Surakarta

By Aliya Salsabila Hardyanto (Grade 11)

Surakarta or is commonly known as Solo is a beautiful city in Central Java, Indonesia. Surakarta is known as one of the centres of Javanese culture as it has traditionally been one of the political centres and the development of Javanese traditions. The prosperity of this city since Dutch colonial has encouraged the development of a wide variety of Javanese literature, dance, culinary, arts, clothing, architecture and many other expressions of Javanese culture.

Because of the city’s rich culture, visitors can learn about the history of the city’s interesting history. They can learn how to make batik. Batik is a traditional cloth with beautiful certain pattern or motif produced from special wax material that is written or stamped on the cloth, although now many batik cloths are made with printing process. Surakarta has many distinctive batik patterns, such as Sidomukti and Sidoluh.

Batik is worn on various occasions by individuals, institutions and socio-culture groups in Indonesia. That is, batik unites the people from every thing else. That is why batik is important for the people, not only in Surakarta but in Indonesia.