Tugu Train Station, the Gateway to Yogyakarta
This train station deserves to be called as The Gateway to Yogyakarta Tourism World.
With its 6 railway, everyday this train station serves more than 20 arrival and departure to almost all major city in Java.Many famous Yogyakarta tourism destinations such us Malioboro street, Tugu Jogja, Kraton (Sultan Palace), Bringharjo traditional market, Taman Sari water castle and Vredenburg Fort can be easily reached by feet from this station. You also don’t have to go far to find accommodation. Just by walking, you can easily find any kind of accommodation, range from cheap backpacker style accommodation, to five stars hotels. No wonder, everyday, hundreds of domestic and international tourists come and go through this station.
Tugu train station is the second train station Stasiun to be built in Yogyakarta. The first train station built in Yogyakarta is Lempuyangan Train station that started to operate since March 2nd, 1872. Tugu Train Station started to operate 15 years after, on May 2nd, 1887. In the early years, Tugu Train Station was built to carry crop from Java, Sumatra, Celebes and Borneo. But starting from February 1st, 1905, this train station also used to carry passengers.
One thing that interesting about this station is its unique architecture. Just second after you arrive in this train station, you will see classic view with European nuance; big brown doors, thick wall, high sealing, and wide ventilation. Classic atmosphere also comes out from benches that line up in the waiting room and from canopy that easily found inside the train station. All of this is because this train station was build during Dutch colonial era. Because of all o its uniqueness, this train station is consider one of favorite place for photographers and old building fans.
Besides running its function as transit place, Tugu Train Station is also keeping its other function as maintaining place for locomotive. Jus try to walk t west side of the station; you will find Engine Shed, where all locomotive is maintained. In this place you can observe all details o locomotive components. Not far from there, placed a steam train monument that also is interesting to be explore.
I you happened to be departure or arrive in the afternoon, try to enjoy the classic atmosphere o the station for a while. Afternoon sunlight penetrates through wagons, drops on old colonial architecture, like dragging us to the old time. This classic atmosphere will be stronger when a train is arriving or departuring . And, if you are lucky, you will hear guitar and other simple music instruments sound played by several porters.
image: gigihjogja.blogspot.com
