Taman Sari Yogyakarta: A Water Castle which is Full of Beauty and Secret

Yogyakarta is today one of the city's most desirable tourist destinations in Indonesia, offers a variety of tourist attractions ranging from natural attractions, historical tours, to culinary.

One of the many historical sights in Yogyakarta is the Taman Sari Water Castle is located at Jalan Taman, Yogyakarta. Taman Sari is located very close to the palace Ngayogyakarta and only took about 15 minutes from the square north of the palace. This place was once a place of recreation for the royal family as well as the fortress was built in 1758-1765 by the lane I. Now, Taman Sari Water Castle is one of the cultural heritage of Yogyakarta, which has become a popular tourist spot in the city.

Buildings that have spacious initial 10 hectares has 57 buildings, consisting of a complex of bathing pools, artificial lakes, artificial islands, suspension bridges, canals, parks, underground passageways, as well as several buildings with European architecture, Chinese, Javanese, Hindu, Buddhism, and Islam. Taman Sari Water Castle construction was financed by Tumenggung Prawirosentiko, which is Regent Madiun and use the services of Demat Tegis, an architect of the Portuguese. Currently, the vast Taman Sari Water Castle has been reduced drastically because of some complexity have made settlements.

Taman Sari Water Castle has 4 complex, namely:
1. The artificial lake is located in the west.

2. Baths Bannerman Binangun, located south of the artificial lake.

3. Pasarean Ledok Sari and Swimming Garjitawati, located south Bannerman Binangun.

4. Part east which extends from Bannerman baths Binangun until Pasarean Ledok Sari and Garjitawati pool, an artificial lake with an island and a suspension bridge and canal.

Of the four existing complex in Taman Sari, only Bannerman Binangun Baths are still intact, while the other three parts are already a township resident who was once a man of the Yogyakarta Palace.

In the first complex, the artificial lake, there Kenongo Pulo, Pulo Cemethi, and the Well Gumuling.

a. Pulo Kenongo

Pulo Kenongo is an island in the middle of an artificial lake complex of Taman Sari. Here there is a building named Gedhong Kenongo, the building which was once the highest place in Keraton Yogyakarta making it possible to view the region as a whole palace. In the vicinity there are air vents for underground tunnels that can be used if it will escape from the enemy.
You can see the sunset here because until now, the place is still one of the tallest buildings in Yogyakarta. Against the backdrop of the city of Yogyakarta, the sunset will be very memorable.

b. Pulo Cemethi

Pulo Cemethi located south Pulo Kenongo sultan is ideally used for meditation. Pulo Cemethi To achieve this, you must pass through an underground tunnel.

c. Wells Gumuling

Gumuling wells located in the western part Pulo Kenongo and a place of worship sultan who can be reached through an underground tunnel. Although intended as a mosque, the well is different from the mosque in general because of the circular-shaped niche. Gumuling wells consist of two floors, the first floor is the assembly of men, while the second floor is a place for female pilgrims. In the Gumuling Well, if you speak loudly so your voice will be heard throughout the building. In the middle of the well, there are five ladder that implies five pillars of Islam, four of them up and meet in the middle, while the fourth-fifth connecting the ladder to the floor 2. Under the stairs, you will find a pool of water which is ablution for pilgrims.

The second complex of Taman Sari has several buildings, namely:

a. Gedhong Gapura Hageng

Gedhong Hageng Gate is the main gateway to the west, but now it is not used anymore and the main entrance for visitors has been transferred to the east. Gedhong Hageng gate has a two-level room decorated with reliefs to describe the initial years of development Taman Sari, namely 1765.

b. Gedhong Lopak-Lopak (Gopok-Gopok)

This building was once a 2-storey tower, but now the building is gone and replaced by eight square garden.

c. Umbul Pasiraman (Umbul Binangun)

Bannerman Pasiraman or commonly known as Bannerman Binangun a bathing place along with the daughter of the sultan and his harem surrounded by high walls on each side. Bannerman Pasiraman has 3 pools named pennant Muncar, Blumbang Kuras and Binangun banners emblazoned with mushroom-shaped fountain and can be accessed through two entrance gates on the west and east.

In the north, there are buildings that are used for rest and change clothes for the wives and daughters of the sultan, while in the south there is a tower that is used by the sultan to observe the concubines and his daughter who was taking a shower under. Unfortunately, at the top of this tower is full of graffiti vandalism that ruin the beauty of the building.

d. Gedhong Sekawan

Located east Umbul Pasiraman and form pages with four buildings as a resting place sultan.

e. Gedhong Gapura Stage

Currently Gedhong Stage Gate is the main entrance gate used by a visitor to enter the Taman Sari complex and is located east of Taman Sari Water Castle. This 2-story building has a snake reliefs on the walls, depicting the completed construction of Taman Sari, namely 1758.

f. Gedhong Temanten

The building is located in the east Gedhong Gapuro stage and used as a place of custody.

Taman Sari wearing the admission price of 3,000 rupiah to 7,000 rupiah local travelers and for foreign tourists. Typically, in front of the entrance you will see some people who offer services as guides for tours Taman Sari. They are not to bill a certain number, but travelers usually give 25,000 rupiah for their services.

Taman Sari Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. GMT