Yogyakarta is a beautiful city with great history and heritage. The legendary atmosphere of kingdom life in this city has succeed charms many people, both local and international tourist to visit it and enjoy the feelings of nostalgia. Back to the past, is what may fit to describe the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
One of the most well-known tourist attractions to visit in Yogyakarta is Taman Sari Water Castle. For those who love history and photography will like this place very much. The old building who holds so many histories and tale may not all still intact, but the one that still is what matters. Just by looking at the construction left, you can already feel yourself being pulled into the past, seeing how things happened in the place at that time. This attraction, in fact, is recognized and protected by UNESCO.
The price of admission to Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta in Indonesia is 3,000 rupiah for the local traveler and 7,000 rupiah for foreign tourists. If you want to know more and not just simply walking around and looking at things, there are always people at the main gate who offer their services as a guide and usually tourist pay them 25,000 rupiah for their service.
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History of Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta
Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta, also known as Tamansari Ngayogyakarta is one of the most famous tourist attraction in Yogyakarta—a place for princesses to bathe, many say. According to stories around the palace, this is the place where Sultan hunt for a wife by throwing a rose from the high tower on the south of the pool. The one who becomes his wife will be the princess who catch the rose.
Built in the days of Sultan Hamengku Buwono I (HB I) in 1758-1765 / 9 with the nickname “The Fragrant Garden“, Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta, Indonesia has always been one’s favorite attraction to visit when he or she come to Yogyakarta. There is also an assumption that Taman Sari Water Castle is built above the ground of Garjitawati rest house by His Majesty Pakubowono II.
Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta is locally known as the garden of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat palace, the palace for the Sultan of Yogyakarta. The area of the palace almost 10 hectares and has 57 buildings. The original function of the palace is the spot for the Sultan’s family to rest, to work, to meditate, and also to defend. Even so, now, only few place open for public, such as the mosque, the resting and bathing space, also the underground tunnels. The rest of the buildings have become homes for local residents now.
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Visit the Complex of Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta
Taman Sari Water Castle is divide into four complex, such as artificial lake in the west, the bathing place of Umbul Binangun, Pasarean Ledok Sari, the pool of Garjitawati and the one with lakes, artificial islands, a suspension bridge and canal. Thus, water castle yogyakarta entrance fee is not expensive, which is less than one dollar.
The First Complex of Taman Sari Yogyakarta
First complex is the main complex of Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta and the most exotic place back in the past. Here is where “Segaran”, the artificial lakes were located. “Segaran” itself means literally an artificial sea. Back in the day, it used to be a place to keep the fish and boating until it become local residents.
Here is the list of artificial lakes in the first complex of Taman Sari Water Castle:
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[toggle title=”1. Pulo Kenongo” state=”opened”]
Pulo Kenongo is an artificial island in the middle of an artificial lake (segaran), in the complex of Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta. In that artificial island, you can find Kenanga trees, known as Kananga odorantum or famili Magnoliaceae. A building which was once the highest point in Keraton Yogyakarta, Gedhong Kenongo is also located here. There are lot of rooms in this building but now, it’s only the debris remain.
From this place, you can almost see from the entire area of the palace until the outer fortress of Baluwarti. In fact, until this very moment, this place is still one of the tallest buildings in Yogyakarta and you can see the sun set in here.
In the south of Pulo Kenongo, there is a ventilation tower for underwater tunnels, namely, “Tajug”. It’s a rows of small buildings in the form of the tunnel. This is an additional way to enter Pulo Kenongo beside the one using boat crossing the artificial lake.
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[toggle title=”2. Pulo Cemeti“]
Beside Pulo Kenongo, there is also another artificial island in the south of Pulo Kenongo, namely, “Pulo Cemethi” also known as “Pulo Panembung”. This the place where Sultan meditate. To reach this place, it is believed that you have to pass through the underground tunnel. In addition to “Pulo Panembung”, Pulo Cemethi is also called “Sumur Gumantung”. There are wells that hangs above the ground in the south and this is how Pulo Cemethi got the “Sumur Gumantung” nickname.
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[toggle title=”3. Sumur Gumuling“]
In the west part of Pulo Kenongo, there are a circle like a ring-shaped building called “Sumur Gumuling”. It is meant to be a mosque, but the unique shape of it make it almost doesn’t look like a mosque at all. In the middle of “Sumur Gumuling”, there are five ladder wells which implies the five pillars of Islam, four of them up while the fifth stair staircase connects the fourth ladder to the floor . Under the stairs, you will find a pool of water that work as a place for wudhu. The building of “Sumur Gumuling” has two floor and only accessible through an underwater tunnel.
