Ullen Sentalu – a name that evokes images of a grand, yet exotic place, something from the past that continues to bring beauty to the land of Java.
The beauty of this name is reflected in the design of a museum that’s currently hyper popular among the hipster crowd, especially those coming to Jogja from Jakarta. Located at one of the valleys of Merapi Mountain, Kaliurang. Ullen Sentalu’s unique design seamlessly combines Indie-style architecture with post-modernism design, while showcasing strong influences of the Javanese culture.
The moment you see the museum, you will immediately know that this museum is not like any other museum, especially because it is located in an area called Dalem Kaswargan (“Heaven’s House”).
In the museum, you will find artifacts of Javanese culture from thousands of years ago. Traces of the past can be seen in the paintings, picture collections, documents, batik, literature works, statues, and traditional music instruments.
Also read: FKY, Artsy Spirit from Jogja, the City of Culture
How to enjoy Ullen SentaluThis museum has its own way of inviting the visitors to interact with the collection. A guide will accompany the visitors will be accompanied they tour the museum. This way, visitors can ask their guide straightaway of the history behind the collections or paintings displayed. The guides will be more than happy to share with the visitors stories behind the displays too.
“This isn’t only leisure, the museum has its educational aspect too,” said Daniel Haryodiningrat, the Director of Ullen Sentalu Museum. Visitors are certain not to be left bored with just interacting with touch screens or short captions.
Design
Ullen Sentalu Museum is designed in such a way to summarize the journey of Javanese culture from the Hindu Mataram era through to all the four kingdoms, including the current kingdom.
3 Main Areas of the Museum
Guwo Selo Giri is located 3 meters below ground level with its walls made out of lava stone. This area is designed to resemble a temple, a grand legacy left by Hindu and Buddhist during Mataram dynasty (just like Borobudur and Prambanan Temple are).
Here, you will be able to see a unique painting of a woman. The painting intrigues you in that from any angle you view it, the eyes and feet of the woman will always point your way.
From Guwo Selo Giri, visitors will go through a transition room of Taman Kaswargan, designed with a terrace on a different level of altitude to remind us of Megalithic’s culture.
Kampung Kambang, where you will see 5 floating houses on water. This part of the museum is designed to look exactly like Kalang people’s compound in Kotagede, the capital city of Islam Mataram Kingdom. Visitors go through a labyrinth with narrow streets just like in Kotagede.
In this area, visitors will see a variety of batik collections from Solo and Yogyakarta on display. They are arranged on the right and left hand sides of the site to replicate the front yard of merchants’ houses back in the olden days of Kotagede.
When to come?
Don’t come on Monday, because the museum is closed on Mondays.
Tuesday to Friday from 08.30 a.m. – 04.00 p.m. (last ticket sale at 03.10 p.m.)
Saturday and Sunday from 08.30 a.m. – 05.00 p.m. (last ticket sale at 04.00 p.m.)
#Lava stones used for the museum are from the surrounding of museum area, and done by Kaliurang villagers.
#Visitors are split in groups with tour guides.
#At the end of the tour, visitors will be served with a glass of herbal concoction made with a secret recipe from the royal palace.
