Solo

Solo is one of the premier cities of Central Java in Indonesia. The city is also known as Surakarta, though it is more popularly known as Solo by the locals. The city of Solo is located at a distance of about sixty kilometers to the east of Yogyakarta and hundred kilometers to the south of Semarang.
Solo has developed a unique identity as a favorite tourist destination of the country. Tourists from different parts of the globe as well as from various corners of Indonesia come here to enjoy a good time during their vacations. Solo is home to many cultural, traditional and heritage sites as well as different historic places.



The city is located close to the famous Prambanan temples. There are interesting museums, palaces and centers of art and culture. Tourist destinations like Kasunanan Palace, Puro Mangkunegaran Palace, Sahasra Adhi Pura Hindu temple, parks, gardens and museums make Solo a wonderful place to visit.
Mountain volcanoes like Merbabu and Merapi decorate the city on the north, and the southeast frontier is flanked by mount Lawu. Tourists can take part in various excursion trips to the top sites of interest in Solo. Take part in some of the colorful festivals like Sekaten or Garebeg Ceremony and explore the real flavors of Solo. Tourists can take part in various excursion trips to the top sites of interest in Solo.
Tourists can go for some shopping in the numerous Solo shops that offer a variety of products and specialty items. To taste the local delicacies such as Nasi Timlo, Serabi and Nasi Liwet, one must visit any of the restaurants and cafes.

• Bengawan Solo River

The Bengawan Solo river is about 540 km in length and is considered to be the longest river of the island of Java. The river plays an important part in the island by providing water to inhabitants and farmlands of the eastern and northern parts of the island. Bengawan River originates from the volcano of Mount Lawu, which is situated in Central Java. From Mount Lawu, the river flows towards a northerly direction through the Sewu Mountains and during its course the river is linked with other tributaries like Madiun and Brantas rivers, all of which are significant rivers themselves. As the Bengawan River flows toward the East, the river passes through the Kendang Mountains and reaches the Solo Valley proper and the river finally passes through Surakarta or Solo. After reaching the city of Solo, Bengawan River eventually arrives at its outlet on the Java Sea near Solo.

Despite being an important river, Bengawan River has become shallow now and is not navigable anymore. But then, the river used to be a significant link between Solo and the North Coast of East Java. Bengawan River has become an icon in Solo and a popular song called “Bengawan Solo” also has been composed by Mr. Gesang. The song was composed during World War II, when the city was under Japanese occupation. The song portrays the legendary river in a poetic and nostalgic manner; the song mentions mountains surrounding the river, its sources and its final journey to the Java Sea.