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Minggu, 13 Juni 2010

The Exoctic of Kotagede - Yogyakarta



















THE EXOTIC OF KOTAGEDE

Kota Gede is the area located in the region as part of Bantul in Yogyakarta Province. Kotagede is a very exotic tourist attractions, has a history that is not inevitable from the social and cultural influence, or values or spiritual tradition that developed from ancient times until today.

HISTORY

In the 8th century, Mataram area (now called Yogya) is a center of Hindu Mataram Kingdom which controlled the whole island of Java. The kingdom was extraordinary prospered and civilizes and able to build temples, like Prambanan and Borobudur Temple. But in the 10th century, the kingdom somehow moves the central government region to the East Java. People leaving in droves Mataram and this area are slowly returning to dense forest.

Six centuries later the island of Java under the authority of the Sultanate Pajang based in Central Java. Hadiwijaya ruling Sultan was presented Alas Mentaok (base = forest) wide to Ki Gede archery for its success in conquering the kingdom’s enemy. Ki Gede Pemanahan and his family and most of his loyal followers then moved to Mentaok Alas, a forest that is actually the first former Hindu kingdom of Mataram.

The small village founded in the woods Ki Gede Pemanahan began its prosperous. After the death of Ki Gede Pemanahan, he was succeeded by his son, who’s titled Senapati Ingalaga. Under the wise leadership of Senapati village grew into an increasingly crowded and the city prospered, until It’s called Kotagede (= large city). Senapati and then build a fort in (cepuri) that surrounds the palace and citadel outside (baluwarti) surrounding the urban area of ± 200 ha. Outer side of the second fort was also equipped with a wide moat like river.

Meanwhile, the Sultanate Pajang occurred the seizure of the throne of after Sultan Hadiwijaya died. The crown prince named Prince Benawa removed by Arya Pangiri. Prince Benawa then asked for assistance because the government Senapati Aryan Pangiri judged unfairly and detrimental to the people of Pajang. War ensued. Arya Pangiri successfully conquered but his life spared by the Senapati. Benawa Prince then offered the throne to Senapati Pajang whom declined gently. Prince Benawa died a year later but he had ordered that Pajang led by Senapati. Since then, Senapati became the first king of Mataram Islam Panembahan as his title. He did not want to wear the title of Sultan for the respect to Prince Sultan Hadiwijaya Benawa. Government palace is located in Kota Gede.

Furthermore Panembahan Senapati expands Islamic Mataram kingdom's territory up to the Pati, Madiun, Kediri and Pasuruan. Senapati Panembahan died in 1601 and was buried near the tomb of his father in Kotagede. Islamic Mataram Kingdom and then controlled almost the entire island of Java (except Banten and Batavia) and reached the peak of its power under the leadership of the three kings, namely Sultan Agung (the grandson of Panembahan Senapati). In 1613, Sultan Agung's moved to the center of the kingdom Karta (near Plered) and ended the era of Kotagede as a center of Islamic Mataram kingdom.

Architecture of Kotagede














ARCHITECTURE

The old town also has many heritage buildings which have some antique Joglo of hundreds years old. Besides Joglo, Kota Gede is also popular with its Kalang houses, the uniqueness and very artistic property house to Kalang people. Kalang people are the people who in the past have been the expertise in carpentry and creative works that are often requested by the Sultan to do various things in the palace. Kalang people became rich, which enable them to build some classy mansions. Kalang houses grandeur can still be seen in the surrounding streets of Mondorakan, Kotagede. The remained of the Islamic architecture of this royal city can still be felt by us when we visit Kotagede.

The High walls with its narrow paths when we walking along the halls of Kotagede are spiritually an impressive journey. In complex area of Kotagede, remains the past of the King of Mataram, Panembahan Senopati, namely the graves of the relatives from king, padepokan, Sendang Selirang, Watu Watu Gilang and Gatheng.
Sendang is divided into two, namely Sendang Kakung (male) and the Sendang Princess (female). The second Sendang has a different water source. Sendang Kakung springs from the springs just below the tombs which flowed through the channel holes. Many fish that live in this spring, including white catfish up to one meter of length. There are also grave sacred of turtle and named Kyai Rejah Duda. Meanwhile, Sendang Princess springs from sources under the banyan tree located on the front road to the tomb complex.

The Cemetery of King of Mataram in Kotagede complex was built in the area. Inside there are 81 tombs of kings and their nearby relatives. This Cemetery was opened to the public on certain days only, ie Monday and Thursday starting at 10:00 to 12:00 pm and on Fridays starting at 1:00 p.m. to 15:00 pm. The visitors who want to perform pilgrimage and tirakatan required to clean themselves first in the Sendang Selirang which was located on the south side of the grave. Not far from the Cemetary complex and Sendang, about 300 meters to the south, there are small buildings and storage of Watu Watu Gilang Gatheng. Black stone that looks like this seat is said to be trusted as dampar (seating) Panembahan Senopati. In addition, there are three stone yellow ball-shaped (Watu Gatheng). It seems, according to legend, this stone is a great tool for Ronggo permaianan Raden, the son of Panembahan Senopati.

