Introduction to East Java

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EAST JAVA

East Java has a variety of attractions, from temple sites to scenic beaches, lakes and volcanoes, marine gardens and wildlife reserves. Baluran is the home of the Banteng Wild Ox, Rusa (wild deer), peacocks and many other species of birds. Java's last indigenous tiger species (only five remain) are found in the Meru Betiri Reserve and giant turtles lay their eggs on Sukamade Beach on the South coast. Although culturally Central Java is closely related to East Java, it possesses a wealth of characteristics which are distinctly its own. Its historical legacy is rich and colorful, and its landscape offers some of the most magnificent views of Java, especially in the Southern Mountain and coastal are. As the power of Central Java declined around the tenth century, powerful kingdoms rose in East Java to fill the vacuum. Between 1055 and 1222, the kingdom of Kediri prospered and expanded during the reign of King Erlangga.

Java and Bali enjoyed a lucrative trade with surrounding islands and their arts flourished. Parts of the Mahabharata epic were translated

and re-interpreted to conform closer to the East Javanese outlook and philosophy, and it was from this that East Java inherited much of its treasure of temple art.

In 1292 the Majapahit dynasty began an empire that was to dominate the entire archipelago, the Malay Peninsula and parts of the Philippines. Majapahit also established profitable trade relations with China and other countries of the Southeast Asia region. Today, the open-air theater at Padaan tells some of the stories of this glorious past.