DAVIATOUR: KERATON HORSE CARRIAGE MUSEUM

KERATON HORSE CARRIAGE MUSEUM

caption :entrance of museum

The Dutch Influence In The Palace

Where did you know about a horse carriage? I believe, for most people probably more familiar with television cartoons like Cinderella, Ben Hur and from other Hollywood movies. But have you ever seen it directly, in Indonesia. This is the Keraton horse carriage museum, where the Dutch colonial era adorned the history of the Sultan of Yogyakarta since almost three centuries ago. These horse carriage are like Ferraris in the present day, so exalted that they are only used by the rich people only. Is very exclusive.

Yogyakarta Horse Carriage Museum is located on Jl. Rotowijayan Yogyakarta, or west of Yogyakarta Palace building. Museum which was established since the throne of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VI have a various collections of horse carriage belonging to the Sultan of Yogyakarta. In ancient times these horse carriage were the vehicles of the Sultans for various purposes and important events organized by the Yogyakarta Palace.

Almost noon I visited this historic place. This building has a very strong Dutch character, solid concrete, high ceiling roof, and sunlight peering from the window gives the impression of ancient. I was greeted by some gentlemen, they were old but has friendly face. That afternoon visitors are pretty much especially those who come with family and children.
Mr. Soklin, my guide that afternoon, took me around while giving a brief explanation of the history and uniqueness of each horse carriage. This museum has a variety of horse carriages that reach hundreds of years old. Mondro Juwolo Train (1800) for example, is a horse carriage ever ridden by Prince Diponegoro, Indonesia national hero. Of the 23 collection of horse carriages, 18 trains are still used for the purposes of palace greatness ceremonies, while the other 5 trains are not being used because of the condition is old and fragile.

HORSE CARRIAGE WITH THEIR ORIGIN

The colonial influence was deeply felt in the design of the horse carriage. I can clearly see some of the horse carriages that are European making factories. Mr. Soklin showed me a seal inserted with spijker AMSTERDAM in the Landower Ngabean (1901). Mr. Soklin tells, a foreign tourist said that spijker is a Dutch manufacturer that now produces Land Rover cars. There are also seals M.L.Hermans & Co, Den Haag, Netherlands. This seal is imprinted on the Kyai Jongwiyat train (1880). Seal of Queen Wilhelmina, was on Garuda Yeksa (1861). This train appears dashing itself with dragon ornaments and masculine chocolate paint. Around this train ornament is coated 18 carat gold weighing 20 kilograms. Local made trains are also in this museum. It is the Premili (1925) made by G.Barends - Semarang but its parts are mostly imported directly from the Netherlands. This train is specifically boarded by royal dancers.

The Kanjeng Nyai Jimad horse carriages is the oldest one. This horse carriages is older than the age of Yogyakarta Palace. This horse carriages is also named based on Javanese belief spirit. The uniqueness also is, this horse carriages begins Nyai, not Kyai. Indicates that the naming of this horse carriages is based on the virtues of women. Nyai in Javanese, signifies women gender. Showing in the past that woman has a significant influence to the palace. The horse carriages is powered by eight horses and used during the reign of Sultan Hamengkubuwono I-III. This horse carriages was a gift from the Dutch government, by Governor Jacob Mossel (1750-1761). This horse carriage is no longer used and only a historical object.

The youngest horse carriages was the Kyai Rotopralaya. It was unknown year of manufacture but was purchased in Yogyakarta in 1938. This is a hearse carriage that was used to transport the bodies of Sultan Hamengkubuwono to IV in 1988. The uniqueness of this train, in addition to its largest size, is also decorated with little angel ornaments with so called cupid on Greek mythology. Mr. Soklin who had a strong Javanese accent actually gave me an explanation in English, "it's cupid ornament sir" so call it. Interesting and makes me wonder if this is a blend of eastern and western cultures.

In addition, in this museum we can see various photo documentation of Sultan activities that use the horse carriage as a transportation vehicle. We can also see a variety of riders equipment wich is strongly European style such as clothes, helmets, shoes, sticks and various other riding devices. All stored neatly in a large closet.

THE HORSE CARRIAGE MAINTENANCE

As a valuable object that has belonged to Sultan for several generations, the horse carriage are bathed and "fed" in the form of offerings. This ritual is called Jamasan, which always falls on the first Tuesday or Friday Kliwon in Suro month (in the Java calendar). The used water for cleaning is believed to be efficacious and can cure various diseases. Therefore it is often contested of many people.
Special care is given to the Garuda Yeksa, especially in its gold coating. To avoid eroding the gold, this horse carriage is cleaned up only when about to used. It is believed that every time it is rubbed or cleaned up, it loses around 6-7 grams of the gold.

Can you drive a horse carriage today? Of course it can be. In Malioboro Yogyakarta, horse carriages with local says delman can still be found everywhere. Delman is more concise and still used as a transportation, especially for tourism. Of course not as fancy as a horse carriage but can be used to traveling around Malioboro, including to the horse carriage museum.