Surakarta (Usually called Solo) City is a city in Central Java, Indonesia. In Indonesia, Solo is ranked the tenth largest city (after the Yogyakarta). The east side of this city who passed the river immortalized in one of the keroncong songs, Bengawan Solo. The city was once the seat of the prefect, in charge of the residency of Solo until the 1950. Solo City have slogan “Berseri (Bersih, Sehat, Rapi, Indah)” which is an acronym of “Clean, Healthy, Neat, and Beautiful”. For the purposes of tourism marketing, tourism slogan for Solo is “Solo the Spirit of Java” that is expected to build the image of Solo as a center of Javanese culture.
Solo City Hall
Solo City is located about 65 km east of Yogyakarta and 100 km southeast of Semarang. This city located in the lowlands (almost 100m above sea level) is flanked on the west of Mount Merapi and Mount Lawu to the east. Farther south lies Sewu Mountains. In the Solo River flows east and flows in the northern part of Pepe river, which is part of the Solo River.
Land in Solo is sandy with young mineral composition as a result of the volcanic activity that has been mentioned above. This composition, coupled with the availability of abundant water, causing lowland is very good for cultivation of food crops, vegetables, and industry, such as tobacco and sugarcane. However, since the last 20 years of manufacturing and tourism industry flourished, so much change the allocation of land for industrial activities and housing residents.
The population of the city of Solo in the year 2003 is comprised of 552,542 inhabitants 270,721 men and 281,821 women, spread in five districts covering 51 villages. Comparison of sex 96.06%, which means every 100 females there were those 96 men. Dependence of population numbers by 66%. The population in 2003 when compared with the population census results for 2000 are 488,834 inhabitants, is within 3 years experienced an increase of 83,708 people. Notes from the year 1880 population count gave 124,041 inhabitants.
If the buffer region of Solo is also incorporated as a whole (Soloraya – Solo , Kartasura, Colomadu, Baki, Grogol, Palur), then the area is 130 km ². A population of 850,000 inhabitants. Solo is located at the junction between the southern route and point Semarang Java-Madiun, who made a strategic position as a transit city. The railway line from north and south lines of Java is also connected in this city.
Tirtonadi Bus Station of Solo City
Big city bus station is named Tirtonadi which operates 24 hours for a connecting path between the bus transportation from East Java (Surabaya and Banyuwangi in particular) and West Java (Bandung). Tirtonadi addition, there are two terminals for local transportation: Harjodaksino bus station on the south side of town (once the intercity bus terminal) and Tipes bus station on the west side of town. In addition, there are two terminals also support around the city but outside the city government management, namely Kartasura bus station in the west and east of the town Palur bus tation.
The main train station called Station Solo Racing, which is the station for the train departure, Business and Executive class and is located adjacent to the bus terminal Tirtonadi, a rare thing in Indonesia. Relations journey from this station is quite good, covering all major cities in Java directly and almost in all classes. In Surakarta, too, there are three other railway stations. Solo Station Jebres used as way station for trains of Economy class or train relations Semarang-Madison. Solo Station is a station on the City for railroad Purwosari-Wonogiri. Purwosari stations on the west bank of the branch station to Wonogiri.
Steam Loco Jaladara on Solo City
Steam Loco Jaladara or called kluthuk railroad will soon adorn the city of Surakarta, due on 27 September 2009 has been officially opened by Transport Minister Jusman Shafi’i Djamal with the Governor of Central Java and Solo Mayor Joko Widodo Loji held at the home office for the mayor devoted Solo.Satu jaladara steam train set consists of one Series C 1218 locomotive and two passenger cars with Series TR 144 and TR 16. Tourist steam train locomotive was made in the State jaladara Germany in 1896, taken from the Museum Theater Ambarawa, while the cars from Magelang and Bandung.
The ceremony was a steam train tour is a partner of Surakarta city train carriages in festive decorated with batik fabrics and is wrapped with black cloth, the launch of the first steam train on the mark with a pitcher by solving transport minister and accompanied by the mayor and deputy mayor, and the witnessed by thousands masyasakat surakarta city.
Kluthuk jaladara railroad, the plan will operate 2 times in a week that is every Saturday and Sunday with the route to Puwosari Station Sangkrah City Station, a distance of approximately 5.6 kilometers. This route through Jalan Slamet Riyadi, Solo city’s main street and is scheduled to stop by some time in some place of rest in one trip back and forth, including the Village Laweyan, Loji Gandrung, Ngapeman, Pon Market, Palace, Gladak, and others.
100,000 ticket price for one ride. caused by a steam engine to operate this tour is not cost very little in the way back and forth, three cubic memerlikan teak wood train was only a capacity of about 80 passengers only.
Surakarta Mayor hoped that the Steam Loco will jaladara the main attraction of Surakarta
Surakarta is known as one of the core of Javanese culture that traditionally is one of the political center and the development of Javanese tradition. The prosperity of this region since the 19th century, encouraging the development of Java-language literature, dance, culinary arts, fashion, architecture, and various other cultural expressions. People know of “competition” between the cultural Surakarta and Yogyakarta, which gave birth to what is known as “Surakarta style” and “style of Yogyakarta” in the field of fashion, dance movement, art leather chisel (puppet), processing of batik, gamelan, and so on.
Solo is also known as a tourist destination visited by ordinary tourists from big cities. In addition to views of the city and justify Kasunanan court, also gives tours of other surrounding nature Tawangmangu (located in the eastern city of Solo, in Kab. Karanganyar), Area attractions Selo (located in the western city of Solo, in Kab. Boyolali). Solo also a museum of batik in Indonesia is the most complete House of Danar Hadi. Usually tourists who vacation in Jogjakarta also will stop in Solo.
SAOS as Souvenir Solo
There is SAOS “T-shirt tasted Solo” T-hsirt talk about the legend, culture, history and all about Solo. SAOS will be unforgatable souvenir for your friend and family. So, don`t mis it SAOS if you traveling in Solo City. (source: ariperwira.com)
