Are you planning a vacation in Yogyakarta? One of the must-visit tourist destinations in Yogyakarta is Kraton Yogyakarta.
Yogyakarta is one of the cities that has become a tourist destination for many people, not only Indonesians but also foreigners. One of the attractions of this city is the atmosphere of the city that is still thick with its traditional culture.
Vacationing in Yogyakarta means you can enjoy a variety of tourist destinations. In the city of Yogyakarta, you can enjoy nature tourism, culinary tourism, historical tourism, and cultural tourism.
One of the tourist destinations in Yogyakarta that is still thick with culture is Kraton Yogyakarta. However, before visiting this tourist spot, check out the following information about Kraton Yogyakarta.
Kraton Yogyakarta
The kraton is a complex of cultural activities as well as the residence of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono and his family. The building, influenced by Portuguese, Dutch and Chinese architecture, was carefully planned to reflect Javanese culture.
The elegant pavilion complex was built based on ancient beliefs about the relationship between God, man and nature. Every feature of the building has a symbolic meaning that is closely related to the Javanese worldview that considers Mount Merapi and the Indian Ocean to be important.
Kraton Yogyakarta was built facing directly towards Mount Merapi. The south side of the palace faces the Indian Ocean, which is believed to be the residence of Kanjeng Ratu Roro Kidul, Queen of the South Sea and the Sultan’s consort.
The palace building was designed by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I who was the founder of Kasultanan Yogyakarta Hadiningrat. The main building, the basic design of the kraton layout, and the basic design of the old city landscape of Yogyakarta were completed between 1755-1756.
Kraton Yogyakarta has an area of 14,000 square meters. Inside the palace, there are many buildings used as residences for the sultan and his family as well as the courtiers.
The building that has been established since 1755 is the result of the Giyanti Agreement. The kraton area became one of the cultural heritage areas in Yogyakarta based on Governor Decree No. 186/2011 which covers the area inside the Baluwarti fort and parts of Mantrijeron, Mergangsan, Gondomanan, and Ngampilan.
Then in 2017, Governor Regulation No. 75/2017 was issued which combined the Malioboro cultural heritage area within the palace fortress (Baluwarti) into one area, namely the Kawasan Cagar Budaya Kraton (Kraton Cultural Heritage Area), starting from Tugu to Krapyak Stage.
When visiting the Yogyakarta Palace, you can meet Abdi Dalem. Abdi Dalem are the loyal guardians of the kingdom. This noble service is a pride that has been passed down from generation to generation. Special ceremonies are always carried out periodically to clean the sacred objects in the royal collection.
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The Connection Between Malioboro and Yogyakarta Sultanate
Malioboro cannot be separated from the establishment of Kasultanan Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat as an element in the spatial layout of the royal capital. On Malioboro street, there is Kepatihan that serves as the center of government and Pasar Gedhe that serves as the economic center of the citizens.
Both places are part of the city’s spatial unity called catur gatra tunggal or catur sagotra. According to this concept, there are four important elements in spatial planning: political (kraton and kepatihan), religious (Masjid Gedhe), economic (Pasar Gedhe), and social (alun-alun).
Malioboro Street is the philosophical axis that connects Tugu with the Yogyakarta Palace. Symbolically, the philosophical line is realized in the nodes of Krapyak Stage-Kraton Yogyakarta-Tugu Golong Giling which symbolizes the concept of ‘sangkan paraning dumadi‘ or ‘the origin and purpose of life’.
The path from Krapyak Stage to Kraton Yogyakarta illustrates the journey of human life from the womb, birth, adulthood, marriage, to having children (sangkaning dumadi).
Meanwhile, the road from Tugu Golong Giling to the south depicts the journey of humans when they are about to face God (paraning dumadi), leaving the world to the afterlife.
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Section Structure of Yogyakarta Palace
Kraton Yogyakarta consists of three parts, namely the front complex of the kraton, the core complex of the kraton, and the back complex of the kraton. The front complex consists of Gladhjak-Pangurakan (main gate), Ler Square, and Gedhe Mosque.
The core complex of the palace consists of seven courtyards ranging from the North Square to the South Square, namely Pagelaran and Sitihinggil Lor, Kamandungan Lor, Srimanganti, Kedhaton, Kemagangan, Kamandhungan Kidul, and Sitihinggil Kidul. As for the rear complex of the palace, it consists of alun-alun kidul and plengkung nirbaya.
Sitihinggil is the highest level in the palace area. This part of the palace is used as a place to hold formal ceremonies such as coronations.
There are two Sitihinggil pavilions in the palace area, Sitihinggil Lor on the north side and Sitihinggil Kidul on the southside. The Sitihinggil was later turned into a monument dedicated to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta called Gedung Sasana Hinggil Dwi Abad. On weekends, you can watch art performances, ranging from music, dance, to shadow puppetry.
Near the Sitihinggil building, there is an alun-alun kidul. Alun-alun kidul is a destination that is famous for its lively night atmosphere.
In this left square, there is Masangin which is an acronym for “masuk diantara beringin” or “entering between banyan trees”. In Masangin, you only need to walk between two sacred banyan trees. If successful, you will be considered to have a pure heart and all your requests will be granted. However, you must walk with both eyes closed.
In addition to the ndalem kraton area, there are also historical buildings and places in the kraton area. For examples are Tamansari, Sonobudoyo Museum, and also the fort.
Get Around
The Kraton has parts that are allowed and not allowed for tourists. For those of you who want to explore the interior of the palace, you can walk.
Kraton Yogyakarta is open for visitors from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. However, for Friday and Saturday, the palace is closed at 11am. There are some special rules that you must adhere to when visiting the palace.
Once you are satisfied touring the palace, you can visit nearby tourist attractions. For example, Malioboro Street and Beringharjo Market. You can also visit Tamansari, which is rich in royal history and consists of a water palace and an underground mosque called Sumur Gumuling.
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How to Get There
To get to Kraton Yogyakarta, you can take a motorcycle, car, taxi or bus. There are also local transportation options such as becak and andong that will provide unforgettable memories.
That’s the information about Kraton Yogyakarta. Have a great vacation!
For those of you who are looking for a Jogja tour agent, you can visit Yogyakarta Tour. With various facilities available, Yogyakarta Tour is ready to accompany you to explore the culture, history, and natural beauty of the city of Jogja.
