The Pura Mangkunegaran (, ) is a palace complex in the city of Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. It is the official palace and residence of the Duke of Mangkunegara and his family. The palace complex is one of the centers of

Javanese culture Javanese culture is the culture of the Javanese people. Javanese culture is centered in the provinces of Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java in Indonesia. Due to various migrations, it can also be found in other parts of the world, such as ...

and contains a museum exhibiting royal artifacts of Mangkunegaran.

History

The palace complex was built in

1757 Events January–March * January 2 – Seven Years' War: The British Army, under the command of Robert Clive, captures Calcutta, India. * January 5 – Robert-François Damiens makes an unsuccessful assassination attempt ...

( AJ 1690) following the style of Kraton by the command of

Mangkunegara I Mangkunegara I, also known as Pangeran Sambernyawa ("''Life Reaping Prince''"), (born Raden Mas Said, 7 April 1725 – 1796) was the first ruler of Mangkunegaran in Java in the eighteenth century. Personal life Mangkunegara was given the nic ...

, the first Duke of

Mangkunegaran The Duchy of Mangkunegaran ( id, Kadipaten Mangkunegaran) is a small Javanese princely state located within the region of Surakarta in Indonesia. It was established in 1757 by Raden Mas Said, when he submitted his army to Pakubuwono III in Fe ...

. This royal palace was built after the Treaty of Salatiga was signed by

, Hamengkubuwana I, Pakubuwana III, and the VOC on March 1757. The treaty initiated the creation of the Duchy of Mangkunegaran and the investiture of Mangkunegara I as the first ruler. Like any other

palaces A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whic ...

in Java, The Pura Mangkunegaran had experienced several renovation, rejuvenation, changes on its parts and structures, and also addition of popular European style on its architecture during the Dutch colonization.

Architecture

The architecture of the Pura Mangkunegaran has similar features of other kratons in Surakarta and Yogyakarta, it has various features such as

courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary ...

(''pamédan''),

hall In architecture, a hall is a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age and early Middle Ages in northern Europe, a mead hall was where a lord and his retainers ate and also slept. Later in the Middle Ages, the gre ...

(''pendapa''),

vestibule Vestibule or Vestibulum can have the following meanings, each primarily based upon a common origin, from early 17th century French, derived from Latin ''vestibulum, -i n.'' "entrance court". Anatomy In general, vestibule is a small space or cavity ...

or antechamber (''pringgitan''), main house (''dalem''), and

harem Harem ( Persian: حرمسرا ''haramsarā'', ar, حَرِيمٌ ''ḥarīm'', "a sacred inviolable place; harem; female members of the family") refers to domestic spaces that are reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. A har ...

or private apartment (''keputrèn''). Almost all the Pura Mangkunegaran complex is surrounded by a wall, an exception for the courtyard (''pamédan'') which is surrounded by iron fence only. The courtyard itself was and is still occasionally used as a training ground for the Mangkunegaran Legion troops. On the east of the courtyard, there is the headquarters of the infantry and cavalry troops of Mangkunegaran Legion which had a fortress-like building. The second gate of the Pura Mangkunegaran leads to the inner courtyard and the Grand Hall (''Pendopo Ageng'') which measures . The Grand Hall of the Pura Mangkunegaran can host five to ten thousand people, and it is considered as the largest hall in Indonesia. The wooden pillars of the Grand Hall are square-shaped and made of woods from the Kethu Forest trees (''Alas Kethu'') which is located in

Wonogiri Wonogiri Regency is a regency () in the southeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. It covers an area of 1,822.36 km2, and its population was 928,904 at the 2010 Census and 1,096,138 at the 2020 Census. The capital and largest t ...

