IO, Solo – The old royal city of Solo offers various unique tourism destinations for everyone, including lovers of history. One of Solo’s many attractions that you must try is the sepur Kluthuk Jaladara, a steam-powered train operating in the city since the days of Dutch colonialism.
Kluthuk Jaladara is drawn by an ancient steam locomotive produced in Maschinenbau Chemitz, Germany, in 1896. The one we rode in, the 1218, has two trains (CR16 and TR 144) created in 1906; they are made of teak wood. It is no wonder that they are still strong and running despite being over a hundred years old. However, this is still an aged antique. Therefore, the city operates it only 6 times a month to preserve it.
The route taken by this ancient train includes downtown Solo, specifically Jalan Slamet Riyadi. The 12-kilometer round trip allows passengers to pass by iconic Solo spots, such as the City’s main train Station, Gladak, Triwindu, Plaza Sriwedari, Danar Hadi Batik Museum, as well as the Mayor’s Mansion, the Loji Gandrung, at a leisurely speed of 30 kilometers per hour.
The old train has a capacity of up to 80 passengers. It is only available for hire at Rp 3.5 million for a single round trip. En route, passengers can enjoy a nostalgic view of old Solo city with the background music of traditional Javanese instruments accompanying three sinden Javanese operatic singers. Other than the music, the providers also serve beras kencur beverage to refresh the passengers. It is a quaint, heart-fulfilling journey. (Dsy)