Whispers of the Old Kingdom

"Old Walls, Rich Tales"

The Radya Pustaka Museum, located in the heart of Surakarta (Solo), Central Java, is the second oldest museum in Indonesia. it was established during the 1890's. This esteemed institution features a vast collection of artifacts that vividly depict the rich cultural and historical heritage of Java.

Inside the museum, visitors can admire a collection of wayang kulit (leather shadow puppets) and wayang beber, which portray stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Ancient weapons, such as keris daggers and spears, are also displayed. Traditional gamelan instruments are showcased, evoking the rhythms of Javanese ceremonies. Additionally, there are statues of Hindu and Buddhist deities, some dating back centuries, that represent Java’s spiritual evolution. Because back in the day, before Indonesia became an Islamic country, they were Buddhist. Perhaps most captivating is the collection of old manuscripts, written in both Javanese and Dutch, which offer a glimpse into the region's intellectual heritage.

Furthermore, we observed a diorama of a royal cemetery that boasts a thousand steps. According to Ibu, this cemetery is reserved solely for those of royal blood.  The reason for the thousand steps is the belief that the closer the body is to the sky, the greater the chances for the spirit of the deceased to reach the heavens. I also learned that the Indonesian people follow two types of horoscopes: the Chinese horoscope and the Javanese horoscope, known as Pawuon Horoskop Jawa.