World-Class Attractions and Homestays in Karangrejo Tourism Village, Magelang Central Java-Indonesia

One of the Homestays at Karangrejo Tourism Village (Image: courtesy of Jakarta Private Tour Guide)

By.Rido Ivanus/JPTG. - For those of you who like traveling to an authentic rural area but still want to get world-class facilities and travel experiences, you must visit this place. Its name is Karangrejo Tourism Village in Borobudur-Magelang District, Central Java, Indonesia.
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This village has been certified as a Sustainable and Independent Tourism Village by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia on March 1, 2021. It is only about 3 kilometers from the world site of the Borobudur Temple. Before the pandemic, it was recorded that this tourist village had been visited by more than 20 thousand foreign tourists and 50 thousand locals.

Image : Balkondes Gate of Karangrejo Village (via Kompas)

​I lifted this article because in July 2019 I had the opportunity to visit and at that time believed that this tourist village area had authentic world-class tourism potential. Even though at that time we only wanted to visit Borobudur Temple and just look for overnight accommodation there because it was too late to return to Yogyakarta. But it turns out the experience of 2 days there was more than what was expected.

​World-Class Attractions and Homestays
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The tourist village of Karangrejo, Borobudur-Magelang has a variety of attractions and world-class homestays in my opinion. Although the area was pretty small which is located nearby the Borobudur District, it looks so natural. Characterized by the original Javanese countryside, and very challenging to explore.

For tourist attractions, you can visit and explore :
1. Borobudur Temple
2. Stone Chisel Craft
3. Sunrise Spot Punthuk Setumbu
4. Rhema Prayer Hill Chicken Church (Dove Hill)
5. VW Safari Tour on Rural
6. Karangrejo Orchards
7. Packages for farming, plowing the fields and planting rice
 
For Homestay, you can stay at:
1. Gopalan Borobudur
2. Balkondes Karangrejo, Borobudur
3. Borobudur Plataran
4. 22 other homestays 

​Tourist Attraction Experience
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The attractions offered to tourists in Karangrejo Village are very interesting and challenging. For Borobudur Temple, there’s no need to tell because it has become the main destination that must be visited and very famous throughout the world. The distance is only about 3 kilometers from the tourist village.
 
If you plan to schedule to enjoy a beautiful natural sunrise while watching the magnificent panorama of Borobudur Temple and Mount Merapi from a high hill in the countryside, you must visit the Punthuk Setumbu Sunrise Spot. Plan or schedule a visit to watch the sunrise with the villagers or your homestay manager to be guided to the location. The best time to visit is around 5 am. Adjust the distance from the location of the sunrise hill of Punthuk Setumbu to where you stay so you don't miss seeing the charm of the beauty of Borobudur Temple and Mount Merapi when at sunrise.
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Borobudur and Sunrise from Punthuk Setumbu (Image via Kompas)

Mount Merapi when sunrise (Image: via Kompas)

Punthuk Setumbu at afternoon

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​After that, you can visit Rhema Chicken Church Hill by using the Volkswagen Safari Tour Rural or by using your vehicle. The Bukit Rhema Chicken Church is an ancient building on a hill in the middle interior of the village which holds its own story about the social journey and uniqueness of the village.
The unique combination of various beliefs and religions that exist in Indonesia melts into one in this place and teaches us to remain simple social spirits while contemplating the majesty of God Almighty.

Rhema Chicken Church Hill

​Then you can enjoy the uniqueness of stone carving crafts and the beauty of the orchards managed by rural residents. Exploring the panoramic beauty of Karangrejo Village such as rice fields, hills, and rivers can also be enjoyed by using an “onthel” (antique) bicycle, jeep, or “andong” (horse cart).

"andong" (horse cart)

​​The sufficient and ideal time to explore the Karangrejo Tourism Village with the itinerary above is 3 days 2 nights (3D/2N). After enjoy Karangrejo Tourism Village, you can visit and explore the whole city of Yogyakarta and nine naturally beautiful beaches in the Gunung Kidul area if you have enough time on your trip.

World-Class Homestay

For a comfortable rest to unwind while enjoying unique rural cuisine, you can stay at many available homestay options. There are around 22 homestays managed by villagers, some of which provide world-class services.

Why do I dare to declare a “world-class”? Because I feel it myself 😊. I stayed and got special services at one of the existing homestays while enjoying the available facilities.

The place where I stay is a combination of modern facilities with the unique natural characteristics of a village in the Java area. There are residential rooms in the form of a small “Joglo” house that was beautiful and clean with teak wood furniture in it. There is a choice of single or double beds with cable TV and wardrobe facilities. The interior of the room is accompanied by modern lighting. The bathroom is quite simple and clean with hot/cold water facilities, a shower, a sitting closet, a washstavel, clean and soft towels, and toiletries like in a hotel room.

The row of rooms where I stayed is in front of a beautiful swimming pool which is directly facing the panorama of the vast lush rice fields. And what amazed me was that apart from the panoramic view of the rice fields from the swimming pool, you could also see a piece of top of the Borobudur Temple Stupa from the distance. While enjoying the afternoon swimming in the pool, you can enjoy a glass of your favorite cold drink and the magnificent panorama of top of the Borobudur Temple stupa, and the vast and naturally beautiful rice fields. So fabulous…
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Magnificent pool, rice field, wood artistic table-chair, and top of stupa Borobudur Temple (Image: courtesy of JPTG)

​That simple homestay also serves a choice of traditional Indonesian or western style dinner and breakfast. I had the opportunity to talk with one of the tourists named Lars who is a father of two children who came from Australia. He said the dishes and services provided were quite special. They already plan to enjoy the sunrise from the top of Borobudur Temple the next day.

​For foreign tourists who want to visit Indonesia or local tourists who want to take a vacation, it’s worth setting aside time to visit and explore the world-class beauty in Karangrejo Tourism Village, Borobudur-Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia.

Happy trip to the Tourism Village! 😊

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