About Java

The world’s greatest tropical island, Java has always been a country of superlatives and irony, whether you are describing natural or man made phenomena. Other than being the worlds finest and greatest tropical island it’s also home to the worlds largest Buddhist monument, the Borobudur Temple in central Java, the resting place for some of humanity's most ancient ancestors. The (so called “Java Man” or Homo Erectus who once lived on the island some million years ago) Home to the world’s greatest coffee plantations supplying over half the world’s coffee. For extra measure it’s the most fertile and densely populated island in the world!

Java is an Island of 136 million the most densely populated island in the world. Its home to 60% of all Indonesians, the capital of Indonesia is located in West Java. Much of Indonesia’s history has taken place in Java. It was the centre of powerful Hindu Buddhist empires, Islamic Sultanates and the core of the colonial Dutch East Indies. 90% of Java is Islamic in faith, small Hindu enclaves can still be found along with Christians.

Only two ethnic groups are native to the island, the Javanese and the Sundanese. A third group the Madurese who inhabit the island of Madura off the East Coast of Java and immigrated to East Java since the 18th century. The Javanese still account for two thirds of the islands population, while the Sundanese and Madurese account for 20% and 10% respectively. These three languages are spoken on the island with Indonesian often being a second language.