Visit the most beautiful palaces in Indonesia

Indonesia is home to various local kingdoms, many of them own royal palaces. Here are 6 palaces in the archipelago that are magnificent and will take your breath away.

Ubud Royal Palace

This exquisite palace with strong Balinese architecture was the center of the Ubud Kingdom during Indonesia’s ancient kingdom reign. Ubud was and still is Bali’s hub for art and culture, a feat reflected in the sophisticated palace that still holds various cultural performances regularly, from traditional music to theater and dance.

The ancient royal family lineage of Ubud still lives in this palace, but some parts of the building are open for tourists, where they can observe the traditional impressive interior and decoration with Balinese-style stone carvings.

Istana Maimun

Istana Maimun is an old palace and its impressive architecture has lured a lot of visitors. Designed by an Italian architect in 1888, the architecture displays a mix of Italian, Malay, Indian, and Islamic styles.

Covering the area of 2,772 square meters, the palace features 30 rooms that were uniquely designed to showcase the architecture. The most striking feature of the Maimun Palace is the arcade of the roof that imitates the popular Middle Eastern, Turkish and Indian styles. The palace that is used to be the residential place of Sultan Deli now serves as one of the main tourist attractions in North Sumatera.

Kerta Gosa Royal Palace

Kerta Gosa is an historical landmark in Semarapura. Semarapura is the main town of the Klungkung regency in East Bali. Kerta Gosa forms part of the Puri Semarapura Royal Palace complex. The palace is also referred to as Puri Klungkung.

It features two main structures. A grand hall or the namesake Bale Kerta Gosa has ceilings filled with Kamasan or wayang-style paintings. The Bale Kambang ‘floating' hall or pavillion is surrounded by a blooming lotus-filled moat. The Kerta Gosa complex dates back to 1686. It was commissioned by Dewa Agung Jambe, then ruler of the Klungkung kingdom. The site has undergone a series of restorations, the latest in 2014. The palace and its grounds are a national heritage site. However, you can visit and roam the wondrous grounds by purchasing tickets for under a dollar.

Taman Sari Water Castle

During the 1700s, this water castle served as both a fortress and recreational site for the royal family of the Yogyakarta Sultanate. The beautiful palace complex with refreshing large pools also has rooms to meditate, study, and rest.

The huge compound comprises of four areas, including the iconic bathing complex, an artificial lake, and gardens. Now, the palace is preserved as a tourist attraction, and visitors can explore parts of the delicate palace from outside and inside.

Candi Ratu Boko

Most of the relics from Hindu-Buddha kingdoms in Indonesia are in ruins, as their governance dates back to as early as the 4th-century. Candi Ratu Boko is among those who remain enough to be observed and studied. Archaeologists conclude that this site was a palace for the Mataram Hindu Kingdom in the 8th-century.

The exquisite building is perched on top of a hill, embellished with stone carvings of the Hindu gods and figures. The structure is made of stones and those who have visited would agree that the historical site has a charming mythical feel.

Read more: 6 best places to shop in Bali

Keraton Kasepuhan Cirebon

Built in 1452 by Prince Cakrabuana, Keraton Kasepuhan Cirebon is one of the most amazing and well maintained palaces in West Java. The frontyard of the palace is surrounded by red bricks, which is one of the most exceptional features of the palace.

When visiting the palace, you will be able to see an extensive collection of historical objects and paintings. One of the most precious collections in the palace is the Singa Barong wagon, which belonged to Sunan Gunung Jati. Although the wagon is no longer of use, it is regularly cleaned during the first day of the Islamic month of Syawal.

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Taste the iconic dishes in Ha Noi

The best Ha Noi dishes are inexpensive yet tasty treats that can be found within Ha Noi Old Quarter’s narrow alleyways and bustling street markets. Compared to other cities in Vietnam, Ha Noi food tends to be on the sweeter side and utilises freshwater ingredients such as prawns, squids, shrimps, crabs, clams, and mussels.

And your trip to Ha Noi is not complete without sampling its traditional delicacies, here is a list of the top must-try dishes in Ha Noi.

Cha Ca La Vong

You think you have read about this name somewhere and yes, you are right. Cha ca La Vong is listed as one of the top 100 things you must try before you die by many cuisine experts. It is exquisitely grilled fish served with bun, peanut, green onions, dills and shrimp paste. The fish is carefully chosen so that there are not too many bones and fishy smells. A glass of bia hoi or tra da will definitely give your meal more flavour.

Bun Cha

Bun cha, is one northern Vietnamese food that quickly became our favorite. It is one of the best Ha Noi food specialty not to be missed.

