Mataram ditch

During the Japanese occupation, many people of Indonesia sent to various regions to be forced labor or romusha. They were forced to build the infrastructure that supports the diverse interests of the military against the Japanese partners. People who become very romusha suffering, not given enough food and treated with cruel and many who died.

This makes Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX concerns and try to avoid the obligations of the citizens of Yogyakarta romusha be. Ago, he ordered the people to build irrigation channels along the 30 km, from the River to River Progo Opak, and reject the people made romusha by reason of their still needed to complete the project. The channel originally called Canal Yoshiro is now known as Selokan Mataram and until now still function to irrigate dozens of thousands hectares of rice fields.

The historic irrigation use this with a motorcycle or MTB (mountain bike) promises a pleasant experience when done in the months October to May, because the month of June - September is usually dried canal to cut off the cycle of pests.

Is a perfect start from perempatan MM UGM in Jalan Kaliurang. From here, there are two route options. First, the Selokan Mataram to the west to meet in the upper River Progo, Ancol Hamlet, Regency of Magelang. Second, the Mataram Selokan to the east to end at the River Opak, Kalasan. Starting the trip in the morning, around 06.00 WIB, is the most fun, because the air is still cool, the sun blazing and not a lot of activity agrarian society, which can be viewed.