WHY BACKPACKER SHOULD VISIT THIS CEMETERY?
QUIET PLACE
If you looking quiet and peaceful place. It might be suitable for you.
You can also doing meditation inside of cemetery.
EXOTIC PLACE
You visiting exotic place with nice jungle around the cemetery.
You can hear the sound of the birds and the sound of blowing wind.
You can also go to inside of King cemetery, but only in specific day.
NATURAL
If you like outdoor exercise, you might love this place.
You need climb up, hike for hundreds of stairs to reach this place.
There are a lot of big tree around of cemetery.
HISTORICAL CEMETERY
The Cemetery used by Mataram Sultanate to bury the Royal families.
Royal families from Kasunanan Surakarta and Kasultanan Yogyakarta also as the next generation of Mataram Sultanate.
CLOSE TO OTHER TOURISM SITE
This place are close to beautiful UNMAINSTREAM place. Such as, CERME CAVE, MANGUNAN FRUIT GARDEN SUNRISE, HUTAN PINUS IMOGIRI, LEPO WATERFALL, PARANGTRITIS BEACH, PARANGKUSUMO BEACH, DEPOK BEACH, etc. It just only one way to the site. So, you can combine to visit these place.
Photo source: http://mblusuk.com/gambar/picart/imogiri/_DSC4583_exp01.jpg
HUNDREDS STAIRS TO THE CEMETERY
Photo source: https://sakaran1.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/65930_159929177373534_4580265_n.jpg
DESCRIPTION:
IMOGIRI ROYAL CEMETERY lies in Girirejo, Imogiri, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Imogiri is a hill that used for royal cemetery complex of the Sultanate of Mataram and of the current graveyard of Surakarta and Yogyakarta Sultanate. Imogiri is derived from Sanskrit Himagiri, which means ‘mountain of snow’. The latter is another name for Himalaya. To reach this place you need to hike hundreds of stairs. You can imagine how hard the Sultan’s servants bring very heavy Sultan’s coffin to the top of hill.
WHERE IS IT?
LOCATION:
Village (Desa): Girirejo
Sub-district (Kecamatan): Imogiri
Regency (Kabupaten): Bantul
Province (Provinsi): Yogyakarta
MAP:
DISTANCE:
About 20km to south from downtown Yogyakarta.
HOW TO GET TO THE CEMETERY:
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
You can use Trans Jogja to Giwangan bus station (Terminal bis Giwangan), ticket about IDR4000. Then change bus, from Giwangan bus station to Imogiri. You stop on Imogiri bus station. Then, take a walk to the cemetery. Better you rent a car or motorcycle for cheap one. Invite local person as guide (Couchsurfer) for good reason.
From Adi Sutjipto Airport :
please take Route 3B – Stop in Giwangan Bus station (Terminal Bis Giwangan)
please take a bus to Imogiri – Stop at Imogiri bus station
Then, take a walk to the Royal cemetery
From Tugu Railway Station :
please take Route 2A – Stop in Tungkak shelter/halte.
Then, take Route 4A – Stop in Giwangan Bus station (Terminal Bis Giwangan)
please take a bus to Imogiri – Stop at Imogiri bus station
Then, take a walk to the Royal cemetery
From Jombor Bus Station :
please take Route 2A – Stop in Tungkak shelter/halte.
Then, take Route 4A – Stop in Giwangan Bus station (Terminal Bis Giwangan)
please take a bus to Imogiri – Stop at Imogiri bus station
Then, take a walk to the Royal cemetery
From Giwangan Bus Station :
please take a bus to Imogiri – Stop at Imogiri bus station
Then, take a walk to the Royal cemetery
*) Trans Jogja operates from 5:30 am until 9:30 pm.
SPECIFIC DRESS FOR ROYAL CEMETERY VISITOR
Photo source: http://images.detik.com/customthumb/2015/01/13/1025/img_20150113224753_54b53e293bf56.jpg?w=600
HOW MUCH IT COST?
ENTRY TICKET:
Rp2,000 for Registration before go to inside of Cemetery King.
Rp10,000 for rent specific dress (You really need to wear the dress, it is mandatory)
*) Before you hike to the top, there is one post asking you donation for mosque.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?
OPEN HOURS:
Monday 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Friday 1.30 pm – 4.00 pm
Sunday 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
*) In Ramadhan, the cemetery closed.
**) If you like quiet sensation, better you do not visit on weekend.
***) Update info: On 18th March 2019, a land slide happened after heavy rain. The cemetery closed for the next week.
DRESS:
Specific dress.
FOREIGNERS DRESS IN CLASSIC JAVANESE DRESS
Photo source: https://iiiiiona.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/imogiri.jpg
OTHER INFORMATION:
MOBILE PHONE SIGNAL:
There are weak signal for your cell phone.
CAFE/RESTAURANT:
There is one “Javanese salad” restaurant around cemetery.
*) For foreigner i recommend: Don’t drink with ice cube in any restaurant or street food in Indonesia, because indonesian ice cube made from not boiled water. It contain bacteria (E. Coli) that can makes stomach problem or diarrhea. Indonesian intestine become immune (adapted) to this bacteria, but not for expat (american and european especially).
RESTROOM/TOILET:
Some restroom and toilet. Better bring your own tissue.
*) It’s forbidden to bring camera/phone to Sultan’s cemetery.
JUST LIKE JAVANESE COUPLE DRESS IN THE PAST TIME
*) You will found exotic smell from underground close or inside of Sultan/King cemetery.
Hey mas, such level of detail for info. I am amazed. Anyway, thanks for taking me around especially this cemetary. The ambience is meditative and the smell from underground is indeed exotic. I actually prayed for meeting my other half soon and hopefully get one this year lol.
Yup, you’re welcome, Bro!
this is a small but quite charming place. i didn’t enjoy wearing local dress which didn’t fit well ;D but inside it was very authentic with all this praying in front of graves. must see for those who want to embark into culture. and thank Roni and Dani for being my funny company and guidance.