IMOGIRI, Royal Mataram Cemetery
Category : Portrait of Jogja

It can be difficult to find a quiet space from the crowds during holidays in Yogyakarta, but this cemetery would be a good choice.  In South Yogykarta there's a place named Imogiri, which is not a stunning beach or mountain, it's a cemetery and it's as famous as a rock star for Javanese or people around Yogya.

Pajimatan Imogiri is also known as Imogiri Mataram's Royal Cemetery.  In the beginning, Imogiri was prepared by Yogyakarta's first Sultan, Agung.  He wanted to be buried at Mekkah but there are many reasons why he could not be buried there.  As an alternative, he grabbed a fist of sand and suggested throwing it to the land of Java, and where the sand fell a cemetery would be built.

Since the beginning, Sultan Agung's relatives continued to be buried in the same place.   Amongst the royals buried there are Sri Ratu Batang, Amangkurat Mas, Paku Buwana I, Amangkurat Jawi, Paku Buwana II until Paku Buwana XI, and a royal from Yogyakarta, Hamengku Buwana IX.  Hamengku Buwana II is the exception and was buried in Astana Kotagede, an ancient city located 8 kilometres east of Yogyakarta city.

Each relative is buried in the complex which is surrounded by a big white wall that has a beautifully carved classic teakwood door.  It's so quiet there, so while walking on the paths you can listen to the sounds of nature blend into a unique song as the birds sing and the wind rustles the leaves in the trees.

As a yearly ritual, many visitors make their way to the cemetery, especially before the celebrations of Eid Mubarak.  People believe that visiting the Sultan's Cemetery is the traditional way for remembering their ancestors.  During the Suro Month, a purified month in the Javanese Calendar, there is a ritual to pray and wash sacred weapons in the middle of the cemetery, called Ngenceh Gentong.

Hundreds of visitors come from all over Indonesia, travelling from Klaten, Surabaya, Jakarta, Bandung and many other cities every month, especially in the Suro Month.  The locals are allowed in for sight seeing around the cemetery but for entry they need certain permission through a local person who is in charge.  This same person is also responsible for determining the time suitable for pilgrimages, incase there are more than 700 people at the first day of Eid Mubarak.  The door will remain closed if there's no special occasion there.

Text. Danu Primanto
Editor. Tasha May

IMOGIRI
Location.
Imogiri, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Phone. +62 274 6460183
Opening Hours.
Monday at 10.00 am - 1.00 pm.
Friday at 1.30 pm - 4.00 pm
Note.
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