Soto Sokaraja

Purwokerto is a sleepy little town located in the Central Java province, Indonesia.Purwokerto is a town of 300,000 inhabitants. Commonly referred as a cross-road between Jakarta and Yogyakarta. The town is located on the foothill of Gunung Slamet volcano, the highest volcano in Central Java. Purwokerto also the main entrance to climb Gunung Slamet. Many of Indonesian famous people originated from Purwokerto, namely Jendral Sudirman, Jendral Gatot Subroto, Soepardjo Roestam etc. Most of those heroic people are honoured as a street name all over Indonesia.

By plane
Purwokerto can be reached from Yogyakarta's Adisucipto International Airport (JOG), 150 km east of town. Taxi can be hired from Yogyakarta to Purwokerto for a rather steep Rp 600,000.

By bus
The main bus station is Terminal Bus Purwokerto, 4 km to the south of the town center. There are regular services throughout the island, including Jakarta (9 hours), Yogyakarta (4 hours), Semarang (6 hours) and Bandung (6 hours).

By train
Trains to Jakarta take between 7 to 9 hours from the main Purwokerto station. The Argo-class trains (Argo Lawu and Argo Dwipangga) are the best of the lot: most comfortable and fastest. Taksaka is almost as good. These train also cater for Yogyakarta destination.

Get around
Purwokerto is a relatively small town, travelling around town should not be too expensive. You may jog around town for 30 minutes.

By trishaw
Traditional three-wheeled pedal-powered carts known as becak can be found in most part of Purwokerto. Haggle furiously.

See
Purwokerto has many beautiful buildings and monuments.
Purwokerto Fly-over, is a well known landmark located in front of train station. The flyover was built in 1967.
Train Station, a Dutch colonial architecture, many Dutch residential building can be located in front of the train station.
Museum Bank, located in Jalan Bank, a museum dedicated for R.A. Wiriatmaja who pioneer the Indonesian banking system.

The educational institution in Purwokerto:
Universitas Jendral Soedirman [1].
Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto [2].
Universitas Islam Negeri Walisongo.

Wet Market
The biggest wet market is Pasar Wage, with many small wet market such as Pasar Manis and Pasar Pon.

Shopping Malls
SOHO, the most luxurius mall for shopping
ACE, furniture for expatriates
Citraland, mall for younger generations
Moro, faboulous mall in Purwokerto.
Sri Ratu, the handphone centre.
Rita Supermarket, the first supermarket in Purwokerto, there are 2 in Purwokerto, one in kebondalem and the other in alun alun.

Local delicacies

The following dishes are should be on every traveller's agenda:

• Gudeg, a curry of jackfruit, chicken and egg served with rice, and is the most famous local dish. The most famous gudeg seller is in front of Pasar Manis, Jalan Gatot Subroto.

• Serabi Jalan Bank, available early in the morning is a local favourite. The queue is sometimes very long especially during holiday season.

• Soto Purwokerto, like: Soto Jalan Bank, Soto Sungep (also in jalan Bank), Soto Pak Tama (near Rita department store and supermarket, Soto Pak Sampun (at jalan Komisaris Bambang Suprapto), etc.

• Soto Sokaraja, available in Sokaraja, located 4 km west of Purwokerto. Many of Soto Sokaraja in here, conside one of the best is Soto Kecik. The place not so good but very famous. Another famous one (some people consider this soto is better) is Soto Sutri. But don`t let your disire miss this one, SOTO POJOK SANGKAL PUTUNG. This soto has such a rich flavour. Combining many secret vegetables, resulting a great taste for everyone.

• Mie Kelinci III available in HR.Benyamin 2 KM from Limas Agung.

• Mendoan is local food in Purwokerto, from a very slim Tempe (food from a fermented soy bean, very famous food in Java) and covered by dough of wheat flour. Although many places selling Mendoan, the best Mendoan only served in the village. Even though Mendoan sold at city is considerable tasty.

Mendoan can be bought at jalan Sawangan, such as Mirasa, Echo21, etc.

• Pecel Pecel from Purwokerto is also very delicious, many food that using pecel like Satay, Lotek, Gado-gado is also a quiet good food to try.

• Sate Kambing Sate Kambing in Purwokerto Area (Banyumas, Sokaraja, Purbalingga) is also famous for very tender young Goat. One of the best is Sate Tiga Saudara.

• Gethuk Goreng At Sokaraja we also found the famous food called Gethuk Goreng that many shops sell with different kinds of names. It made of cassava and a lot of javanese sugar. And the other food: nopia, mino (small nopia) kripik, and also mendoan.

Try also
Rumah Makan Taman Pringgading, one of the best restaurants in town.
Address DI Panjaitan 217 Purwokerto
Rumah Makan Cahaya Mas, one of the best chinese food restaurants in town.

You can visit in Overste Isdiman Purwokerto23:48, 25 March 2008 (EDT)222.124.22.19

Drink
Wedang ronde is hot ginger drink with gluten rice balls, peanuts, jelly

Kebon Cafe is located at Jatiwinagun street. Good place to hangin around. lot of local musicians there.

North
Baturaden is a resort area on the southern slope of Gunung Slamet.
East
Sokaraja, famous for soto and gethuk.
South
Gunung Tugel .
Cilacap on the south coast is sleepy fishing village.