Yogyakarta's Kraton

At the center of Yogyakarta lies a city within the city: the Kraton. Built in the middle of the eighteenth century, this walled-city serves as the home of the sultans of what remains of the Mataram kingdom to this day. The palace is open to guided tours for properly dressed guests. Inside you'll find many shady courtyards connected by beautifully decorated covered walks.

One of the large open courtyards around a pendopo

Of particular interest are the ornate reception halls as well as the large open air pendopos for listing to gamelan performances. You'll also find a small air-conditioned room where the desk at which the ninth sultan planned the overthrow of the Dutch is enshrined. Also interesting is the gallery displaying the royal family tree and photographs of many members. We thought the painting of the eighth sultan on his circumcision day to be particularly curious.

There's also an extensive display of the ninth sultan's mementos, including his favorite cooking utensils. Another gallery displays the gifts from various state visits.

The Kraton is but one part of a large complex of palace structures and museums. Other parts of the complex that you can visit include Taman Sari, or the Water Palace; the Carriage Museum; and the Sonobudoyo Museum.

Admission Fee

There's an admission fee of 12,500 Rupiah (0.75 USD) to enter the Kraton, plus a 1,000 Rupiah (0.06 USD) fee for bringing in a camera. The admission fee includes a compulsory guide.