Explore One Of Indonesia’s Largest Heritage Museum Of Sonobudoyo

Sonobudoyo is one of the largest museums in Indonesia.

Sonobudoyo Museum is a museum of Javanese history and culture, including classical Javanese architectural buildings. Sonobudoyo is one of the largest museums in Indonesia located in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province.

This museum houses a collection of Javanese culture and history which is considered the most complete after the National Museum of the Republic of Indonesia in Jakarta. This museum also houses several forms of wayang kulit, various ancient weapons (including keris and Javanese masks).

Location of Sonobudoyo Museum

Sonobudoyo Museum, located in the city center, is in a strategic location in the Yogyakarta Cultural Center.

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The Sonobudoyo Museum consists of two units. Sonobudoyo Museum Unit I is located on Jalan Trikora No. 6 Yogyakarta, while Unit II is located in Ndalem Condrokiranan, Wijilan, east of the North Square of the Yogyakarta Palace.

History of the Sonobudoyo Museum

The realization of the establishment of the Sonobudoyo Museum cannot be separated from the decision of the Java-Instituut Cultural Congress in 1924 in Yogyakarta. The Cultural Congress resulted in several decisions, one of which was to establish a museum in Yogyakarta. The decision was made after participants were inspired by an exhibition with the theme of Javanese architectural art held by the Java-Instituut during the Cultural Congress.

As an initial step in realizing the construction of the museum, a commission called the Nijverheid Commisie was formed, tasked with studying and collecting cultural data. The commission was formed on July 12, 1928 and inaugurated on November 19, 1928 by J.E. Jasper, the Resident of Yogyakarta at that time. J.E. Jasper served as chairman of the commission, while the secretary was S. Koperberg.

The commission was tasked with collecting data on crafts and art objects with the assistance of the Craft Office (Nijverheid Kantoor) in Java, Madura, Bali and Lombok. The results of the collection of cultural data were documented in a book entitled De Inheemsche Nijverheid op Java, Madura, Bali en Lombok. The book was published in 1929 which was then used as a guideline in collecting the museum’s main collection in accordance with its objectives. The collection of collections was also assisted by Panti Boedaja which was established on February 10, 1930 in Surakarta.

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The foundation was born after a discussion was held at Pura Mangkunegaran which was attended by the Resident Governors of Surakarta and Yogyakarta, the heads of Mangkunegaran and Pakualaman, and the National Directors of the Yogyakarta Sultanate and Surakarta Kasunanan. Panti Boedaja was tasked with assisting the Java-Instituut in collecting cultural data in the form of ancient manuscripts. The foundation was led by Mangkunegara VII who also served as the supervisory board.

The Museum Establishment Planning Committee was then formed in 1931 with members including: Ir.Th. Karsten P.H.W. Sitsen, Koeperberg. The museum building used former “shouten” land, a gift from Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII and was marked by the sengkalan candrasengkala “Butha Ngrasa Esthining Lata” which was 1865 Java or 1934 AD. Meanwhile, the inauguration was carried out by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana VIII on Wednesday Wage, 9 Ruwah 1866 Java (6 November 1935 AD) marked by the candrasengkala “Kayu Winayang ing Brahmana Budha” which means the year 1866 Java or the year 1935 AD.

Sonobudoyo Museum Collection

The Sonobudoyo Museum building is a joglo house with the architecture of the Cirebon palace mosque. Designed by Ir. Th. Karsten. The number of museum collections is approximately 43,000 and increases every year. The collection increases through grants, compensation processes, consignment items, or orders. The Sonobudoyo Museum collection is divided into 10 types, namely:

1. Numismatic and Heraldic Collection: The object of research is every currency/legal means of exchange, consisting of coins and paper money. Heraldic is every service mark, symbol and official rank (including stamps).
2. Philology Collection: is a collection of objects that are the object of philology research, for example ancient make-up, handwriting that describes something or an event.
3. Ceramic Collection: a collection made of baked clay in the form of broken glass, for example: Jars.
4. Fine Arts Collection: A collection of art that expresses artistic experience through two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects
5. Technology Collection: Objects/collections of objects that illustrate prominent technological developments in the form of equipment or mass-produced production results by an industry/factory, for example: Gramophone.
6. Geology Collection: objects that are the object of geology, including rocks, minerals, fossils and other natural objects (gems, granite, andesite). Example: Barite Stone.
7. Biology Collection: including human skulls or skeletons, plants and animals. For example, birds (preserved) / dried.
8. Archaeological Collection: objects that are the object of archaeological research. These objects are human relics from prehistoric times to the entry of western cultural influences, for example: Mirrors (darpana).
9. Ethnographic Collection: objects that are the object of ethnographic research, these objects are cultural products or describe the identity of an ethnic group, for example Kacip.
10. Historical Collection: objects that have historical value and are the object of historical research. These objects are from the history of the entry of western culture to the present, for example long-barreled rifles, cannons.

The collection is exhibited at the Sonobudoyo Museum unit I and the Sonobudoyo Museum II. For Sonobudoyo unit I, it is exhibited in nine rooms, namely the Pendopo Room and its Surroundings, the Introduction Room, the Prehistoric Room, the Classical Room and Islamic Heritage, the Wayang Room, the Mask Room, the Central Java Room, the Gold Room, and the Bali Room.

Sonobudoyo Museum Visiting Schedule and Tickets

According to Governor Regulation No. 122 of 2021 concerning Changes in Business Service Retribution Rates, Sonobudoyo Museum ticket prices are divided into three categories:

• Adults: IDR 10,000 per person.
• Children: IDR 5,000 per person.
• Foreign tourists: IDR 20,000 per person.

However, the ticket price does not include several wayang performances held at the East Pendapa of the Sonobudoyo Museum.

• Wayang Kulit Performance: IDR 20,000 for domestic and IDR 50,000 for foreign tourists.
• Wayang Orang Performance: IDR 20,000 for domestic and IDR 50,000 for foreign tourists.
• Panji Mask Wayang Performance: IDR 20,000 for domestic and IDR 50,000 for foreign tourists.

This price list can change at any time depending on the museum management’s policy. Therefore, there is nothing wrong if detikeras updates the information first before visiting the Sonobudoyo Museum.

Below are the regular ticket prices for domestic tourists who want to visit the Sonobudoyo Museum:

Conclusion

That’s a brief information about the Sonobudoyo Museum and the collections in it. The Sonobudoyo Museum as one of the largest museums in Indonesia, even the most complete after the National Museum, is a must-visit when in Yogyakarta, especially if you are a lover of history and heritage traveling. Are you interested in visiting this museum?

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