Culture Museums Jogja

Batik and Embroidery Museum
Jl Dr Sutomo No. 13 A, Jogja. Phone: +62 (0274) 562-338.
Open Monday – Saturday 8:00 am - 12:00 noon. Entrance fee charged.

Located about 2 km north of the Keraton, this small museum is owned by a Jogja family and has two sections: one dedicated to batik, the other to sulaman, the embroidery fancied by Javanese ladies on their formalwear. The batik collection dates from 1880 until present day in various styles: Jogja, Surakarta, Madura and many others, showing both traditional and modern motifs. There are more than 400 examples of batik tulis (hand-drawn) and 500 pieces of printed batik (using cap). Other interesting exhibits are batik tools and equipment such as canting, stamps, dyes and beeswax. There are 126 examples of embroidery, the largest collection in the country. A demonstration of the batik process is available in the simple workshop upon request.

Vredeburg Fort & Benteng Budaya Museum
Jl. Jend. Ahmad Yani No. 6, Jogja.
Phone: +62 (0274) 586-934, 510-996.
Open Tuesday – Thursday 8:30 am – 2:00 pm, Friday 8:30 – 11:00 am, Saturday – Sunday 8:30 am – noon. Entrance fee charged.

Located north of the Central Post Office (circa 1910), Vredeburg Fort was built by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I for the Dutch in 1760. It was reconstructed by Dutch colonial Governor WH Van Osseberch in 1787 and renamed ‘Rusternberg'. In 1867, an earthquake caused extensive damage. Following further restoration the name was changed back to ‘Vredenburg', meaning the fortress of peace. It was used as a military headquarters during the Dutch, English, and Japanese occupations and included barracks, officers' quarters, a hospital warehouse and a jail. From 1945 until 1947 it functioned as the Indonesian military headquarters. Within the complex there's an entrenchment connected by a little bridge, and the main gate leads to the inner complex where 13 buildings including a barn, homes, and halls. The old fort now houses a museum showing the history of Indonesian independence with dioramas, replicas, photos, and paintings. The old barracks have been converted into exhibition halls which frequently display visual arts.

See “What's On Jogja – Visual Arts Exhibitions” for scheduled exhibitions.

Dewantara Kirti Griya Museum
Jl. Tamansiswa No. 31, Jogja. Phone: +62 (0274) 377-459,
389-208.
Open Monday - Thursday 8 am-1:30 pm, Friday 8-11 am, Saturday 8am - 1pm. Donation / entrance fee charged.

Built in 1970 about 3 km east of the Keraton, this museum honors Ki Hajar Dewantara, one of Indonesia's top educational figures and the founder of Tamansiswa Institute, the oldest national educational institute in the country. The building was formerly his residence and lies next to Pendopo Agung Tamansiswa (Tamansiswa main hall), where performances are frequently held. Part of the museum exhibits items formerly used by Ki Hajar Dewantara, including personal items such as his radio, books and many others.

Kekayon Puppet Museum
Jl. Jogjakarta - Wonosari No. 277, Km. 7,
Phone: +62 (0274) 379-058, 513-218.
Open daily 8:30 am - 2:30 pm. Entrance fee charged.

Located about 7 km from the Keraton, this museum showcases a collection of over 3,000 puppets representing all 25 varieties of puppets used in traditional Javanese shows, such as wayang kulit, wayang golek and also those depicting historical figures such as independence leaders Sukarno and Hatta. Owned and operated by a private family and opened in 1975, one display room is dedicated to exploring the strong influence of traditional puppets on people's daily lives, for example their names appearing on buildings, beverages, and other products. Another display shows the puppet production process: drying the buffalo skin, making the initial sketch, and painting. Informative signs are in Indonesian and in English.

Keraton Museum (Museum of Hamengku Buwono IX)
Jl. Rotowijayan 1, Jogja. Phone: +62 (0274) 373-177.
Open daily except Friday: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm, Friday 8:30 am - 12:30 pm.
Entrance fee charged.

This museum was built to commemorate the life of beloved Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, who was not only a Jogjakarta king but also a national hero. The museum is found in the innermost part of the Keraton and displays Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX's private possessions used in the struggle for Indonesian Independence.

Kolong Tangga (Space Under the Stairs)
Taman Budaya Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Cultural Park),
Jl. Sriwedani No. 1 (near Pasar Beringharjo).
Open daily 9:00 am – 7:00 pm. Phone: +62 (0274) 523-512; 580-771.
See www.tamanbudaya.jogja.com (in Indonesian only) for schedule and opening times.

Named for its location literally under the stairs in Taman Budaya, the purpose of this collection of hundreds of children’s games and toys is to preserve them, many of which have almost been forgotten, and to introduce culture and art to children. Fun for both kids and adults, exhibitions change every three months.

Pakualam Museum
Puro Pakualaman Complex, Jl. Sultan Agung, Jogja.
Phone: +62 (0274) 564-030, 372-161.
Open Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday 9:30 am - 2:30 pm. Entrance fee charged.

Puro Pakualam, the palace of Princes Paku Alam I – IX is located about 2 km east of the Keraton. The palace was completed in 1813 by Mataram Prince Paku Alam I, who was also an expert in culture and literature. The museum exhibits Paku Alam family ancient belongings and royal heirlooms dating from the Mataram Empire.

Royal Carriage Museum
Jl. Rotowijayan No. 2, Jogja. Phone: +62 (0274) 373-721. Open daily 9 am - 4 pm. Entrance fee charged.

