Kota Gede

Yogyakarta

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In 1582, Kota Gede was made the first capital of the Mataram kingdom, the founder of which, Panembahan Senopati, is buried in a tomb here. Today, the area is an upmarket suburb of Yogyakarta and the hub of Yogya’s famous silver industry. Kota Gede is 5km southeast of Jl Malioboro (Sosrowijayan), from where it's reachable by bus 3A. A becak costs around 50,000Rp.

Since the 1930s, silversmiths have crafted this precious metal into a wealth of practical (cutlery, bowls) and decorative (jewellery, ornaments) items; the main street, Jl Kemasan, continues to be lined with busy workshops. Most of the shops have similar stock, including hand-beaten bowls, boxes, fine filigree work and modern jewellery; they are closed on Sunday.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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    Prambanan Temple

    8.15 MILES

    Comprising the remains of some 244 temples, World Heritage–listed Prambanan is Indonesia's largest Hindu site and one of Southeast Asia's major…

  • Morning in Borobudur Temple

    Borobudur Temple

    20.01 MILES

    Dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, and built from two million blocks of stone, Borobudur is the world's largest Buddhist temple and one of Indonesia's…

  • Dwarapala guardian statue at Donopratono gate of the Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, the palace of the Yogyakarta Sultanate, Central Java, Indonesia, January 14, 2018

    Kraton

    2.64 MILES

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  • Taman Sari

    Taman Sari

    2.83 MILES

    This once-splendid pleasure park of palaces, pools and waterways, built between 1758 and 1765, functioned as the playground of the sultan and his…

  • Mendut Temple & Monastery

    Mendut Temple & Monastery

    19.04 MILES

    This exquisite temple, around 3.5km east of Borobudur, may look insignificant compared with its mighty neighbour, but it houses the most outstanding…

  • Entrance to Sonobudoyo Museum, Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

    Sono-Budoyo Museum

    2.83 MILES

    This treasure chest is one of the best museums in Yogya. It is only small but is home to a first-class collection of Javanese art, including wayang kulit…

  • Plaosan Temples

    Plaosan Temples

    9.02 MILES

    Built around the same time as the larger Prambanan temple group, the Plaosan temples combine both Hindu and Buddhist religious symbols in their elaborate…

  • Affandi Museum

    Affandi Museum

    2.93 MILES

    One of Indonesia’s most celebrated artists, Affandi (1907–90) lived and worked in a wonderfully quirky self-designed riverside studio, about 6km east of…

View more attractions

Nearby Yogyakarta attractions

1. Tombs of Mataram Kotagede

0.27 MILES

The 16th-century founder of the Mataram kingdom, Panembahan Senopati, is buried in the small graveyard of an old mosque located in the suburb of Kota Gede…

2. Pakualaman Kraton

2.25 MILES

This small museum includes a pendopo (large, open-sided pavilion) that can hold a full gamelan orchestra. One of the main attractions here is the pretty…

3. Kedai Kebun Forum

2.45 MILES

This fun, bohemian space is a key haunt for Yogya's arts community. The gallery curates mixed-media exhibitions and hosts pop-up shops, film screenings…

4. Kraton

2.64 MILES

Beside the southern alun-alun (main square), Yogya's enormous kraton (palace) is the cultural and political heart of this fascinating city. Effectively a…

5. Pagelaran Pavilion

2.69 MILES

Due to a schism in the ruling royal family, there is a small portion of the kraton, overlooking the northern alun-alun, that is walled off from the main…

6. Benteng Vredeburg

2.78 MILES

The old Dutch fort, with its impressive moat, is a popular destination for school outings, as it communicates Indonesia's recent history through engaging…

7. Museum Kareta Kraton

2.78 MILES

This wonderful old carriage house exhibits the opulent chariots of the sultan. The leather-upholstered and intricately painted carriages tell their own…

8. Sono-Budoyo Museum

2.83 MILES

This treasure chest is one of the best museums in Yogya. It is only small but is home to a first-class collection of Javanese art, including wayang kulit…

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