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Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace
The palace court with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture
lies in the center of the city. It was founded Prince Mangkubumi
in 1755. The Prince was then called Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono
I. He chose the right location of the |
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between the Winongo River and the Code River. The Palace stretches
out from North to South. The front yard is called Alun-Alun
Selatan (the South Square). The lay-out of the building shows
that the Palace, the commemorative column and Mount Merapi lie
in on line. The palace meeting hall is called the Pagelaran,
where formal meetings of palace officials are held, while the
"Manguntur Tingkil" hall is the place where the Sultan is seated.
The palace visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of the kraton in
former times by visiting the life size diorama of wedding ceremonies
on the palace meeting, performed by puppets, which are intentionally
arranged to create such an atmosphere. Sets of Javanese musical
instruments, antiques and heirlooms have made the palace of
Yogyakarta. |
Water Castle
Built in 1758 by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I just West of the Kraton,
part of this pleasure garden and castle is at present no more
than an intriguing collection of ruins, pools, arches and underground
passages enclosed by massive walls, |
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the central courtyard with the nymph-baths has been restored.
The Water Castle is located in the older part of the city within
walking distance from the Bird Market. A number of batik workshops
line the avenue leading to the pleasure garden's entrance. |
Imogiri
Imogiri is the official cemetery of the royal descendents from
Yogyakarta and Surakarta. The royal graveyard is located on
a hilltop, reachable by 345 stone steps leading to it. Imogiri
is about 17 kms |
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of Yogyakarta and easily accessible by the bus of car. The tombs
are built within three main courtyards. Entry into the smaller
courtyards housing the tombs of the princes is allowed, but
only on Monday 09.00 - 12.00 and Friday 13.00 - 16.00 traditional
Javanese dress has to be worn, which however can be hired on
the spot at a modest fee. The cemetery is closed during the
Moslem month of Ramadhan. |
Prambanan Temple
This magnificent Shivaite temple derives it name from the village
where it is located. Locally known as the Loro Jongrang Temple,
or the Temple of the "Slender Virgin", it is the biggest and
most beautiful Hindu Temple in Indonesia. Seventeen kilometers
east of Yogyakarta, it is believed to have been built by King
Balitung Maha Sambu in the middle of the ninth century. Its
parapets are adorned with a bas-relief |
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the famous Ramayana story. The first open-air theatre on the
Southern side of the temple was built in 1960 and the new theatre
on the western side of the temple was built in 1988. During
full moon evenings in the months from May to October, the Ramayana
ballet is performed here. The temple complex of Prambanan lies
among green fields and villages. It has eight shrines, of which
the three main ones are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.
The main temple of Shiva rises to a height of 130 feet and houses
the magnificent statue of Shiva's consort, Durga. |
Kalasan Temple
This unique Buddhist temple is located some 16 km east of Yogyakarta,
on the South side of the main road between Yogyakarta and Solo.
It was built in honor of the marriage between King Pancapana
of the Sanjaya Dynasty and a Princess of |
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Cailendra Dynasty, named Dyah Pramudya Wardhani. It is beautifully
ornamented with finely carved relieves and coated with "Vajralepa",
a yellowish material made from the sap of a certain tree. The
Vajralepa functioned as an adhesive and as protection against
moss and mildew, while at the same time it refined the carvings.
This temple is 24 m. high and its base built in the form of
a Greek cross. |
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© 2000-2001 by Bagus Discovery. All Rights reserved.
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