Yogyakarta’s Kali Code River Street Art
Yogyakarta Off The Beaten Path
It is understandable that most travelers visiting Yogkakarta are just in town to prepare for their trips to the world-famous Borobudur and Prambanan Temples. The sprawling city of Yogya offers a lively nightlife perfect for wandering around Malioboro Street, tasting street food and haggling with the shop owners in the bazaar. But during the day if you find yourself stuck in the city, you will find a lack of things to keep you busy other than an uninspiring palace and a few museums.
When taking a break from exploring the many temples and ruins around Jogjakarta, one of the best off the beaten path things to do is explore the city’s thriving art scene. You will find several art districts spread throughout Yogyakarta, with some of the most famous galleries and street art found near Langgeng Art Foundation. One of the city’s best-kept secrets, however, can be found in plain sight. Running parallel to the famous and crowded Malioborbo Street you will find one of the most peaceful and laidback neighborhoods in Yogyakarta: The Kali Code River.
Wanting a day trip from Yogyakarta? Why not check out the Prambanan Temple!
Finding Kali Code
The Kali Code River is easy enough to find. The entire stream cuts through the Eastern part of the city. Located just a few minutes away from the downtown and the main street of Malioboro, when you get fed up of elbowing your way through the sea of people in the bazaar you can simply duck down a side street and find yourself surrounded by colorful splashes of color, tranquil coffee shops, and street art.
If you are going to start exploring the art district of Kali Code, one of the best places to begin your journey is from the overpass near Yogyakarta Station. South of the overpass is the village known as Kampung Lampion Code. You will find eye-catching art and colorful houses on both sides of the river, but unfortunately, there is an absence of bridges. Therefore you may want to keep your eyes open on what murals and hidden gems are tucked away on the other bank of the Kali Code. The best way to take in all the art and charm of the Kali River is by choosing a side and then making a loop once you reach the Jembatan Jambu Bridge.
You will find the largest Buddhist temple in the world just a short drive away from Yogyakarta! Read more on Borobudur here!
The Colors On The Code River
Looking out over this sprawling neighborhood from the overpass, you’d probably fail to catch the pastels and bright colors that many Kali Code one of the most unique art districts in all of Yogyakarta. Not listed on alongside many of the other famous street art hubs in Yogyakarta, Kali Code is an area that you have the take the dive into in order to truly enjoy the beauty of its lanes and murals hidden behind each street corner.
Historically, the people living by the river have been labeled as disadvantaged or even outcasts by the majority of society. But while strolling down the Code River, you will not feel as if you are walking through a slum, but rather a place that you could see yourself pulling out a lawn chair and lounging by the water along the rest of the locals. Framed on these colorful walls, each resident of Kali Code is blended into a vast painting with the pastels acting as a canvas and them the subjects. For photographers, this entire art district is one massive playground for street photography.
If you are really wanting to get off the beaten path in Indonesia, you will want to travel to Kupang!
Street Art In Yogyakarta
It is not the bright colors alone that make Kali Code one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in all of Yogyakarta. The cartoons, graffiti, and murals add a more youthful vibe to the otherwise unassuming houses and shops along the river. You could easily spend hours wandering the back alleys and strolling up and down the same stretch of pavement along Kali Code and constantly be discovering new paintings and works of art tucked away down the back streets.
One of the best villages in Yogyakarta along the Kali Code River to check out the animated graffiti is Kampung Wisata Code. Just north of the Yogyakarta Train Station, you will find the colorful rainbow colored roofs beckoning you to visit this neighborhood well off of the beaten path. Although well known to local tourists, you will practically have free reign of the kaleidoscope alleyways and mesmerizing streets.
Thought there was no rock left unturned in Bali? Get off the beaten path and explore the Ghost Palace!
The Soul Of Yogyakarta
Any traveler would agree that it is the unplanned moments while exploring a new place that makes you truly fall in love with being on the road. It is getting off the beaten path in Yogyakarta that will have you meeting the people and feeling as if you are getting into touch with a part of a larger family. Merely walking along the Kali Code through Kampung Lampion will bring you face to face with the people who make Yogyakarta tick. From craftsmen to shop owners, this colorful art district offers a candid look at the lives of the locals of Yogyakarta.
The local neighbors who will be most excited to see you will be, of course, the children. While exploring the murals and unique architecture of Kali Code, these kids will be calling out from the other side of the river for you to take their pictures. Rather than being overbearing or aggressive like in other countries, the children of Kampung Lampion are genuine. They are more willing to make a friend with guests to their neighborhood rather than simply laughing or hurling abuses.
There is no need to book a tour to Mount Bromo, read about getting to the volcano independently here!
Yogya’s Hidden Art District
The street food, music, lively markets, travelers basing themselves out in Yogyakarta will never find a lack of things to fill their nights with. Although the days are best spent at some of the surrounding temples, Yogya is a massive city where many of the best sights are left widely ignored. When it comes down to it, most tourists in Yogyakarta use this city simply as a place to crash and relax, little do they know that there is so much more to be explored outside of Malioboro Street.
The art district along Kali Code is merely the tip of the iceberg of the many hidden gems left undiscovered off of the beaten path in Yogyakarta. There are bound to be plenty more colorful street art and historical ruins left inclosed by the ever-growing urban sprawl. When the city and tourist traps begin to become too much to handle, it is good to know that you can find refuge in the artsy and down-to-earth Kali Code.
