8 Famous Cultural Heritage in Indonesia

Have you ever heard about some of the cultural heritages in Indonesia? Some of them are admitted by UNESCO as the identity of the wealthiest culture in Indonesia. That is why most of them are shown a different culture of each region in Indonesia.

As Indonesia contains so many regions which come from different tribes that makes sense that there is so many unique cultural heritage in Indonesia. Their unique culture is noticed worldwide that finally admitted by UNESCO.

Suppose you are wondering what kind of cultural heritage in Indonesia, here we have some of them that are so famous both locally and internationally. Let’s check them out below!

1. Pencak Silat

Pencak Silat is one of the most popular cultural heritages in Indonesia that originally comes from Indonesia. It is a kind of martial arts that mixtures of self-defense wrapped in art in most movements. It is a kind of intangible cultural heritage in Indonesia that different from some of the geopark in Indonesia.

Pencak Silat can be played by anyone who dares to try it. This kind of sport will teach you how to be brave and becomes a fearless person. These represent most of the movements of this kind of martial arts.

2. Angklung

Angklung is one of the cultural heritages in Indonesia that is so popular both locally and internationally. Angklung is a type of traditional music instrument that originally come from the Sundanese tribe in West Java.

Angklung brings a good harmony to music with the unique sound of bamboo material. Some so many musicians try to learn about it so that they could make a piece of good music. Ever since 2010, Angklung is already admitted by UNESCO as an Indonesian cultural heritage.

3. Pinisi Boat

Pinisi boat is one of the cultural heritage in Indonesia that so popular for so many years ago. The Pinisi boat comes from the Bugis tribe in Sulawesi Island, which shows Indonesian history in maritime. It has as unique as some of the local food in North Sumatra which you can only find in those specific places only.

Pinisi boat proves the maritime history of Indonesia as the country contains an archipelago. The technique of making the boat is using a traditional method that comes from the Bugis tribe that inheritance from their ancestor before.

4. Balinese Traditional Dance

Balinese traditional dance is one of the most popular cultural heritage in Indonesia. This kind of conventional dance represents a holy and sacred dance for the Balinese tribe. Most of them are held using a Balinese custom culture that you can’t find anywhere but Bali.

Balinese traditional dance is the most iconic traditional dance in Bali that you can watch in some of the Bali traditional festivals and traditions. Some of the local restaurants and temples in Ubud also offer a specific performance of the dance so that every tourist can enjoy the show.

5. Batik

Batik is one of the most popular cultural heritage in Indonesia that comes from the Javanese tribe. Batik is a kind of technique in painting the fabric in a different pattern that represents a Javanese culture.

The batik pattern was used to show a different caste for whoever wears it. Some people believe that luxury things in Batik used to only be allowed to wear for the royal family. As time goes by, everyone can wear different patterns of Batik as long s they are capable to buy the fabric.

Batik is already admitted as one of the intangible cultural heritage in Indonesia ever since 2009. That makes every Batik maker so proud of it that their work finally has been noticed worldwide.

6. Wayang Kulit

Wayang Kulit is one of the cultural heritage in Indonesia that is so popular among Javanese, Balinese, and some tribes in Sumatra. Wayang Kulit is a kind of puppet that a Dalang or puppeteer plays.

Wayang Kulit is a performance played by a Dalang, which brings a story about Ramayana in Hinduism culture. That is why Wayang Kulit is so popular in some of the regions that are influenced by Hinduism culture. In some regions, it becomes one of the most popular cultural performances in Bali that is worth watching.

Wayang Kulit’s performance is commonly played together with a traditional music instrument with a singer. They will make a good harmony to make a great show to make the story seems alive for real.

7. Borobudur Temple

Borobudur temple is one of the cultural heritage in Indonesia that brings the most history within local cultures of Buddhism. As the biggest Buddhism temple in Indonesia, this place was admitted by UNESCO ever since 1991.

Borobudur temple is one of the proofs of Buddhism in Indonesia that brings, so many questions from the archaeologist. The temple stands for thousand years with a great history inside, which brings beauty to the temple itself.

Borobudur temple becomes one of the most iconic places to visit in Indonesian tourism. Most of the holiday season this place is always crowded with visitor that wants to see its beauty of it.

8. Prambanan Temple

Prambanan temple is one of the cultural heritage in Indonesia that brings the most history of Hinduism cultures. Such as the Borobudur temple, and the Prambanan temple also become one of the biggest temples in Indonesia with so many histories behind.

Prambanan temple relates to the performance of Wayang Kulit which represent the story of Roro Jonggrang. Most Hinduism believes that the Prambanan temple contains a thousand temples inside, and one of them is Roro Jonggrang that cursed by his lovers.

So, there are some of the most popular cultural heritage in Indonesia that timelessly exist. Most of them bring Indonesia’s richest culture, representing the pure and sacred culture in a long history.

Have you ever seen some of those cultural heritages in Indonesia? Which one that becomes your favorite so far?