Have you heard about Kotagede? If you stay at Yogyakarta, you must know it. Kotagede located in the southeast of Yogyakarta City. That is a great place to know more about the Islamic Mataram Kingdom. I studied about the Mataram Kingdom when I was in junior high school. I had forgotten it. It has been 7 years since I graduated from JHS, hehehe.
Yogyakarta Night at The Museum is a great event to improve your memory of Indonesia’s history. Even you’ll get new knowledge. This was my second time join it. This time, the theme was “The Establishment of the Islamic Mataram Kingdom Until Sultan Agung Period (Episode 1)” and took place at Kotagede.
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| Cute bus :) |
This was my first time visiting Kotagede (although I have been living in Yogyakarta for 4 years). This tour started from the traditional market called “Pasar Gedhe or Sargedhe (Big Market)”. Pasar Gedhe is a major commerce center. Pasar Gedhe represents the people of Kotagede who work as merchants and industrial handicraft entrepreneurs I just saw it from the bus. We got stuck in traffic because of the narrow road, the crowded market, and the size of our bus.
1. Alun-alun Village
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| Alun-alun village was estimated as alun-alum of Mataram Palace |
2. Bokong Semar
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Why do people call this fortress as Bokong Semar? Because the curved shape of the fortress resembles the buttocks (bokong) of Semar (puppet/wayang stories)
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3. Benteng Jebolan Raden Rangga (Fort)
The story behind this fortress is Raden Rangga (son of Panembahan Senapati) who possessed supernatural power but mischievous, was being scolded and challenged by his father to break his toe. Although himself was supernatural, Panembahan Senapati felt a pain that he threw Raden Rangga by his feet. Embarrassed from being witnessed by many people, Raden Rangga left the Palace, but not through kori (gates). He smashed himself into the palace-fortress, leaving a man-sized hole on it.
4. Sendhang Seliran
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| This was the place for a bath. Divided into two parts, Sendang Seliran Lanang (male's), and Sendang Seliran Wadon (for women) |
5. Between Two Gates
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| Also known as Rukunan Street. Consisted of several Javanese traditional houses called Joglo. This alleyway is originally a privately owned space but can be passed by the public. |
I got new knowledge from this event. Especially about Catur Gatra Tunggal pattern, there are the palace (Kraton) as the center, the square (alun-alun) as a public place, mosque by the northwestern side, and market in the northeast.
Thanks for Night at The Museum UGM for the great event. I hope I can participate in the next event. Hehehe
Photo by : Me, Night at The Museum Yogyakarta
http://www.kotagedeheritage.com
Kotagede, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
31 Oktober 2015
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