Taman Sari - Water Castle

Taman Sari Water Castle is the former garden of the Sultans of Yogyakarta and is located in the city’s heart. It was built in the 18^th century for many purposes, including for leisure, a workshop and defense area.

This garden is divided into four sections. On the west, there is a large artificial lake with islands and pavilions, in the center; there is a bathing complex, on the south, more pavilions and pools, and in the east, a small lake. However, only the center remains maintained while locals have otherwise occupied other parts.

In 1995, this site was even listed as part of a World Heritage Site.

A Brief History

The constructor of this building, Tumenggung Mangundipura had studied the works of European architects, which explains the beautiful fusion between Javanese, and European architectural styles, which is unlike any other constructions. One of the architects was said to be a Portuguese man who suffered a shipwreck and ended up in Yogyakarta where locals took him to the Sultan and he was asked to build the complex.

Sultan Hamengkubuwono effectively used this site as a resting place till 1812, which is when the British had invaded Yogyakarta and significant parts of the site had been badly damaged.

Efforts on restoration had not work out very well, partly because the hydraulic works were complicated and mostly because of an earthquake in 1867 that left the site even more in ruins.

As of today, restorations have not fully been complete aside from the bathing complex. Despite all this, the site still looks magnificent and the unique architecture of the site is really unlike any other. The variety of shape of the site’s buildings, really is staggering, some are curved, while others are flat and straight, and some are even combined. The walls are colored cream and are embellished with various Javanese designs. The attention to detail on these designs really is magnificent. They are all very intricate and elaborate and it truly defines the architecture of both Java and Europe in the 18^th century. Though some parts of the buildings may look complex, other parts look neat and simple; the windows, for example, are just squares extracted from the wall, plain. But put both simplicity and complexity together and what you get is sheer beauty.

Tickets and Operating Hours

Operating Hours: Opens daily from 09.00-14.00

Ticket Price:                                                                             

Domestic Tourist – Rp.5.000

Foreign Tourist – Rp.8.000

Photo Permit – Rp.1.000

Getting There

Address: Jl. Taman, Kraton, Yogyakarta 55133, Indonesia

Taman Sari Water Castle is located in the city center. It is part of the Kraton complex, the Sultan’s complex. Getting there is relatively easy and can be accessed through many different ways.

From Adisutjipto Airport

Taman Sari Water Castle is approximately just 20km away from the airport and is easily accessible by taxi. A direct taxi ride to the site should cost around Rp.50.000.

You may also access the site by taking the bus known as TransJogja. Just outside the airport there is a bus station and to access the site, you will need to go on the 1A bus, which will eventually stop in the Malioboro Street bus station. This is where you will get off. Afterwards, you may choose to walk or use a trishaw known as Becak to access the Kraton complex and evidently lead you to the site. The Becak ride would take approximately 10 minutes and should cost around Rp.15.000. Riding the Becak lets you experience the culture of Yogyakarta and you can easily enjoy the view, whilst you lay back and wait till you arrive.

Map

For the full map, click here 

General Tips

The weather in Yogyakarta is almost always hot. Taman Sari is no exception. The attire suggested is clothes that keep you cool. Also, sunblock may be necessary to use in order to protect the skin from the rays of Yogyakarta’s scorching hot sun.

Photography Tips

Time:

Taman Sari consists of buildings that are primarily embellished with beautiful carvings. When taking pictures, it is important to capture those embellishments, as they are one of the significant details that make the building pretty. Therefore, it is best to visit the site during a bright and sunny day, such that the sun can shed natural light and highlight the features of Taman Sari.

Since Taman Sari tends to get many visitors, it easily becomes crowded. Therefore, it is best to visit the minute the site is opened to public, which is 9am. When one comes during this time, it is easy to capture photos of the building without the disturbance of many people and by this time, the sun would also be up and shining. Exploring the site would take an approximate time of an hour, which is enough to time to take pictures before many people start coming in.

Equipment:

Tripod – A tripod would be great to bring because a panoramic picture of Taman Sari would look absolutely stunning. It is particularly important if you want to capture all of the site’s primary buildings in one picture.

Lens – A basic 14-24mm lens for a DSLR would certainly be perfect for taking pictures in Taman Sari. There are not many parts of Taman Sari that would be nice to capture only when in close up. Every part of its building would still look pretty even when captured from afar.

UV filter – A UV filter is highly recommended to use on your lens because the sunshine in Yogyakarta is awfully strong and the filter could reduce chances of your camera’s recording medium to be damaged by UV rays.

Hotels and Lodgings

If you wish to reside in Yogyakarta, there are many hotels available nearby the site. The top 3 most well known ones are:

1. Ibis Styles Yogyakarta

Address: Jalan Dagen 109, Yogyakarta 55271, Indonesia

Phone Number: +62 274 588889

E-mail: info@ibisstyles-yogyakarta.com

Webpage: http://www.accorhotels.com/id/hotel-7460-ibis-styles-yogyakarta-previously-all-seasons/index.shtml

2. Inna Garuda

Address: Jl. Malioboro No. 60, Yogyakarta 55213, Indonesia 

Phone Number: +62 274 566353

Webpage: http://garuda.innagroups.com/

3. Hotel 1001 Malam

Address: Sosrowijayan Wetan, GT I/57, Yogyakarta 55271, Indonesia

Phone Number: (0274) 515087

E-mail: info@1001malamhotel.com

Webpage: http://www.1001malamhotel.com/

Prambanan Temple

Candi Prambanan is a Hindu Temple compound located in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It was built in the 9^th-century and was dedicated to God as Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the Preserver and Shiva, the destroyer. This temple is Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple and one of Southeast Asia’s biggest as well. Prominent for its tall and pointy architecture, the temple has a 47-meter-high central building enclosed in a large complex of independent temples.

