Surakarta, Cultural city in Central Java, Indonesia
Surakarta is a city on Java in Indonesia, spread along the Solo River and surrounded by low hills and rice paddies. Wide tree-lined avenues lead through residential quarters and commercial zones, while public squares and open-air markets anchor street life.
The founding in 1745 followed the split of the Mataram Sultanate and the move of its courtly center from Kartasura. Dutch merchants expanded trade routes while the courtly administration continued its traditions and ceremonies in newly built palace compounds.
Most residents refer to the city as Solo, a name tied to the river flowing through its center. Street markets and workshop courtyards still show craftsmen at work on traditional textiles, while courtly neighborhoods preserve the etiquette of the sultanate.
The districts are easy to explore on foot or by becak rickshaw, especially in early morning or late afternoon when heat eases. Many sights cluster close together in the central quarters, so short walks connect palaces, markets and craft neighborhoods.
In the lanes of Laweyan and Kauman stand houses from the 19th century where dyers still work at large basins and apply wax to cloth. The workshops open their doors to visitors who can watch the multi-day dyeing processes unfold.
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