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The Second Complex of Taman Sari Yogyakarta
Compare with the other complex of Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta, this complex is far more intact. Even so, the garden part in this complex is no longer usable.
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[toggle title=”1. Gedhong Gapura Hageng” state=”opened”]
Back in the day, Taman Sari was facing west and extends to the east, therefore, “Gedhong Gapura Hageng” is the main gate to the garden of the kings. “Gedhong Gapura Hageng” decorated with reliefs of birds and flowers that indicating the completion of construction of the Taman Sari Water Castle. Taman Sari Water Castle itself was finished in 1691 in Java (around 1765 AD). Though, now, the main gate function has been transferred to the east gate.
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[toggle title=”2. Gedhong Lopak-lopak“]
In this ground, there used to a two-story tower with the name of “Gedhong Lopak-lopak”, also known as gopok-gopok. Sadly, at this moment, it’s no longer exist, there are only ruins of building and door of it. Even so, there is an octagonal garden built above where “Gedhong Lopak-lopak” ever exist.
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[toggle title=”3. Umbul Pasiraman“]
“Umbul Pasiraman” is complex that surrounded by a high wall. The high wall exist for a reason, because “Umbul Pasiraman” is actually a name for the bathing pool of the royal family. This is where Sultan, his empress, his mistress (garwo ampil), and his daughters to soak in. Beside “Umbul Pasiraman”, some people also called it “Umbul Binangun” which is spells “Umbul Winangun” in Javanese language.
There are three pools here that decorated with a mushroom-shaped lookalike springs. In the south, the pool is known by the name of “Umbul Muncar” meanwhile the one in the south of “Umbul Muncar” is known by the name of “Blumbang Kuras”. Both pool are separated by a dock-lookalike path. There are also big flower pot placed on the sides of the pool. Beside being surrounded by a lot of big flower pot, this pool is also surrounded by buildings on the north side and in the middle of the south. The one in the north is the building for Sultan’s empress and daughters to rest and change their clothes. Meanwhile, the one in the middle of the south is for Sultan’s mistress. Even back in the day, this part of the palace is for women only.
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[toggle title=”4. Gedhong Sekawan“]
In this ground, there is an octagonal garden where four similar buildings with the name of “Gedhong Sekawan” stand. “Gedhong Sekawan” is the place where Sultan and his family rest. Gates on each side of the yards in this ground, are connect to another yard.
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[toggle title=”5. Gedhong Gapuro Panggung“]
“Gedhong Gapuro Panggung” is the main gate for the visitor today. The two-story building has a snake reliefs on the walls, depicting the completed construction of Taman Sari in 1758. The unique thing about this part is that there is two statues of dragon, but back in the day, there is almost four statues standing there.
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[toggle title=”6. Gedhong Temanten“]
Back in the day, “Gedhong Tematen” is where all the guards of the palace work and rest. There are not much in this ground as the time passed by and the building around start to become home for the local residents.
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The Third and Fourth Complex of Taman Sari Yogyakarta
There is actually not much in this complex, almost only ruins left now. But according to the construction, it’s used to be a building which is part of “Pasarean Dalem Ledok Sari” and the “Garjitawati” pool complex where Sultan spent his night with his empress. The shape of it is so much like U. There are also many assumption on this part, some say it is a place is not where Sultan and his empress sleep but a place of meditation.
At this point, the only remaining of complex left are the former drawbridge and the rest of a pier. This part of the complex can only be described through a sketch of reconstruction of the sketch from British troops which attack the Sultan Palace in 1812.
It is belived that there used to be a lake with a building in the middle of it. This building stand in the artificial island which perhaps called “Pulo Kinupeng”.
Meanwhile, the building that standing in “Pulo Kinupeng” may have been called “Gedhong Gading”, also known as the Cittadel Tower. Beside a lake, an artificial island and a building, there are also big canal. Big canal is located on the northwest side of the artificial lake and extends to the west and ends at the southeast side of the artificial lake. Also, there is a garden predicted to be located in the west of the complex Kamandhungan and Siti Hinggil Kidul Kidul.
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Things to Do in Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta
The main purpose of visiting Taman Sari Water Castle is of course, to nostalgia the past of Yogyakarta palace. For those who love history, Taman Sari Water Castle is really recommended. It is also a good place to take pre-wedding picture or any kind of photography at all. Many people come here to take a picture of it or simply just enjoy the architecture of Taman Sari Water Castle.
It is very recommended for you to hire a guide in the main gate of Taman Sari Water Castle, especially if this is your first visit. It’s very cheap, only as many as you’d like to give to the efforts these guide gave you. Beside be able to know the story and history of the place as you walk through it, having guide with you preventing you from getting lost too. Even though the area of Taman Sari Water Castle seems not that big, there are always people who get lost on it.
