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Highlight of Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta — Where Heritage, Nature and Discovery Meet
Welcome to Yogyakarta, one of Indonesia's most distinctive cultural and academic destinations and the host city of the Asian Congress of Herpetology 2027.
Known affectionately as Jogja, Yogyakarta brings together centuries of Javanese heritage, ancient temples, living traditions, universities, volcanic landscapes, tropical nature, arts, cuisine, and the warmth of everyday Indonesian life. It is a city where the monumental past of Java exists alongside a vibrant contemporary community of students, researchers, artists, and travellers.
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Beyond the ACH, delegates can explore the magnificent Borobudur and Prambanan temple complexes, experience the living royal traditions of the Kraton Yogyakarta, walk along the legendary Malioboro Street, discover traditional batik and handicrafts, enjoy Javanese cuisine, or travel beyond the city toward Mount Merapi, Menoreh Hills, Gunung Sewu karst landscapes, caves, forests, beaches, and rural villages.
ACH 2027 is therefore not simply bringing Asia to a conference venue. It is bringing the Asian herpetological community to a place shaped by history, biodiversity, knowledge, and cultural exchange.
Come for the Congress. Stay for Jogja. Discover Yogyakarta. Experience Indonesia.
Borobudur
Borobudur is the world’s largest Buddhist temple and one of Indonesia’s most extraordinary cultural landmarks. Built in the 9th century during the Sailendra Dynasty, this UNESCO World Heritage monument rises through a series of magnificent stone terraces decorated with thousands of intricate reliefs and hundreds of Buddha statues, culminating in its iconic central stupa. Set against the lush landscapes and volcanic mountains of Central Java, Borobudur offers ACH participants an unforgettable encounter with history, architecture, spirituality, and the cultural heritage of Indonesia.
Prambanan
Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and one of the most spectacular in Southeast Asia. Built in the 9th century and dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti—Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer—this UNESCO World Heritage monument is renowned for its elegant, soaring architecture, dominated by the magnificent 47-metre-high Shiva temple. With its dramatic stone towers, intricate reliefs, and remarkable setting near Yogyakarta, Prambanan offers ACH participants an unforgettable journey into ancient Javanese history, art, architecture, and living cultural heritage.
The Yogyakarta Palace (Keraton)
The Yogyakarta Palace (Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat) is the historic and cultural heart of Yogyakarta and the official residence of the Sultan of Yogyakarta. Established in 1755–1756 by Prince Mangkubumi, later Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, the palace remains a living center of Javanese royal tradition, culture, arts, and ceremony. Visitors can explore its elegant courtyards, traditional architecture, royal collections, and museum displays while experiencing a cultural institution that continues to play an important role in the identity and everyday life of Yogyakarta.
Ratu Boko
Ratu Boko is a remarkable archaeological complex set on a hill overlooking the Prambanan Plain, offering sweeping views of the surrounding landscape and temples. Dating from around the 8th–9th centuries, the site preserves traces of Buddhist and Hindu activity as well as structures associated with a royal or fortified complex. Of particular interest is an Old Javanese inscription referring to the establishment of Abhayagiri, a Buddhist monastery whose name recalls the celebrated Abhayagiri Vihara of Sri Lanka. With its monumental gateways, ancient ruins, terraces, and spectacular sunset views, Ratu Boko provides visitors with a fascinating window into the religious and cultural connections of ancient Java.
Malioboro Street
Malioboro Street is the vibrant heart of Yogyakarta and one of the city’s most iconic destinations for shopping, food, and local culture. Stretching through the historic city center, Malioboro is lined with shops, markets, street vendors, cafés, and traditional eateries where visitors can discover Javanese batik, handicrafts, silverwork, souvenirs, and local arts while sampling Yogyakarta’s distinctive cuisine. Especially lively in the evening, Malioboro offers ACH participants an easy and enjoyable way to experience the everyday atmosphere, creativity, flavours, and hospitality of Jogja.
Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi is one of Indonesia’s most famous and active volcanoes, rising dramatically north of Yogyakarta to an elevation of about 2,930 metres. Its volcanic slopes, forests, agricultural landscapes, and surrounding villages create one of Java’s most striking natural settings, while viewpoints around the mountain offer spectacular panoramas of Merapi and the Yogyakarta region. Beyond its scenery, Merapi provides a compelling example of how geology, biodiversity, human communities, and natural hazards interact, making it an especially fascinating destination for scientists and nature enthusiasts visiting ACH 2027.
The Menoreh Hills
The Menoreh Hills form a scenic range of forested hills west of Yogyakarta, extending through parts of the Yogyakarta and Central Java regions. Characterized by lush tropical vegetation, valleys, streams, traditional villages, agricultural landscapes, and panoramic viewpoints, the area offers a quieter contrast to the city’s famous cultural landmarks. For nature enthusiasts and herpetologists, the Menoreh landscape is particularly attractive for exploring forest and freshwater habitats, local biodiversity, and rural ecosystems, while its trails and viewpoints make it an excellent destination for trekking, nature photography, and experiencing the countryside surrounding Yogyakarta.
The Gunung Sewu Karst
is one of Java’s most remarkable natural landscapes, stretching across southern Yogyakarta and neighbouring parts of Central and East Java. Recognized as part of a UNESCO Global Geopark, the region is characterized by thousands of limestone hills, caves, underground rivers, sinkholes, forests, and dramatic coastal landscapes shaped over millions of years. For ACH participants, Gunung Sewu is especially fascinating for its specialized cave, karst, and forest biodiversity, including distinctive amphibian and reptile communities, while offering excellent opportunities for trekking, cave exploration, nature photography, and experiencing one of Indonesia’s most extraordinary geological landscapes.