Taman Sari @ Yogyakarta

signboard

front entrance

one can peek from the top deck of the tower, watching the bathing girls in the pool..... and choose

2nd pool.. must be a lot of bathing girls I think

more gates

underground mosque.. this is supposedly the place where the imam lead the prayers

entrance to underground tunnel

from: http://watercastletamansariyogyakarta.blogspot.com/

Taman Sari was built three years after Giyanti Agreement (1755) took place. Sultan Hamengku Buwono I just went through years of guerrilla warfare. Therefore, he wanted to create a place for rest and relaxation, as well as a retreat. The presence of a religious site called Sumur Gumuling in the complex supports the latter possibility.

Some also said that the Sultan built Taman Sari as a token of gratitude towards his queen, who had been an obedient companion during the hardships of war.

Taman Sari is derived from two words, namely, “taman,” meaning a garden or park and “sari,” which means either beautiful or flowers. Hence, the name “Taman Sari” means an area of a beautiful garden adorned with various captivating plants and flowers. Located in the western part of Jogjakarta’s keraton (castle), this garden took years to finish.

The Dutch came out with the name Water Castle. An old article by Groneman described a “waterkasteel” in Jogjakarta. By shutting the watergates, the complex would be completely immersed in water, leaving tall structures standing out.

The building of Taman Sari had commenced during the reign of Sultan Hamengku Buwono I (1755-1792) and was completed by Sultan Hamengku Buwono II. The building site, however, had already been known as a bathing place called Pacethokan Spring since Sunan Amangkurat IV’s reign. Its clear water ran deep.

from: http://www.yogyes.com/en/yogyakarta-tourism-object/places-of-interest/tamansari/

Tamansari was built in the Sultan Hamengku Buwono I period in the end of XVII Century. Tamansari not only just a recreation, but it's also a compound of bathing pool, canals, rooms and extremerly large swimming pool (if the canals opened).The Tamansari complex consist of:

1. The Sacred Room
   There is the sacred place in the complex showing a separated building, which once functioned as a hermitage place for the Sultan and his family
2. The Bathing Pool
   This part was formerly a pleasure place for the royal family. Consists of two bathing pool that are separated with a 2-storey building. From this building the Sultan watched all the women swimming in the outer pool. Then he might ask some of them to accompany him into the inner pool. The water sprouts from a forming animal statue into the pool. The pool is also adorned with some big flowerpot.

3. Kenanga or Cemeti Island
   This part compounds of some building such as Kenanga or Cemeti Island (forming Island), Sumur Gemuling and underground tunnels.