The Iconic Site, Taman Sari Yogyakarta

Hello, travellers of the world...Today, I will take you on another tour or trip to Yogyakarta. There is an iconic place that is always a destination for both local and foreign tourists: TAMAN SARI.

When visiting Taman Sari, the number of local and foreign visitors is almost equal. So, it is clear that people's interest in this legendary Taman Sari is real. Let's take a look at what's inside this famous Taman Sari. TAMAN SARI from the front, you can see a wall with an arched doorway right in the middle. On the right and left sides, there are dragon carvings that extend upwards, and the top of this gate is decorated with intricate yet beautiful carvings. It is true that this building looks very old and has been left in its original form, but it is still maintained and cared for so that it remains safe to visit.

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I walked along the path to the main gate and bought a ticket first. I received a blue wristband with the word DOMESTIK written on it, indicating that I was a domestic visitor. After paying for the ticket, I went straight inside.

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There are signs with rules that must be obeyed, such as: No smoking in the bathing pool area, no littering, no throwing rubbish in the pool, no damaging the plants, and no vandalism.

The main area of Taman Sari is Umbul Binangun or the bathing pool, which in the past could only be used by relatives or family members of the royal palace. To reach the main location, visitors must descend a rather steep staircase, but it is very safe because it is well maintained and not slippery.

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And then...The bathing pool looks antique and very clean. In the middle of the pool is a fountain, which was not turned on when I visited. Don't you agree that this legendary pool is like something out of a fairy tale or a folk story? Many tourists sit around the pool and take photos with their friends or partners. Since I came alone, I just took a selfie in the bathing area. The sky was cloudy and it was about to rain, so I hurried to other places.

From this bathing area, there is a door on the right where various Indonesian spices are displayed, such as pepper, turmeric, secang wood, temugiring, kencur, Bunga Lawang, and many others. Perhaps you have heard that Indonesia is so rich in nature and spices that it became the reason for colonisation in this archipelago. Such is Indonesia and its natural resources if we take care of them together.

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Are we done? Of course not. I walked around to the left side and saw a dark brown divan that was slightly faded. The divan, which was built close to three walls, was made as beautiful as possible, like a typical divan, but under it there was a hole with a small arch. I saw a small pottery incense burner, while on top of the bed, there were flowers placed in a bowl. Perhaps this was to mask the musty smell of this old room, or was it a ritual to always place flowers there? I don't know, because when I entered the room, there were no staff around to ask.

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The last part I visited was a room with a tall gate similar to the main gate, but the carvings on the walls were more complex and the details were more intricate. I couldn't take pictures of the inside because it was very dark. Inside, there were also partitioned rooms, which were probably used as resting places for the royal family. Actually, apart from being a place for bathing, resting and recreation for the royal family, Taman Sari was also a defensive fortress with secret passages connecting it to the surrounding villages, but I decided not to continue my adventure. Not only did I have to go to my next destination, but it had also started to rain lightly. So I went through the exit and went home first.

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That concludes my journey to Taman Sari. Until we meet again on the next journey.

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