Tamansari Water Castle

Tamansari Water Castle

It is one of the parts of Palace life and also the most intriguing tourism object. Tamansari literally means “fragrant garden”. It was a secret place as a pleasure park in the old times. Its shape is a garden with its waterways and hundreds of flowering trees. Long time ago, the Sultan and his harems liked to spend his relax times in the tower and watched female bathe pool.

Tamansari is located about 0.5 km southern of Yogyakarta Palace. The architect building is Portuguese, so the European architecture looks very strong, combine with Javanese symbols which is existed around the building. But if we observe deeper the domination of Javanese architecture really appeared in Tamansari. Tamansari was built in the era of Sultan Hamengku Buwono I in the end of 17th century.

Some parts of Tamansari:

Holly part

Hallo part of Tamansari is shown by and isolated building. This room includes of a building which has meditation function for Sultan and his family.

Bathe pool part

This part is a place for Sultan and his family having pleasure or fun. It is separated by two floors building makes the pool very unique. There are fountain looks like certain animals, huge flower pots surroundings the bathe pool.

Kenanga Island part

This part includes of several buildings, they are Kenanga Island or Cemeti Island, Gemuling well, and underground tunnels.
In the area of Tamansari, we will find the Mosque of Saka Tunggal which has only one pillar in its building. Saka means pillar and Tunggal means the only one. It was built in 20 century.

In the same complex of Tamansari we can buy for shopping anykinds of batik paintings, clothes and also the process of its making.

Surakarta Palace

Surakarta Palace

Surakarta Palace was built in 1745 by Paku Buwono II, the first king (susuhunan) of Surakarta Hadiningrat. Surakarta itself was renamed from the Sanskrit, Sura has meaning heroic and Karta has meaning prosperous. Surakarta Palace was built between 2 squares, named Alun-Alun Lor (North Square) and Alun-Alun Selatan (South Square). In the center of these Alun-Aluns, there are two banyan trees symbolize of protection and justice

The plan of this palace followed spatial metaphor of cosmological meaning in which the King was the center of the cosmos. The Sultan's status is attested to by the derivation of Susuhunan's nam, Pakubuwono, which means nail (Paku) of the world (Buwono).

Alun-Alun Lor (North Square) is the front yard of this Palace. Formerly, it used to train the soldier in mock warfare and named as “Siti Hinggil”. In Javanese term Siti means ground and Hinggil means high, so this yard means the condition is several steps up higher than the ground surrounding this area. Siti Hinggil has also a building which formerly used as a meeting room of the King and the subordinates. On this Siti Hinggil visitor can see some antique cannons.

The main building is a Javanese architecture with the beautiful carving ornament. Around the main hall there several buildings with various different uses. One of the antique and amazing buildings is an impressive tower named “Panggung Songgobuwono”. Panggung Songgobuwono was taken from 3 javanese words, they are: Panggung, Songgo, and Buwono. Panggung means tower, Songgo means support, and Buwono means the world. Panggung Songgobuwono has octagonal form. According to the tradition, this tower has mysterious story. They believe the tower is the place which used as meeting room of the King and Nyai Roro Kidul, the Goddess of the South Sea.

Surakarta Palace as one of the stronghold of Javanese culture is opened daily to be adored by visitor. It has a museum and art gallery where some precious collections are exhibited, such keris (daggers), masks, leather puppets, statues etc.

Puro Pakualaman

Beside the Yogyakarta Palace, there is another palace in Yogya which called Puro Pakualaman, located 2 kms east of the city main post office at Sultan Agung Street. This palace is belonged to Pakualaman principality. Before entering the palace, one should cross the square by passing:

