KRATON JOGJA, A Timeline of Javanese Architecture
Category : Portrait of Jogja

At 6.50am on 27 May 2006, a 6.5 richter earthquake hit South Jogjakarta and South Jawa Tengah in Central Java. Thousands of houses were damaged, hundreds of people lost their lives and many sustained serious injuries in the tragedy.  What began as a peaceful morning turned into a tragic day.

In the middle of Jogjakarta city, the earthquake destroyed the 246 year old Bangsal Trajumas (Trajumas Hall), a building in Kraton Jogja (Yogjakarta Palace) that is used to display gamelan music equipment. 

Reconstruction of the site is underway and is due for completion soon, so if you pass through the alley in Kraton Jogjakarta, you will see it is currently covered by green zinc.  To the right of the site is  Bangsal Sri Manganti (Sri Manganti Hall), which is used by the Sultan, King of Jogjakarta, to welcome guests. The Sultan's guests are treated to gamelan traditional music, dance and shadow puppet shows.  

Sri Manganti means Raja Menanti in the Indonesian language which translates as 'the King has been waiting (for you)'.  Bangsal Sri Manganti is an important place where you can learn how the King rules his Kingdom.  It was designed by the Architect, Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, who made a blue print of the palace.  One by one his legacy built it, realizing the dream of  Sultan Hamengkubuwono I.   It has a unique roof design with wooden panels that rise to a central feature like the peak of a pyramid. Past the Hall are the silver coloured sculptures of the guards Dwarapala and Gupala that guard the inner Palace. They both have two large teeth, big eyes, muscular bodies and each holds a club.

The inner Palace is the centre of the compound and is decorated with beautiful ornaments and has teak wood structures in its interior. 

Inside the inner palace is the Sultan's work room and library where he used to carry out his work.  There is also a special room for royal weddings and for the inauguration of Princes or Princesses.

The most important area in the inner palace is Bangsal Prabayeksa, a hall where sacred weapons are kept. On permanent display in the hall are a collection of keris, spears, knifes, arrows, war uniforms and guns.  Once a year, in the Suro month, a Javanese month, the weapons are cleaned during a sacred ceremony.

Text. Danu Primanto
Editor. Tasha May

KRATON JOGJA
Location.
Panembahan, Kraton, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Phone. +62 274 313177
Opening Hours.
Monday - Sunday at 8.00 am - 2.00 pm.
Entrance Ticket.
International, IDR 12.000
Domestic, IDR 5.000
Note.
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