Imogiri Kings Cemetery, Java, Indonesia
4.0 (132 reviews) Spent < 1 hour Ranking #42 in Yogyakarta Region Cemeteries
Interesting experience
First a few warnings: STEPS - Unless entering through the top, there're about 500 steps between the car park and the entry so, come prepared. DRESS CODE - Traditional Javanese. You can change into your own costumes there, or hire one. A staff will help you put it together (Tip 10,000 to 20,000RP) FOOTWEAR - Not allowed inside the compound so, be prepared to tip toe if you come on a hot day. UMBRELLA - Not allowed inside so, for ladies, a scarf may be useful. PERSONAL ACCESORIES - If considered 'loud' you may be asked to remove them. TIPS - You'd be asked by almost everybody at every point so, prepare many small notes (I was told 2,000RP is reasonable) The complex is about 370 years old, built by Sultan Agung of Mataram, and I was fortunate to be taken inside the room containing his tomb by a regular visitor. Regulars will usually be let in first, to a hut housing Sultan Agung's tomb. They'd pray at the entrance to the inner chamber, and one by one, led inside the inner chamber for blessings. Entrance is almost by crawling through a very small door (small even for an Australian size 8). The chamber fits around 5 people. It is dark, smoky, and crowded, and you squeeze your way out after the blessing. The complex contain many tombs from different sultans and their families, and they look pretty similar to one another. Some background reading may be useful if you're looking for any one of special significance. The more popular ones when I visited seemed to be the tombs of Sultan Agung, and the Hamengkubuwana (or Hamengkubuwono) lineage, ancestors of current Sultan of Yogyakarta. If you're curious, interested in a bit of history (from your own reading, unless you have a guide) and nostalgia, the walk up is pleasant, the scenes quite beautiful, and the experience 'different'. Not for those who're accustomed to comfort, or have an aversion to tropical heat, and the sun.
Address
Imogiri, Wukirsari, Karang Kulon, Bantul Imogiri Hill, 55782 Indonesia
Current local date and time now
Monday, May 13, 2024, 11:00
User Ratings
4.0 based on (132 reviews)
Reviews
-
4JoshShoeString 5:00 PM Aug 24, 2015
Of Paddy Fields, Sate Klatak & Ancient Kings' Tombs
The ride from Jogjakarta to the Imogiri Kings Cemetery is a pleasant & scenic one, filled with green lush paddy fields along the way. The current map location on TA is inaccurate! Search for Makam Raja-Raja Surakarta & Yogyakarta on Google Maps or Waze! (TA map staff please take note; I'd reported earlier via TA mobile app) There are prayer ceremonies on Monday 10 am - 1 pm Friday 1.30 pm - 4 pm Sun 10 am - 1 pm (not sure on this one; stated by one of the online attraction rep) As providence would have it, I went on a monday and managed to witness the prayer ceremony at the oldest tomb i.e. the first sultan (there are a few of em located at different sections of the complex). You have to dressed up like a local in a traditional shirt, sarong and head gear. For a small fee around IDR 14,000 all-in-all, you get to play dress-up and visit the tombs. It was around 10.40 am when I managed to climb right to the highest tomb where the prayers had started with a bunch of elderly local men. It didn't take long before they'd finished. You get to enter a small wooden enclosure where the tomb is. Before entering, a freewill monetary gift is expected. Inside, visitors can pray to the sultan if they want. It was totally dark saved for a small kerosene lamp. Quite an experience to witness the ceremony! Later on the way back to Jogjakarta, I'd stopped at one of the many warung sate klatak (delicious grilled goat meat on wooden skewers) along the Imogiri Timur road. One of the best sate I'd taken ... well recommended. I was told most of the warungs serve good sate klatak, so you don't really need to search for the so-called 'best one'. A worthy visit with pleasant scenery, traditional cultural experience, topped with a local delicacy!
-
3Siew P 5:00 PM Aug 21, 2016
Interesting experience
First a few warnings: STEPS - Unless entering through the top, there're about 500 steps between the car park and the entry so, come prepared. DRESS CODE - Traditional Javanese. You can change into your own costumes there, or hire one. A staff will help you put it together (Tip 10,000 to 20,000RP) FOOTWEAR - Not allowed inside the compound so, be prepared to tip toe if you come on a hot day. UMBRELLA - Not allowed inside so, for ladies, a scarf may be useful. PERSONAL ACCESORIES - If considered 'loud' you may be asked to remove them. TIPS - You'd be asked by almost everybody at every point so, prepare many small notes (I was told 2,000RP is reasonable) The complex is about 370 years old, built by Sultan Agung of Mataram, and I was fortunate to be taken inside the room containing his tomb by a regular visitor. Regulars will usually be let in first, to a hut housing Sultan Agung's tomb. They'd pray at the entrance to the inner chamber, and one by one, led inside the inner chamber for blessings. Entrance is almost by crawling through a very small door (small even for an Australian size 8). The chamber fits around 5 people. It is dark, smoky, and crowded, and you squeeze your way out after the blessing. The complex contain many tombs from different sultans and their families, and they look pretty similar to one another. Some background reading may be useful if you're looking for any one of special significance. The more popular ones when I visited seemed to be the tombs of Sultan Agung, and the Hamengkubuwana (or Hamengkubuwono) lineage, ancestors of current Sultan of Yogyakarta. If you're curious, interested in a bit of history (from your own reading, unless you have a guide) and nostalgia, the walk up is pleasant, the scenes quite beautiful, and the experience 'different'. Not for those who're accustomed to comfort, or have an aversion to tropical heat, and the sun.
