With over 300 ethnic groups speaking 700 languages on more than 6,000 inhabited islands, the Indonesian archipelago is a showcase of cultural diversity. People from all walks of life—from experienced anthropologists to weekend tourists—have come to appreciate Indonesia’s many cultural sites and activities.

Cultural Sites
Underneath its modern exterior, Indonesia remains a country of ancient legacies. Tremendous temple compounds remind visitors of empires that once stretched for thousands of miles. Intricate carvings revealing a civilization’s hopes and preoccupations survive today, after thousands of years open to the elements. Beautiful architecture, buzzing markets, reflective holy sites—the country’s history has bequeathed to its present a thousand reminders of the past.

In many ways, these sites reflect the diversity of the country. The towering temple complex at Borobudur, for instance, is a testament to Indonesia’s rich Buddhist past. The beautiful Baiturrahman mosque in Banda Aceh stands not only as a symbol of Islam, but of the region’s remarkable strength in the wake of the 2004 tsunami—it was one of the few buildings to survive. And the Baliem Valley in Papua is home to the unique Dani, a tribe steeped in tradition, and yet open to foreign visitors.

For more information about Indonesia’s many cultural sites, please visit the Ministry of Tourism’s website, “My Indonesia".

Cultural Activities
For all its monuments and treasures, however, Indonesia’s culture is more than a site or object. Acts of life can be culture, too. Ceremonies and celebrations are no less monuments than are spectacular temples. Dances, trips to the market, and even conversations can be treasures in their own right. In Indonesia, culture is not only something to see; it is also something to do.

Some cultural activities have become well known. Visitors can get back to the basics and retreat from the trappings of urban life in Baduy, a village in West Java. Many travel further east to Bali in hopes of learning traditional Balinese dance. Others learn to cook the country’s famous dishes, play Indonesian musical instruments like the gamelan, or make batik, a wax-resist textile art capable of creating fantastic patterns. The possibilities are limited only by imagination.

For more information about Indonesia’s many cultural activities, please visit the Ministry of Tourism’s website, “My Indonesia".