The palace building, with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture, lies in the centre of the city. It was founded by Pangeran Mangkubumi in 1755. The Prince was then called Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono 1. He chose the right place for the site of the building, right between Winongo and Code river, a swamp area that dried up then.
The Palace building stretches from north to south. The front yard of the palace is called alun-alun Utara (North Square) and the back yard called alun-alun Selatan (South Square).The design of the building shows that the palace, the obelisk (The Tugu, the column), and Mount Merapi lie in one line. It is believed that the axis is sacred.
In the olden time. Sri Sultan used to concentrate his mind along this axis before leading a meeting or giving orders to his people. Each part of the building has its own name. The palace meeting hall is called Pagelaran. It is the place where formal meeting of the Palace officials are held. Manguntur Tangkil Hall is the place where the Sultan has his seat. This hall lies in the Siti Hinggil. Siti means ground and Hinggil means high. It is named so because the place where it was built is higher than any other ground around it. It was once a tiny island on the swamp.
The front gate is called Danapratopo. It is guarded by two giant statues called Gupala. One is called Cingkorobolo and the other is Boloupoto. The two statues are supposed to protect the palace from any harm or evil. The main part of the building is called Purworetno, there are two storeys buildings called Panti Sumbaga. This building is the Sultan's private library. The building where the Sultan live is called Gedong Kuning.
The visitor of the palace can enjoy the Atmosphere of the Kraton as it was some centuries ago. Wedding ceremonies, palace meeting which is often held with puppet shows to create such an atmosphere. Many sets of gamelan music instruments, antiques, and heirlooms make the palace of Yogyakarta the most interesting tourist attractions in Yogyakarta. The palace of NgayogyokartoHadiningrat is now the dwelling place of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and the family.
Ngayogyokarto Hadiningrat
BANYU NIBO TEMPLE
Banyu Nibo temple can be visited easily after visiting King Boko temple. It is located solitarily amid the farmland about two kilometers southeast of King Boko's Palace, flanked by Gunung Kidul hills to the south. The fantastic view of its exotic scenery makes this temple most enjoyable. This Budhist temple is fairly small. The slightly curved roof functions as the top of the stupa and gives the temple certain allure. This temples dates from the 9th century and has been restored.
Read More >>> ...PLAOSAN TEMPLE
Plaosan temple is about one kilometer east of semu temple . This Buddhist temple consist of two main temples standing side by side, each having terraced bases. The relief carved on the southern main temple depict a man and the other temple a woman. Another peculiarity of this temple is its perwara temple, which takes the shape of a slender stupa.
Read More >>> ...Parangtritis Beach
Parangtritis ha long been famous, not only as a beach resort where sand-dunes, sandy beach and rocky cliffs meet, but it is also a historical place which closely related to the mysterious legend of the Queen of the south sea " Kanjeng Ratu Kidul ", who together with her confident, the feared Nyai Loro Kidul, the ever youthful and beautiful queen, reign over sea nymphs and spirits. The Legends say that Kanjeng Ratu Kidul was married to one of the Mataram Monarch, Panembahan Senopati whom she visited and communed
with on certain occasions. It is said that the name Parangtritis expresses a natural phenomenon. From the wall of one of the hills drops off water containing calcium continuously dripped down and finally formed a pool with a very clear water in it. Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono Vll found and took care of it. The pool is now used as the bathing pool of Parangtritis swimming pool.
There are two routes to get to Parangtritis:
First route: Yogyakarta - Kretek - Parangtritis. All sort of vehicles can smoothly travel on this road directly to the beach. Those who are interested to travel by bus can take a bus at Umbulharjo bus station in Yogyakarta.
Second route: Yogyakarta - Imogiri - Siluk - Parangiritis, at a distance of about 35 km and connected with a sequence of tourism route consisting of the royal cemeteries, the royal burial ground of the Mataram monarch and their descendants, at Kota Gede and Imogiri
This route offers a very beautiful scenery, a combination between a river and range of lime-stones hills. All sorts of vehicles can smoothly travel on this road directly to the beach. Those who interested to travel by bus can take a bus at Umbulharjo bus station in Yogyakarta.
