At the museum no photos are allowed which is really unfortunate as it was well worth the visit and the guided tour is definitely not to be missed. In the museum there are even Batik made from the Dutch era which depicts stories like Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White!

I enjoyed the tour v much and at the end of the tour we were brought to this room where the artisan were working on hand drawn batik.

Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia for anyone interested in learning more about the process of batik making.

Firstly, a cloth is washed, soaked and beaten with a large mallet. Patterns are drawn with pencil and later redrawn using hot wax, usually made from a mixture of paraffin or bees wax, sometimes mixed with plant resins, which functions as a dye-resist. The wax can be applied with a variety of tools. A pen-like instrument called a canting (IPA: [tʃantiŋ], sometimes spelled with old Dutch orthography tjanting) is the most common. A canting is made from a small copper reservoir with a spout on a wooden handle. The reservoir holds the resist which flows through the spout, creating dots and lines as it moves. For larger patterns, a stiff brush may be used. Alternatively, a copper block stamp called a cap (IPA: [tʃap]; old spelling tjap) is used to cover large areas more efficiently.

After the cloth is dry, the resist is removed by scraping or boiling the cloth. The areas treated with resist keep their original color; when the resist is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed areas forms the pattern. This process is repeated as many times as the number of colors desired.

The most traditional type of batik, called batik tulis (written batik), is drawn using only the canting. The cloth need to be drawn on both sides and dipped in a dye bath three to four times. The whole process may take up to a year; it yields considerably finer patterns than stamped batik.

Source: Wikipedia

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Banjarsari

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If you're spending some time in Banjarsari, Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall and Balekambang City Park are top sights worth seeing.

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Top Solo City Centre Hotel Reviews

Loji Hotel Solo by Wstay

6/10 Okay

"The room and bed were big and comfortable, but no fridge and no safebox. Breakfast was really good, though. The hotel is very close to the Balapan train station, which is nice. It’s a decent budget place, but what makes me unable to recommend is because how dangerous the roads are around the hotel. I stay at places all over SE Asia, so I’m totally used to the motorbike madness. This place, though . . . It takes the cake."

FIM by Zigna

8/10 Good

"The hotel is an excellent place to stay. The hotel itself is not special or fancy, but it is well-run, clean, and located in the center of Solo. The breakfast buffet is excellent, the restaurant is good, and the hotel also has a nice cafe with an outside seating area. They featured life music at the cafe on weekend evenings. We saw no other foreign guests, which we saw as a plus. Many staff members speak good English."

The Royal Surakarta Heritage - Handwritten Collection

4/10 Poor

"This Royal Surakarta is overrated. The photos of the rooms i booked were totally different from the rooms i got. When you walk in the first thought is wow this is great, again the maintenance on the room was very little. The air-conditioning controller didn't work and the room temperature was bearly comfortable. I would not recommend this hotel. "

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Frequently asked questions

What's it like in Solo City Centre?

Solo City Centre is a neighbourhood that travellers like for its museums, zoo and art. Are you looking for Solo City Centre travel tips? Make sure that you visit Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall and Keprabon Park while you're in the neighbourhood.

What's a favourite place to stay in Solo City Centre?

Based on Expedia customer reviews, The Royal Surakarta Heritage - Handwritten Collection is the highest ranked property in Solo City Centre. This hotel offers a full-service spa and a restaurant. Other favourite options in the area include Novotel Solo and ibis Styles Solo.

How many hotels can I expect to find in Solo City Centre?

Expedia has 37 hotels and other accommodation options in Solo City Centre to choose from, making this an ideal home base for exploring the greater Surakarta area.

If I need to cancel my hotel reservation in Solo City Centre, will I receive a refund?

Yes! Most hotel room reservations are fully refundable provided that you cancel prior to the hotel's cancellation deadline, which is often 24 or 48 hours before your scheduled arrival. If you have a non-refundable reservation, you might be able to still cancel and be given a refund within 24 hours of your booking. Add dates, click "Search", then filter by "fully refundable" to review the best deals available in Solo City Centre.

What can I see and do in this Surakarta neighbourhood?

Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall, Keprabon Park and Nakamura Klinik are just a few attractions to check out in Solo City Centre. A visit to Radya Pustaka Museum is also worth the trip while you're discovering the neighbourhood. A few places to visit in the area around Solo City Centre include Radya Museum Library, Gede Market and Danar Hadi. When you're sightseeing in Surakarta, Mesjid Agung and Klewer Market are also worth a stop.

How can I get around Solo City Centre and the greater Surakarta area?

If you want to venture out of town, Solo Balapan Station is the closest train station. You can also catch a ride at Solo Jebres Station.

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