Final resting grounds of the mighty Mataram kings
- Mon-, Thurs- and Sunday 10am -1pm Friday 1-4 pm
Royal cemetery
This holy site attracts pilgrims from all over Java to pay their respects and ask for blessings. Even more significant than the mosque itself, a visit to the cemetery weaves you all the way back to the 16th century, when this was chosen as a location to bury the Mataram kings. Built in the same signature blend of Buddhist and Hindu architectural style as the mosque, the complex has no less than 627 royal tombs, exclusively for the the first two Islamic Mataram kings and family!
The royal rulebook
The royal cemetery is at the heart of a complex made out of four layers divided by impressively decorated walls. Only the first three layers are publicly accessible and strict rules apply, making it an intimate cultural experience. In the cemetery a special logic applies, you have to pay honour in the right sequence starting with the king’s father, the mother, the king, the prince and below.
The compex has no less than 627 royal tombs, exclusively for the the first two Islamic Mataram kings and family!
A local experience!
Traditional attire is compulsory! To enter the cemetery at the heart of the complex, women are required to wear a torso wrap (kemben) and long traditional fabric (jarik), while men have to wear a traditional Javanese suit (peranakan) and headcover (blangkon). Don’t worry when you left your kit at home, traditional attire is for rent at the secretariat office.