- Address: Bokoharjo, Prambanan, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, East Java, Indonesia
- Website: borobudurpark.com
- Opening hours: daily from 6:00 to 17:00
- Cost of visit: adult ticket (including children over 10 years old) - $ 25, children (from 3 to 10 years) - $ 15
A very interesting place for walking in the area of Jogjakarta is called the Palace Ratu Boko (although in general it is more the ruins of the palace complex). If you want to get a better acquaintance with the ancient culture and art of Indonesia , Ratu Boko is undoubtedly worth a visit.
The history of the palace of Ratu Boko
The surviving ruins of the palace complex of Ratu Boko date back to the end of the VIII - first half of the 9th centuries. Ratu Boko can not be called a temple , a monastery, or a palace in full. The opinions of the researchers regarding the purpose of the local buildings are very divergent. Presumably in the Middle Ages a fortress was built on this place, it was preserved in part, largely due to the high seismicity of the area. Some historians are inclined to the version that previously there was a hospital here.
What interesting things can you see?
Ruins of Ratu Boko are also called "Kraton", which means "Palace". The first thing that strikes the eye when you get here is a solemnly beautiful double entrance gate, to which leads a three-span staircase. It is here that you can observe the greatest concentration of people. From the gate to the sides are powerful walls and ditches from the outside.
At the entrance there is a scheme of the Ratu Boko Palace, along which it is easy to navigate inside the complex. As soon as you have entered inside, to the left of the gate you can see the pedestal where people gather to look at the sunset. From this point a wonderful panorama of Prambanan and its temples opens. According to the assumptions of historians, this is a former crematorium. Behind him goes a path up to the gazebo with an observation deck on the valley.
The Ratu Boko complex consists of several structures surrounded by walls, which in the first place performed a defensive function. Inside you can see partially preserved to this day:
- The palace of the princess;
- swimming pools (or Roman baths);
- parts stupas;
- ritual caves.
From all the buildings were only stone foundations and ceilings, the upper part was assumed to be made of wood or reed and since that time collapsed.
Ritual caves are located in the outskirts of Ratu Boko. There are only 2 of them - the top one is called Gua Lanang (or Men's Cave), and the lower one is Gua Wadon (Female). Most likely, they were used for meditations, sacred symbols were preserved above the entrance and on the walls (because of soft limestone, the outlines of the inscriptions have blurred, and it is difficult to understand what they mean).
The cost of the ticket to Ratu Boko, in addition to visiting the ruins of the complex, includes a small dinner and a drink, which is especially true for those wishing to stay to see the sunset.
How to get there?
The Ratu Boko Palace complex is located 3 km from Prambanan, on a hill (about 200 m high), along the road connecting Jogjakarta and Surakarta via Klaten. Public transport runs only to Prambanan, then you will need to transfer to a motorcycle taxi to Ratu Boko.
- From Tugu Yogyakarta railway station. In the direction of Prambanana, the Transjogja 1A bus route follows. You need to go to the stop of Mangkubumi, then continue to Pasaran Prambanan and from it on a motorcycle taxi to the palace. Or use a taxi or rent a car. Go from the station to your destination 20 km (30 minutes on the road).
- From the airport Adisutjipto (Adisutjipto Airport). The distance from the airport to Ratu Boco is about 8.4 km (15 minutes by taxi or a rented car). Public transport also follows only to Prambanan, then to the palace you need to get to the moto-taxi.