1. The main Wiworo Kusumo gate, here stands elegantly the Joglo style of Pakualaman mansion (the complete words are Wiworo Kusumo Winayang Reko” means safety, justice and freedom).
2. Front hall called Pendopo or Bangral Utomo Sewotomo with its four main pillars in the center.
3. In the front corner of the pendopo, Slendro and Pelog sets of Gamelan (Javanese music instrument) by the name of Kyai Kebogiro. All pillars in the pendopo are beautifully carved and painted. Huge crystal lamps are hanging on the ceiling.
4. In the corner of the Pendopo is room called Chinese Room, where collections of Chinese antique wares are stored.
   In the left corner is the king’s office, is called the Srikaya room.
5. Further inside in the large main house Palem Ageng Proboyekso.
6. The most important part of this building is the Pasren, complete with its accessories and two statues of Loro Blonyo (man and woman) stand in front of the Pasren room, and the Pusaka (heirlooms) room.
7. Dressing room is in the left side.
8. Bedroom is in the right side.
9. Flanked the dalem Proboyekso is Gondok Wetan (east pavilions).
10. Gondok Kulon (west pavilions), where some families live.
11. The Suworenggo hall is in the back of the Dalem. It is a waiting hall and place for gathering. The heirlooms cleansing took place also in this hall.
12. Further north, there is the Maerokoco building (glass walled building). It is a place for pleasure, the favorite side of the late Paku Alam VII and his wife.
13. A Gandaria tree, it is a place for doing meditation.
14. The office of Pakualaman army (legionaries), but now it is closed.
15. The museum, in front yard of the Pendopo, where important things connected with the history of this palace are exhibited.
16. The mosque. It was built during the reign of Sri Paku Alam II, as shown by the stone inscriptions in Javanese and Arabic.
    The Purworetno building, a beautiful pavilion, located in the right side of the Pendopo.
17. The Library, with precious collection of Javanese classical books including the popular ones.

Now, the palace is used for serving the government guests who visit Yogya.

Yogyakarta Palace

Yogyakarta Palace

The width of Yogyakarta palace is 1.3 kilometers square and it is devided by 7 parts which in Hinduism faith the number of 7 is the perfect number. This deviding to be 7 parts is mentioned as The Seven Steps to Heaven. The deviding of Yogyakarta Palaces to 7 parts are : 1st area which consists of North Aloon-aloon until North Siti Hinggil, 2nd area consists of North Kemandungan, 3rd area consists of Sri Manganti, 4th area consists of the centre of Palace, 5th area consists of Kemagangan, South Kemadungan, South Aloon-aloon until South Siti Hinggil.

The center of Palace is the place for the King living and the place for palace's heirlooms. This place is covered by Kedhaton yard and after that Kemagangan then Kemandhungan and Aloon-aloon as the outer part of palace.

In the outer part there are North Aloon-aloon, South Aloon-aloon and Kepatihan. In North Aloon-aloon there can be found Great Mosque, Pekapalan, Pagelaran and Pasar which form Catur Gatara Tunggal. South Aloon-aloon there can be found Kandang Gajah, and Kepatihan is for the infrastucture of Military needed.

The second parts are North Siti Hinggil and South Siti Hinggil. Siti Hinggil is the yard which heightened. In the North Siti Hinggil there are Witana hall and Manguntur Tangkil hall which the King usually use it as ceremonial place whereas South Siti Hinggil usually used to more private activities.

The third parts are North Kemadhungan yard and South Kemadhungan yard. After the Kemadhungan yard there are a place as transition space before enter the center of palace. They are mentioned as Pancaniti in the north and Kemandhungan in the south.

Sri Manganti is the waiting room before meet the King. In the north usually mentioned as Trajumas and in the south mentioned as Kemagangan.

As for the center of palace there is hall mentioned Kedhaton with generally like Javanese building. The Building forms with 4 components, there are mentioned as Tratag, Pendhopo, Peringgitan and Dalem.

Demak Grand Mosque

Demak Grand Mosque

It is located in the central square of Demak town. The Demak Grand Mosque is a historical monument of the first Islamic kingdom in Java Island. In the north of the mosque we can find the grave of the princess of the royal family; Patah, Sabrang Lor, Sekar Seda Lepen, Trenggono, Bintoro, and some others.

Besides that there also some old treasures, like some big ceramic jars, wall ornaments from Campa country and other valuables which date from the same time as Grand Mosque itself.

The mosque has some carved pillars which are believed to be taken from The Majapahit kingdom from east Java. One of the pillars is made from “Tatal” (small rejected pieces of wood) as can be seen at the ceiling.

The biggest ceremony is on Idul Adha day, at that time a lot of person for about a week visit Demak town, they called “Great Grebeg” as the tradition which has been running for many years.

About 2 kilometers south eastern of Demak, we find the grave of the most prominent Muslim saint, named Sunan Kalijogo. He was the designer/planner of Demak Grand Mosque. The purification of Sunan Kalijogo’s heirlooms is an interesting annual event. Thousands of people come here to see the ceremony and ask for blessing especially on Friday Kliwon (Javanese calendar) on the tenth in Idul Adha. People make Sunan Kalijogo’s weapons and treasures to be clean and clear in that ceremony.