Palaces

NGAYOGYOKARTO HADININGRAT
The Royal Palace, with its grand and elegant Javanese architecture, lies in the center of the city. It was found by Pangeran Mangkubumi in 1755. The Prince was then called Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I. He had chosen just the right place for the site of the building: right between the Winongo and Code rives, on a swamp area that had already dried up by then.

The Palace building stretches from north to south
The front yard of the palace is called "alun-alun Selatan" (the South Square) and the back yard is called "alun-alun Selatan" (the South Square). The design of the building shows that the palace, the obelisk (The Tugu, the column), and the column, and 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 Bolouputo. The two statues are supposed to protect the palace from any harm or evil. The main part of the building is called Purworetno, a place where, the Sultan performed his duties. Beside 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 show 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 Ngayogyakarto Hadiningrat is now the dwelling place of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and the family.

GEDUNG AGUNG
Gedung Agung is located on the right at the lower part of jalan Malioboro travelling south. It was once the residence of the Dutch Resident (administration) and between 1946-1949, it functioned as the residence of the first President of Indonesia Soekarno.

KING BOKO’S PALACE
King Boko’s Palace is located some 19 km east of Yogyakarta about 2 km from Prambanan Temple. The panoramic view of its surroundings is quite beautiful. To the south, vaguely visible, unfolds the south coast, and mount Merapi to the north, Prambanan and Kalasan temple can be clearly seen with naked eye.

From the newly restored main entrance to the right you will come to the so called auditorium of the palace which has been restored. On the left of the auditorium, there is a pool which was used as a bathing pool for women and its base built in the form of a Greek Cross.