Although the stone is look hard and solid, but Raden Ronggo could able to lift and used it to play as his game tool. This legend is also developed and later been as a myth, if we succeed in lifting the Watu Gatheng, what we desire or wish would be come true.
Now, the area of Kotagede has developed into a tourist object and cultural history which is fascinating. In addition to studying the history of the Mataram kingdom, before the split into the Surakarta and Yogyakarta, in Kotagede we can also enjoy the architecture of the merchant houses of Arab descent, Java, and the Dutch who used to live there. Their homes are now widely used as a typical café and gallery. There was also a silver industry of Kotagede beautiful and seductive to our eyes. Kotagede indeed distorted the beauty of the old city.

Culinary of Kotagede






















CULINARY


Besides inheriting the history was so exotic of Kotagede and it’s also famous for the rich culinary with diverse and unique taste as well as in its cooking process. Especially if perceived by domestic tourists outside the city of Yogya or foreign tourists (foreigners). Here are some typical traditional snacks of Kotagede:

1. KIPO A typical of Kotagede food . One of them is kipo. kipo snack made of glutinous rice, green color with the optional grated coconut mixed with Javanese sugar and formed like your little thumb. Usually wrapped in banana leaves are coated paper. The process of making the kipo very simple by starting with, prepared glutinous rice flour dough which would give the green color from the pandan leaves. For the contents mixed with grated coconut then Javanese sugar. After that sticky rice flour dough is folded and placed on a clay pan which is heated with charcoal or a stove. To produce a good and mature kipo, kipo must be inverted to cook it very well. The history of kipo is unknown. That said, in an ancient inscription written in Fibre Centhini there such thing as a kind of local food kupo. Possibly, the name now changed to kipo.

2. YANGKO snack made from peanuts is typical Kotagede. Besides tasty, nutritious food also because it contains vitamins that come from peanuts. Yangko is very suitable in making the food served to guests or family gatherings. Yangko also available in a variety of flavors, from taste to taste durian. Snack that have a chewy texture of this small square. Each of them wrapped in wax paper. Then place in small box. Yangko is one of alternative food for Kotagede people. Besides in Kotagede Yangko also easily to be obtained in a variety of souvenir shops in Yogyakarta.

3. UKEL a traditional cuisine Kotagede which is shaped like a eight figure. Ukel needs to mix with white sugar, finishing with a brown and white derived from sugar that had dried up. Ukel process is the formation of the dough before frying and finish. Ukel made of the whipped egg whites and added a little flour and then fried until dry. After ukel drained dry and then wrapped in plastic to avoid the quality and which would remain crunchy and slightly soft.

4. . LEGOMORO a typical small meal throughout Kotagede used for celebration, especially in weddings. It serves as food for the delivery of wedding cakes. Legomoro derived from boiled glutinous rice until half cooked with coconut milk and then steamed until cooked. Chewy and savory taste Legomoro not sticky because the use of coconut milk. Presentation mode is sticky rice that has been cooked after steaming rounded given the content wrapped in banana leaves and then formed a typical Legomoro which is elongated triangle. Reviewed from its history, food. So Legomoro is presented as a meal. Legomoro typically contain plantain that has been cut lengthwise first. Has a savory flavor and usually use chicken that has been filled with mashed chicken as its content. This food is called legomoro cause joy or relieved because that is who would sing the dating podo moro lego. People named so because the amount of food is usually only found when a particular celebration, and for those who do not want to come on the show do not miss out the luckiness.

Handicraft of Kotagede
























CULTURE(Handicraft)


The presence of silver craftsmen emerged with the birth of Mataram, was also not spared from the role of the VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) that arrived in Yogyakarta about 16th-century ago. At that time, many traders were ordering VOC household appliances from gold, silver, copper, and brass to the local population. "The capital was moved from Kotagede to Plered, but that did not make the crafters me-too move. They usually serve the needs of the king maintain and run the business by selling to the general public. The influence of the kingdom of Mataram and the VOC this is, then the houses at that time a mixture of Javanese and European-style, or also called Kalang houses. The uniqueness of this Kalang House is unification of Javanese and European elements, namely joglo as the parent is located in the rear and in front of the European model.

These buildings tend to shape the European baroque style of Corinthian and doriq. While, on the joglo buildings, especially the hall is modified into a closed, not open as Javanese joglo house. Java marquee generally separate from the main building, whereas this one together. Relief panels with the color yellow-green color, showing no longer a Java colors again. The emergence of glass into colorful mosaics of liaison between the pillars, show this joglo are already receiving other touches.

Houses of European-style mix of Javanese and this is now a family-owned Ansor located about 300 meters north of Pasar Gede. While enjoying the beauty of the architecture of the past, tourists can buy silver carved by skillful hands and enjoy delicious meals at the family home Ansor one of the largest Kota Gede silver gallery and a restaurant without changing the original shape of the house.