The island of java is a fabulous experience of contrasts. To be sure, the thought of any island with 120 million people doesn't really conjure thoughts of tropical bliss, but Java is undoubtedly and unapologetically the nerve center of Indonesia. Whether you visit Java for its frenetic capital city of Jakarta or for its beaches and volcanoes, the island has a free-floating energy that can border on sensory overload. But this fascinating place — once ruled by Sultans, and still filled with beautiful Hindu temples — offers a rich past worth exploring. Read on for a Java travel guide that will bring this exotic island into focus.
Things Not To Miss in Java
Among the wealth of historical and cultural sights that can fill your Java travel plans, be sure to include some of these can't-miss activities and sights:
• The Hindu temples
• The palace of Kraton Kasepuhan
• The Museum Wayang, a puppet museum
• Sunda Kelapa, the old port
• The Kebun Raya botanical gardens
• The Green Canyon
• Maribaya Hot Springs
• The volcanoes
When To Visit Java
Weather has a huge impact on the Java travel season — at almost any time of the year, temperatures stay in the 70s and 80s. The island only really has two seasons: The dry season, which lasts from April through October, and the rainy season, which lasts from November through March. Don't worry too much about traveling during the rainy season – usually, the rainy part of the day flanked by periods of clear blue skies. So if you don't mind a little rain, you can travel to Java any time of year.
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