The Royal Carriage Museum is located 100 meters west of the Keraton and houses royal carriages used by the Sultans and their families. Kyai Garuda Yaksa is the carriage used in the coronation ceremonies of Sultans Hamengku Buwono VI to X. Kyai Jaladara was once used by the Sultan to perform his duties, especially in the countryside. Other carriages include Kyai Kanjeng Jimat, still used today in annual Garebeg ceremonies, and a carriage for the funerals of Sultans. In the Javanese month of Suro these carriages are publicly bathed with water (Siraman) by court employees. Many people collect the water believing it has supernatural powers that can do many things, for example make rice fields fertile.

Sonobudoyo Museum
Jl. Trikora No. 6, Jogja. Phone: +62 (0274) 376-775.
Open Tuesday – Thursday 9 am – 2 pm, Friday 8 – 11 am, Saturday 8 am – 1 pm.
Wayang kulit (leather shadow puppet) performance daily 8 – 10 pm. Entrance fee charged.

Located on the north side of the north Keraton square (alun-alun utara) just 200 meters from the Sultan's Palace, Sonobudoyo Museum has the second most complete collection of cultural artifacts in Indonesia. (The first is The National Museum in Jakarta). Established in 1935, exhibits include historic and Neolithic bronzes, statues, stones, gold, brass, and copper from throughout Java and Bali plus a large array of Javanese empire-era weapons, leather and wooden puppets, masks, statues, textiles, and gamelan instruments. Sonobudoyo Museum also has an interesting library containing ancient Javanese books. A second building is located east of the Sultan's Palace at nDalem Condrokiranan and displays various utensils and goods used in daily Javanese life, as well as ancient statues originating from Gunung Kidul.

Culture Museums Outside Jogja

Ullen Sentalu Museum
Taman Kaswargan, Jl. Boyong, Kaliurang. Tel: (0274) 895-161, 880-158.
Open Tuesday – Sunday 9:00 am - 3:30 pm (closed Mondays).
Entrance fee charged.

This museum is located 15 km north of Jogja, in the pleasant hillside town, Kaliurang. Dedicated to Javanese culture and batik, Ullen Sentalu Museum houses many ancient and rare royal batik motifs. In addition to fine batik, exhibits range from historical objects to Javanese arts. The museum building itself is interesting, as it is modeled after a European castle, an unusual sight in the Javanese countryside. It also has a restaurant & coffee shop.

Rumah Budaya Tembi (Tembi Culture House)
Jl. Parantritis Km 8.4, Tembi, Timbulharjo, Sewon, Bantul Regency.
Phone: +62 (0274) 368-004, Fax: +62 (0274) 368-001,
E-mail: tembi@indosat.net.id. www.tembi.org.
Open daily 9 am – 4 pm. Donation / entrance fee charged. Gamelan performances Friday at 3 pm.
Free of charge.

Tembi is a small village about 8.4 km south of Jogja on the road to Parangtritis beach. This institution is run by people who want to preserve Javanese culture and history. The large, well-lit museum houses in one room Javanese weapons and costumes, wayant kulit (shadow puppets), ceramics and topeng (masks). In another room is an interesting collection of hand-made labels. A third is art exhibition space. The complex also has a library and discussion rooms.

Gula Museum
Jl. Klaten – Jogja km. 6, Gondang Winangun, Klaten.

An old sugar factory containing equipment, tools, trucks, photos, books and other memorabilia from the heyday of sugar factories in Java.

Borobudur Ship Museum (Samudra Raksa Museum Kapal)
Located near the exit gate to Borobudur Park, a few meters from Borobudur monument.

See www.borobudurpark.com for more detail.
Open daily 6 am - 5 pm.
Entrance fee included in Borobudur Park entrance fee.

The Borobudur Ship Museum is home to the actual outrigger sailing vessel that was constructed based on five bas relief carvings found on Borobudur monument. It sailed from Indonesia to Africa from August 2003 - February 2004 to prove that trade between the regions could have been accomplished by outrigger sailing vessels prior to the construction of Borobudur in the early 8th century. In addition to the elegant Samudra Raksa, exhibits include route maps, information about the spice trade and the expedition, and some of the ship's equipment. Awesome!

Karmawibhangga Archaeological Museum
Located near the exit gate to Borobudur Park, a few meters from the grand Borobudur monument.

See www.borobudurpark.com for more detail.
Open daily 6 am - 5 pm.
Entrance fee included in Borobudur Park entrance fee.

The Karmawibhangga Archaeological Museum houses hundreds of headless and armless Buddha statues and random stones lined up neatly in a garden surrounding a grand pendopo (Javanese-architecture pavilion). Indoor exhibits offer information about the many restorations of the world's largest non-monastic Buddhist monument. A modern, well-lit, clean, museum with signage in Indonesian and English. Very interesting.

Locomotive Museum, Ambarawa
Jl. Stasiun no. 1 Ambarawa.
Phone: +62 (0298) 591-035. Open Daily 9 am - 5 pm

A must-see for train lovers. This facility houses old locomotives used to transport sugar cane to the mill and a cog-wheel railway line. Rides through the countryside are available on a circa 1928 German train. In the area are also the breathtaking and little-visited Gedong Songo Hindu temples, set amidst terraced rice fields, and Losari Coffee Plantation Resort & Spa. A nice day or overnight trip.