The dish consists of grilled pork strips and balls or cha served over a bed of rice vermicelli noodles or bun. It typically comes with a plate of fresh Vietnamese herbs and a bowl of dipping sauce.  Pickled vegetables, like cabbage, carrots, onion or green papaya served with additional meatballs on the side. The sauce is made of the famous Vietnamese fish sauce or nuoc mam combined with vinegar, lime, sugar, garlic and chili.

Bun Thang

Bun thang or rice vermicelli with chicken, egg and pork can be enjoyed at any time of the day. The clear yet flavourful broth is made with 20 ingredients, including dried shrimp, squid, shrimp paste, spring onion, coriander, ginger, mushroom, beet, fish sauce, sugar candy, and vinegar.

It is also a particularly attractive Ha Noi dish as the noodles, chicken, eggs, pork slices, and a dollop of shrimp paste are carefully arranged to resemble a flower.

Banh Tom

Banh tom is a shrimp patty specialty original from the area around West Lake (Ho Tay) in Hanoi. First, the dough is made with wheat flour, cornstarch, fresh water, egg, salt, pepper, turmeric powder and sweet potato. This is dipped into cooking oil and the shrimps are placed on top.

The whole thing is deep fried for about 5 minutes until the shrimp pancakes become golden brown. The patty is usually served with fish sauce. You will find this specialty at Banh Tom Ho Tay.

Xoi Xeo

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You will encounter this dish in almost every outdoors market. There are even two restaurants dedicated fully to this dish in the Old Quarters. Xoi xeo is sticky rice topped with ground de-hulled mung bean and fried onion. Sometimes it can be served with eggs or steamed chicken breast on request. The serving is really filling and it is good for any time of the day but most Vietnamese have it for breakfast or lunch.

Read more: Top 7 best coffee shops in Ha Noi

Pho Xao 

Pho may be best known as rice noodles served in soup, but you can also enjoy it in the form of pho xao, which is stir-fried with onions, beef slices, and assorted greens. The flat noodles are usually crisp on the outside with a smooth glutinous texture, and most restaurants sometimes add fried eggs and chili sauce to this simple yet satisfying dish. Thin is a family-run restaurant within Hai Ba Trung District, where you can savour pho xao for only VND 50,000.

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A historical tour of Beijing through 5 sites

The place we know as Beijing today has seen the rise and fall of dynasties and the comings and goings of millions of people. Let's see the development of Chinese capital through five unmissable historical sites.

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Capital Museum

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A vast space with multiple levels, the Capital Museum is a comprehensive look at how Beijing has developed, starting with its earliest days of inhabitation. The most interesting section is the highest floor, dedicated to the folk art and customs of old Beijing. Here, you can see artifacts from the past, including hand-sewn silk ‘tiger shoes’ (cloth slippers were typically worn by children with the face of a lion), festival props like lion-dance heads, Peking opera costumes and more.

Yuan Dadu City Wall

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Beijing was first designated as a capital in the Yuan Dynasty, which was founded by the grandson of Genghis Khan. Across different dynasties, the boundaries of Beijing fluctuated. The second ring road that traces a shape around Central Beijing is the city border established during the Ming Dynasty. But the earliest city fortification was built during the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century. Remnants of this wall can be seen in an open-air park just above the third ring road.

Shijia Hutong Museum

Once Beijing was selected as a capital, it began to grow and attract people from around the country. Outside of the emperor’s palace, the common folk would live in single-level courtyard homes made of timber called siheyuan (literally translated means ‘four-jointed courtyard’). The history of these structures and the narrow alleyways that formed the arteries of the city is presented at the Shijia Hutong Museum. The hutong lanes dominated old Beijing for some 700 years but many have been demolished to make way for multi-lane roads and more space-efficient apartment blocks. Learn more about this distinct part of Beijing history while it still stands.

Beijing Postcard Museum

This intimate exhibition space focusses on the historic Dashilar neighborhood, located just south of Tiananmen Square. For centuries, this part of Beijing has been home to the city’s greatest artisans and performers. It has also acted as the Ellis Island of Beijing, the first point of entry for migrants from around the country. The Beijing Postcard Museum has amassed a small collection of beautiful maps that present how the city has evolved in recent centuries.

Peking Man

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Discovered in 1923-1927, and then incredibly misplaced during World War II, the fossil remains of Peking Man were unearthed near Beijing in the town of Zhoukoudian. This skeleton of Homo erectus pekinensis is estimated to have lived around 400,000 years ago. Zhoukoudian is about a 1.5-hour drive from southwest of Beijing. There is a modest museum at the site that introduces some facts about Peking Man and his discovery.

Read more: A day to visit Beijing, China

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