In the return trip back to the parking lot of Taman Sari, you can ask your guide to pass you through a very artistic village. The walls of the village is adorned with alluring and pretty graffiti, as well as the crafters of shirt painting.
Water Castle Yogyakarta Address
Based on the function of Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakartain the beginning of the time, Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta located not very far from the palace now, locally known as Keraton. It is actually pretty easy to find the place, specially if you starting point is Keraton, but sometimes, it’s get hard too.
Here is the water castle yogyakarta address. Finding the location is hard because Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta is now surrounded by the local residents’ houses (used to be abdi dalem) so there may be one or two small gang you have to turn before reach it.
As soon as you reach the main gate, there will be a place to buy ticket. To be honest, even when you already found Taman Sari Water Castle and pay for the ticket, it’s actually quite hard to find the complexes unless you have a guide with you so it is really recommended to use guide inside the place.
How to Get to Taman Sari Yogyakarta
Water castle yogyakarta map: Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta is located at Jalan Taman about 10 minutes from the palace of Ngayogyakarta. If you come through the west, meaning from Jakarta or Kebumen, you can pass through to the west ring road (Jalan Lingkar Barat) to Jalan Wates then go straight to Jalan RE Martadinata – Jalan Kyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan – turn left to Jalan Nyai Ahmad Dahlan – go straight again to Jalan Ngasem – turn left again to Jalan Taman.
But, if you come from Magelang or Semarang, you can go staight to Jalan Magelang to the south and passing through Jalan Tentara Pelajar – Jalan Letnan Jendral Suprapto – turn left to Jalan Kyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan – Jalan Nyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan – Jalan Taman.
In the east, the one who came from Surakarta or Klaten can go through Prambanan until reach Pertigaan Janti (up to the overpass) then turn left to the east Ring Road – Jalan Kusumanegara – Jalan Sultan Agung – Jalan Nyai Ahmad Dahlan. Or you can go from Jalan Janti (Jogja Expo Center) to Jalan Ngeksigondo – Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan – Jalan mentri Supeno – Jalan Kolonel Sugiyono lurus ke Jalan Sutoyo and then turn right to Jalan Gading through the south of alun-alun – Jalan Taman. Thus, water castle yogyakarta opening hours is Mondays – Sundays at 09 am – 3.30 pm.
Tourist Attractions around Taman Sari Water Castle
Meanwhile, here are more attractions nearby Taman Sari Yogyakarta, Indonesia:
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[toggle title=”Batik House Yogyakarta” state=”opened”]
Batik House Yogyakarta – Nogosari Street, Yogyakarta 55132 Indonesia. (0.2 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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[toggle title=”Soko Tunggal Tamansari Mosque“]
Soko Tunggal Tamansari Mosque – Tamansari Street no. 31 Gerbang Tamansari Kraton, Yogyakarta 55142 Indonesia. (0.2 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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[toggle title=”Plengkung Gading Yogyakarta”]
Plengkung Gading – Ngadisuryan Street, Yogyakarta 55133 Indonesia (0.3 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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[toggle title=”The South Square Yogyakarta“]
The South Square – Ngadisuryan Alun-Alun Kidul Street, Yogyakarta 55133 Indonesia (0.5 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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[toggle title=”Yogyakarta Palace“]
Yogyakarta Palace – Malioboro Street, Yogyakarta Indonesia (0.6 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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[toggle title=”Kereta Keraton Museum“]
Kereta Keraton Museum – Rotowijayan 1 Kompleks Ndalem Kraton, Yogyakarta 55132 Indonesia (0.6 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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[toggle title=”Gede Kauman Mosque“]
Gede Kauman Mosque – Kauman Street, Yogyakarta 55122 Indonesia. (0.8 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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[toggle title=”Batik Pramugari Yogyakarta“]
Batik Pramugari Yogyakarta – Langenarjan Street Lor no. 11, Yogyakarta 55131 Indonesia (0.7 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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[toggle title=”The Monument of Serangan Umum 1 Maret“]
The Monument of Serangan Umum 1 Maret – Alun-alun Street, Yogyakarta 55122 Indonesia (0.8 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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[toggle title=”The North of Square Yogyakarta“]
The North of Square – Alun-alun North Gondomanan Street, Yogyakarta city, D.I Yogyakarta 55122 Indonesia. (0.8 km from Taman Sari Water Castle)
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Taman Sari Water Castle Yogyakarta construction was financed by Tumenggung Prawirosentiko, the Regent of Madiun and also all of his people with help of Demang Tegis, a Portuguese architect.
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