Architecture Talk: Taman Sari Yogyakarta

Taman Sari, Yogyakarta
It is one of the earliest royal mixed use that consists of resting area, workshop, meditation area, defense area, hiding place. Here are some facts about this place which you might not know:

Waterworld
It is also called "water castle" (Dutch: waterkasteel); as by shutting the watergates, the complex would be completely immersed in water, leaving tall structures standing out. Talking about a real life version of Kevin Costner’s fictional Water World, in the past.

Built by Foreign Architect

The manuscript of Serat Rerenggan mentions the story of Demang Tegis, a Portuguese man said to be one of the architect of Taman Sari. According to the manuscript, a strange man suddenly appeared in Mancingan Village (a locality name on the south coast of Java near Parangtritis). With long nose, white complexion, and a foreign language, the villagers suspected that the person was some kind of spirit or forest fairy. They presented him to the current sultan, Hamengkubuwono II. Apparently the sultan found interest in the person and took the strange man as his servant.
 
After some times, the man had finally learned to talk in Javanese. According to him, he was a Portuguese (or in Javanese, Portegis) who was stranded from a shipwreck. He also claimed to have been a housebuilder, so the sultan ordered him to erect a fortress. Satisfied by the man's work, the sultan gave him the title "demang." From then on that person was known as Demang Portegis or Demang Tegis

Historical Dispute

Another version obout the construction of this structure can be found in the book of Mamana in Yogyakarta Kraton. It is said that the project leader for the construction of Taman Sari was Tumenggung Mangundipura. He had travelled twice to Batavia to learn about European architecture, which is the reason why the architecture of Taman Sari resembles a hybrid of Javanese and Dutch styles, instead of Portuguese.

Underground Mosque

There is a one-storeyed circular structure that forms another artificial island in the past called Gumuling Well (Sumur Gumuling), which can only be entered via the underwater tunnel. A niche in the wall of this building was used as a mihrab. The central area of this building is an elevated platform where four staircases meet, and then from the platform, one staircase reach the first floor. On the ground level of this platform is a small pool that was used for Muslim ritual ablution.

​(Spiritual) Tunnel of Love

A legend says that there is a secret tunnel that connects the palace with the south sea (Indian Ocean) where Nyai Roro Kidul or the Queen of the South has her palace. The supernatural Queen becomes the spiritual wife of Yogyakarta Sultan for many generations. Even The Sultan has to pay a visit to all of his wives & concubines, and that does not exclude The Queen of The South

​Chicks watching tower

Perhaps this would be the favourite feature any straight man can dream of. Taman Sari has it! For Sultan’s eyes only though. In the past, his majesty would go up to this tower and watch his concubines while they are bathing in the part of the structure which is best preserved. Just like a royal market, except the groceries are the girls. Like it or not, that’s the life of the Sultan. Check our Jakarta-Based Architecture services with various design for your projects.