traditional textile. Entry includes a guided tour in English, which endeavours to explain the history of many pieces. Old photos also help to paint a picture of the history of batik, but the real gem is watching women create the textile on site.

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  2. Kraton Surakarta

    In 1745 Pakubuwono II moved from Kartosuro to Kraton Surakarta in a day-long procession that transplanted everything belonging to the king, including the royal banyan trees and the sacred Nyai Setomo cannon (the twin of Si Jagur, in old Jakarta), which now sits in the northern palace pavilion. Ornate European-style decorations were later added by Pakubuwono X, the wealthiest of Surakarta's rulers, between 1893 and 1939.

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  3. Mesjid Agung

    On the western side of the alun-alun , Mesjid Agung, featuring classical Javanese architecture, is the largest and most sacred mosque in Solo.

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  4. Puri Mangkunegaran

    In the centre of the city and dating back to 1757, Puri Mangkunegaran is the home of the second house of Solo. Technically a puri (palace) rather than a kraton (a kraton is occupied by the first ruling house), it was founded after a bitter struggle against Pakubuwono II, launched by his nephew Raden Mas Said (an ancestor of Madam Tien Soeharto, the late wife of the former president).

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  5. Radya Pustaka Museum

    The small Radya Pustaka Museum, next to the tourist office, has good displays of gamelan instruments, jewelled kris, wayang puppets from Thailand and Indonesia, a small collection of wayang beber (scrolls that depict wayang stories) and Raja Mala, a hairy puppet figurehead from a royal barge. Offerings must be made regularly to Raja Mala; otherwise, it is said, it will exude a pungent odour. The museum often closes earlier than the official closing time listed here.

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  7. Sriwedari Amusement Park

    Solo's Sriwedari Amusement Park has fair rides, sideshow stalls and other dated diversions. The main reason to come is for the nightly wayang orang performances and other cultural shows that are held regularly.

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