Originally, the temple compound consisted of 240 individual temples but have since fall apart and only six of the central court remains, lavishly engraved with reliefs. The three main ones are called the Trimurti (three sacred places) which include:

Candi Shiva, dedicated to Shiva the Destroyer, this is the largest of the other temples. It’s the most prominent out of all as it stands 47 meters high. Stunning reliefs of Ramayana are to be found over at the front of the temple. Four chambers lie within the temple and each contains outstanding works of art; statues of Shiva himself, Agastya the sage, his elephant-headed son Ganesh and his wife Durga. Stories tell us that, Durga was a beautiful princess who turned to stone, and what better way to see her than visit Candi Prambanan itself.

Candi Brahma, dedicated to Brahma the Creator, this temple carries on with the stories of Ramayana as seen on its magnificent reliefs, and it even includes the statue of Brahma himself.

Candi Vishnu, devoted to Vishnu the Preserver, this temple communicates the legendary stories of Vishnu’s avatar Krishna through superb reliefs and of course, it also contains the statue of Vishnu himself.

Prambanan Temple is unquestionably the definition of fine Hindu architecture. Its attention to detail in its style and the message or stories it carries is absolutely superb. Through the earthquakes it went through, it’s still resilient to keep standing, and that is exceptional. Prambanan Temple is truly beautiful and what better way to admire it than to visit it. Photographers would genuinely be pleased with however their pictures turn out because no angle would make this temple even slightly less beautiful it is.

A Brief History

Originally, the temple was built with the sole intention of honoring Lord Shiva and its intended name was Shiva-grha (the House of Shiva), with constructions starting as early as 850 CE. One of the people who built the temple was Balitung Maha Sambu, the Sanjaya king of the Mataram Kingdom of the time. By the 10^th century, it was abandoned due to the movement of the Mataram dynasty.

A massive earthquake in the 16^th century left most of temples to crumble down. A surveyor of Sir Stamford Raffles discovered the ruins by 1811 but did not do much about it since the Dutch restored their power over Java. Eventually, reestablishment of the temple began in 1930 and still continues by now.

Tickets and Operating Hours

This temple complex opens daily from 6AM to 6PM. Ticket boxes closes at 17:15. However, it tends to get really hot so it would be best if one gets there early. Entrance tickets cost Rp.40.000 for Indonesians and Rp.162.000 for foreigners. Overseas visitors may also choose to purchase tickets online via kiostix.com. The ticket entitles you to complimentary water. A sarong (cloth) is provided in the entrance. Guides are also available for hire for around Rp.75.000.

Getting There

From Adisutjipto Airport

The Prambanan Temple is just ten kilometers away from the Yogyakarta airport and one can access it by taking a taxi, which should cost around Rp.50.000 and take duration of 20 minutes.  

From the town center

Yogyakarta’s bus service, TransJogja serves a direct route to Prambanan. The bus is equipped with comfortable seats and air-condition. You will have to take the number 1A bus from Malioboro Street and you will then stop at the Prambanan station, this will only cost Rp.3.000 and take duration of approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Taking a taxi from the town center would cost around Rp.60.000. Sometimes drivers would also be willing to wait whilst you visit the site for around an hour and then take you back with the same price, making the total cost Rp.120.000.

Map

For the full map, click here

General Tips

Prambanan Temple is regarded as a religious site. Visitors are suggested to wear clothes that are subtle and not too revealing, but keep you cool at the same time because of the scorching heat from the sun. In addition, you should also use some sunblock to block any harmful sunrays from penetrating through your skin.

Photography Tips

Time:

Since Prambanan is primarily made out of dark colored stones with embellishments on it; it is best that you find the best lighting to highlight these features. Therefore, it would be best to visit during the day when the sun is out and shining, to get the maximum amount of lighting and get a balance between highlight and shadows.

If you wish to visit Prambanan Temple and Ratu Boko Palace during the same time period, it would be best to visit the Prambanan Temple at sometime around 2pm-4pm and Ratu Boko Temple at around 4pm-6pm so that you will get to Ratu Boko temple on time to capture the beautiful sunset.

Equipment:

• Spotlight- Because Prambanan consists of temples with statues in dark chambers in it, therefore it would be best to bring a spotlight to shed light on the statue and get the best capture out of the details of the statues.
• Tripod - A tripod would also be great to bring because you can capture a panoramic view of the whole temple.
• Lens – A wide angled lens would be useful to bring if you want to capture a panoramic view of the temples in Prambanan. As for taking pictures of other features of the temples, a basic 16-35mm lens would be great as well.

Hotels and Lodgings

If you wish to reside in Yogyakarta, there are many hotels available nearby the site. The top 3 most well known ones are:

1. Grand Tjokro Hotel

Address: Jalan Gejayan, Džogjakarta, Yogyakarta City, Yogyakarta 40153, Indonesia

Phone Number:+62 274 6429100

E-mail: yogyakarta@grandtjokro.com

Webpage: http://grandtjokro.com/yogyakarta/

2. Eastparc

Address: Jl. Laksda Adisucipto Km.6,5 Seturan, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia

Phone Number: +62 274 4932000

E-mail: info@eastparchotel.com

Webpage: http://www.eastparchotel.com/

3. Hotel New Saphir Yogyakarta

Address: Hotel New Saphir Yogyakarta Jl. Laksda Adisucipto No. 38 Yogyakarta, 55001 Indonesia

Phone Number: +62 274 566222

E-mail: rsv@newsaphirhotel.com

Webpage: http://www.newsaphirhotel.com/

Contact Information

PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur Prambanan Ratu Boko, Jalan Raya Yogya - Solo Km 16 Prambanan, Yogyakarta 55571, Indonesia, +62 274 496401 (info@borobudurpark.co.id)