Culinary
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Not only the culture but Keraton Yogyakarta offers another great way to enjoy iconic royal cuisine of the historical Royal Palace. Bale Raos offers great fine dining experience, adapting the life of the Royal Palace of Keraton Yogyakarta with Sultan's own favorite dishes from the era Sri Sultan HB VIII until the present days. The restaurant was initiated by GKR Hemas (the wife of Sri Sultan HB X) with the intention to conserve the Keraton Yogyakarta's culture especially for the traditional cuisines.
It is located at Jl. Magangan Kulon No. 1, Yogyakarta 55132, Indonesia, still in the main area of Keraton Yogyakarta.
Visit their official website to read more about the details:
The Museums
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With its rich culture and traditions, Keraton Yogyakarta now provides museums with the purposes of education and exhibiting its collections. The museums are: Batik Museum, Portrait Museum, and Train Museum. All exhibit the original collections from the earliest Kesultanan until the present days.
Museum Kareta (Train Museum)
Museum Kareta was built on west side of Sitihinggil, it is located on the right side. The museum provides the collection of the traditional trains as Keraton Yogyakarta's main transportation for the Royal Family. Carriages were used from the era of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono I until the era of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII as starting the next era, the use of motor engine for cars have already progressed.
Portrait and Painting Museum of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono
As the succession of Keraton Yogyakarta depends on the descendants of the sultan, this museum showcases the family tree from the first Sri Sultan Hamengkubowo until the present.
Batik Museum
The traditional batik process has been passed on from the early Kasultanan of Yogyakarta. History tells about the connection between batik making as the main source of economy until now. Men usually seek to become Abdi Dalem (Royal Servant) of Keraton Yogyakarta, to obtain the privilege and the prestigious status as royalty and dedicate their lives to serve the Keraton Yogyakarta. While women were the breadwinners of the family.
The Performances
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Keraton Yogyakarta are still performing their rituals and traditions until now. Many performances such as Javanese Dance, Gamelan Performances (traditional Javanese Music), Wooden Puppet Dance and also Leather Puppet Show are being held everyday. Here is the schedule for the performances:
One of the most interesting rituals that also acts as a performance is the ritual of 'Tea Drinking'. The ritual starts when the Abdi Dalem Keputren (the Royal women Servants) go outside of their compound and carry the equipments for the tea drinking. It takes place in the area of Bangsal Manis after entering the Danapratapa Gate every 11 am.
Things To Enjoy in Keraton
Sekaten
Sekaten is a week long traditional ceremony held to commemorate the birth of prophet Muhammad. The word Sekaten is derived from the arabic word, Syahadatain which means the testimony of faith in Allah as the sole God and Muhammad as his messenger.
Historically, Sekaten has been celebrated since the reign of King Hayam Wuruk of the Majapahit dynasty (tahun), centuries before the conception of the Jogjakarta sultanate. It was previously called Srada Agung and celebrated with giving offerings to the Hindu Gods, through chants and commemorating their ancestors.
With the Majapahit empire's demise and rise of the Islamic Demak sultanate, in order to preserve the Srada Agung ceremony, Islamic customs were incorporated to the ceremony. The Sekaten ceremony that is known today, commemorates the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
2 gamelan instruments named Kyai Guntur Madu (from the Demak Sultanate) and Kyai Nagawilaga (created by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I) which are kept in the bangsal Poncociti are rung to symbolize the beginning of the week long ceremony. The 2 gamelans are then brought to the Pagongan Selatan or South hall of the Keraton. It is followed by the Udhik-udhikprocession by the Sultan.
Through out the week, several gendhings (Javanese instrumental songs) are played by the gamelans and can be heard through out the complex, with the exception of Thursday night.
(Artinya malam jumat bagi orang Jawa)
It can be heard from 08:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 02.00 p.m. to 05.00 p.m. and 08:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Grebeg Ceremony
One of the renowned festivals that take place during Sekaten in Indonesia is called Grebeg Maulud. Grebeg Maulud celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad. In the process of the Grebeg Maulud, Keraton will present gunungan to the people as the symbol of gratitude. Gunungan contains of foods or vegetables. The foods and vegetables are stacked in the shape of a mountain (gunung), thus it's called gunungan.
There are usually 7 gunungans in Grebeg Maulud. The gunungans are brought by the guardian of the Keraton and will be led to the Gedhe mosque, where the gunungans will be blessed. After the blessing, the soldiers will bring the gunungans to North Square. The people will be waiting for the gununngans to come. People believe that the foods or the vegetables from the gunungan will bring luck for people who take it.
