Solo’s palace, the Karaton, is a series of grand buildings gathered around leafy green courtyards.
Significantly more decorative than the public areas of Yogyakarta’s Kraton in terms of style, it’s definitely worth a visit if you are in town.
A large part of the palace was destroyed by fire in 1985, however quite a lot of the grandeur and charm still remains. The only problem is a complete lack of signs – not just a lack of signs in English but an absolute lack of signs in Indonesian, Javanese or any language at all.
On the day we visited, there didn’t appear to be any English guides at the museum either, or any English information brochures. This leaves foreign tourists to wander through the halls of keris (swords), glassware, transportation devices, paintings and more without any context whatsoever.
To see some parts of the Karaton, you will need to remove your shoes. Also, knees and shoulders must be covered in some areas, so it’s best to wear long pants or bring a sarong. The palace provides some modesty scarves.
The cost of admission does not include the cost of a guide. During off-peak season it may be hard to find an English-speaking guide.
What next?
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