{"id":531,"date":"2015-01-20T09:00:26","date_gmt":"2015-01-20T14:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/indonesian\/?p=531"},"modified":"2015-01-19T03:52:20","modified_gmt":"2015-01-19T08:52:20","slug":"the-kraton-and-water-castle-of-jogja","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/indonesian\/the-kraton-and-water-castle-of-jogja\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kraton and Water Castle of Jogja"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two of the most popular tourist attractions in Jogja are the Kraton and Taman Sari, also known as the “Water Castle.” Let’s take a closer look at these two historical Javanese sights.<\/p>\n

Kraton<\/h2>\n

Completed in 1790, this grand palace complex still houses the Sultan of Yogyakarta and is used for important ceremonies. Since Indonesian independence in 1945, the Sultan holds the title in name and not power. He is, however, automatically the governor of the region. The people admire and respect the Sultan very much, as he is considered the cultural head of the region.\u00a0In its entirety, the Kraton is basically a huge walled city, with 25,000 or so residents, markets, schools, and everything else one could need. Around 1,000 of these people work as active palace guards, an honorable job that is passed down through generations.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The entrance of the Kraton, watched over by two guardian statues.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Kraton was carefully\u00a0designed to reflect the Javanese cosmos – it faces north to Mt. Merapi and south to the Indian Ocean, home to an important sea spirit and mystical consort of the Sultan. Every last detail of the palace has a spiritual connection, down to the placement of trees. Reflecting the history of Java, you can find Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic elements in the decoration of the interior. As a result, the Kraton of Jogja is one of the best examples of traditional Javanese palace architecture in existence.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A look inside the Kraton.<\/p><\/div>\n

Although the palace is still actively used, it’s open to visitors daily from 8am-2pm, although it closes an hour early on Friday. As it’s the most popular tourist attraction in the city, you can expect a bit of a crowd. It’s also not surprisingly a hot spot for field trips, so you’ll see huge groups of schoolchildren decked out in their uniforms enjoying a day out of the classroom. While some of the areas are blocked off, there are quite a few rooms that visitors can walk through. Some feature a variety of artifacts and information on display, making the Kraton a living museum.<\/p>\n

\"Some<\/a>

Some of the many items on display.<\/p><\/div>\n

Music is a vital part of life in the Kraton, and you’ll see a few sets of instruments for a traditional gamelan orchestra. It’s not uncommon to see a group in action, serving as the background music for others who are practicing traditional dance. Every day from 10-noon, you can take in a performance at the inner pavilion, from dance, to puppetry, to Javanese singing.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A gamelan orchestra and dancers in the Kraton.<\/p><\/div>\n

For a closer look, take a short video tour of the Kraton with us:<\/p>\n