Devotional Visit

THE IMOGIRI ROYAL CEMETERY
This cemetery lies on a beautiful hill about 12 kilometers from Yogyakarta. The tomb of Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo, the third king of the Islamic Mataram Kingdom, is on the top of the hill. Sultan Agung was the grandchild of Panembahan Senopati, who was very famous for his
courage in fighting against the Dutch Colonial by attacking Batavia
(now Jakarta) in 1628.

Built in 1645, all the kings of Mataram Kingdom, beginning from Sultan Hamengku Buwono I until Hamengku Buwono IX and the family, and the kings of Surakarta Kingdoms and the family were all buried
in Imogiri Royal Cemetery.

Visitors have to wear traditional Javanese clothes like in Kota Gede. Everyday many people visit Imogiri and ascend the 345 steps to reach
the top of the hill where the tomb of the kings lies. The tomb can only be visited on Mondays at:
10.00 am – 12.00 am and on Fridays at 01.00 pm – 04.00 pm

THE KOTA GEDE ROYAL CEMETERY
Kota Gede, often called Sargede, lies about five kilometers south east of Yogyakarta. In that cemetery complex one can still visit the cemetery
of the Mataram kings as Sutowijoyo or Ngabei Loring Pasar, the founder
of the Mataram Kingdom, who was then called Panembahan Senopati.

There is also the unique tomb of Ki Ageng mangir. He was Panembahan Senopati's son in law and enemy at the same time. Half of his body was buried inside of the special area for the kings and his families, and
half of it outside of the complex. A hundred meters away from the
complex is a stone called “Watu Gilang”, a stone on which Panembahan Senopati smashed the head of Ki Ageng Mangir to death.

Those who wants to go inside the cemetary has to wear
traditional clothes (available for rent).
Kotagede Royal cemetery open on:
Monday at 10.00 am – 12.00 am, and Friday at 01.30 pm – 04.00 pm

In addition to the cemetery, there are also graceful gates, a pond full of Clarius Melanodermas and a yellow turtle. This turtle is hundreds of years of age and people believe it as a sacred miraculous turtle.