and was one of the regions owned by the Duchy of Mangkunegaran. All parts of the Grand Hall building was constructed without using any nails as its fastener. The major colors of this hall are green, yellow, and chartreuse (''Pareanom'') which are the royal colors of the Duchy of Mangkunegaran. The bright color of the Grand Hall ceiling symbolizes Hindu-Javanese astrology which is closely attached to the culture of Mataram dynasty. The ceiling of the Grand Hall also has some antique chandeliers. In the early era of the Duchy of Mangkunegaran, people who attended the Grand Hall usually sat cross-legged on the floor. Then during the reign of Mangkunegara VI, the use of chair was introduced. Inside the Grand Hall, there are several sacred gamelan, those are gamelan of ''Kyai Seton'', gamelan of ''Kyai Kanyut Mesem'', and gamelan of ''Lipur Sari'', each of these gamelan are played only on special or specific occasions. Behind the Grand Hall, there is an open veranda which called ''Pringgitan'' and has stairs that leads to the main house (''Dalem Ageng''). This veranda measures 1.000 m² and it is used as a place for shadow puppet show. The ''Pringgitan'' leads to the main house (''Dalem Ageng''), it is a pyramid-shaped building with an area of ±. Traditionally, this main house was used as the bridechamber of the royal duke and duchess, but these days this building is functioned as a museum that exhibits several royal artifacts of Mangkunegaran, pictures of the dukes of Mangkunegaran, the royal attires and clothes, medals, royal jewelry, shadow puppet equipments, coins, ''petanen'' (a residing place of

Dewi Sri Dewi Sri or Shridevi ( Javanese: ꦢꦺꦮꦶꦱꦿꦶ, Balinese: ᬤᬾᬯᬶᬲ᭄ᬭᬶ, Dewi Sri)( Sundanese: ᮑᮄ ᮕᮧᮠᮎᮤ ᮞᮀᮠᮡᮀ ᮃᮞᮢᮤ, Nyai Pohaci Sanghyang Asri) is the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese Hindu ...

), and many other art objects. Behind the main house (''Dalem Ageng''), there is ''Keputrèn'' which roughly translated as a harem. Traditionally, it was used as the residence of the royal consort(s) and princesses. However now, the ''Keputrèn'' is used as the private apartment or residence for the duke and his family. This part of the Pura Mangkunegaran has a garden with various plants, flowers, ornamental shrubs, bird cages, fountain pool, and some classical European-style statues. Facing the garden, there is also ''Pracimoyasa'', a living room with octagonal shape which functioned as a meeting room. Inside of the room has some European furniture and gold-framed mirrors on the wall. The Pura Mangkunagaran complex also has a library called the Rekso Pustoko Library (') built on 1867 by

Mangkunegara IV Mangkunegara IV (1809–1881) was the fourth ruler of Mangkunegaran, a principality based in Surakarta, Java, ruling from 1853 to 1881. He was son-in-law of Mangkunegara III. His title before ascending was Prince Adipati Prangwedana III. During ...

. The library is located on the second floor of Palace Affairs Office situated on the left of the courtyard (''pamèdan''). This library has some of the valuable historical heritages such as leather-bound manuscripts, books written in

Javanese language Javanese (, , ; , Aksara Jawa: , Pegon: , IPA: ) is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, Indonesia. There are also pockets of Javanese speakers on the nort ...

and

script Script may refer to: Writing systems * Script, a distinctive writing system, based on a repertoire of specific elements or symbols, or that repertoire * Script (styles of handwriting) ** Script typeface, a typeface with characteristics of ha ...

, collection of historical pictures, photos, and archive files of plantation and any possessions owned by the Duchy of Mangkunegaran.

Gallery

File:Grand Pendopo, Mangkunegaran Palace.jpg, Inner Courtyard and Grand Hall of Mangkunegaran Palace File:Bangsal Gusti Nurul.jpg, Pavilion of Gusti Nurul File:Mangkunegaran Palace 05.jpg, Grand Hall of the Pura Mangkunegaran File:Mangkunegaran Palace 11.jpg, Garden inside Mangkunegaran Palace File:Mangkunegaran Palace 06.jpg, Ceiling of the Grand Hall File:Mangkunegaran Palace 12.jpg, Interior of Gusti Nurul Pavilion (''Pracimoyasa'') in Pura Mangkunegaran complex File:Pura Mangkunagaran08(2 Maret 2007-Mangkunegaran coat of arms flanked by European style cherubins (another angle)).jpg, Pura Mangkunagaran coat of arms flanked by European style cherubims and a Dhwarapala File:Tangsi - Pamedan MN Pj IMG 20161010 184645.jpg, Courtyard of Mangkunegaran Palace with Cavalry-Artillery camp as background

Reference

External links

Photo of Pura Mangkunegaran

Pura Mangkunegaran Solo
Mangkunegaran Buildings and structures in Surakarta Palaces in Indonesia {{Palace-stub

History

Architecture

Gallery

See also

Reference

External links