Sunday, February 3, 2013

Queen Boko Palace

Queen Boko
Queen Boko Palace, grandeur in Peaceful Hill

Queen Boko Palace is a magnificent building which was built during the reign of Rakai Panangkaran, a descendant of Sailendra dynasty. The palace was originally named Abhayagiri Vihara (meaning monastery on a peaceful hill) was built for seclusion and to focus on the spiritual life. Being in this palace, you can feel the peace as well as see the sights of the city of Yogyakarta and Prambanan temple with the background of Mount Merapi.

This palace is located 196 meters above sea level. Of 250,000 m2 area of ​​the palace is divided into four, namely central, west, southeast, and east. The middle section consists of the main gate building, tennis, Combustion Temple, pond, sacred terrace and Paseban. Meanwhile, the southeast part includes the verandah, Hall-Hall, 3 temples, ponds, and a princess complex. Complex of caves, Buddhist Stupa, and ponds located on the east. While the western part consists only of the hills.


If you enter from the gate of the palace, you will go directly to the center. Two high gate will welcome you. The first gate has three entrances while the second has 5 doors. If you are careful, the first gate will be found the word 'Panabwara'. Said that, based on inscriptions Middle Wanua III, written by Rakai Panabwara, (descendants of Rakai Panangkaran) who took over the palace. The purpose of writing is to legitimize the power of his name, give 'power' so it is more majestic and gives a sign that the building was the main building.

About 45 meters from the second gate, you will see a temple made of white stones so called Candi White Stone. Not far away, you will also find Combustion Temple. The temple is a square (26 meters x 26 meters) and has 2 terraces. As the name implies, the temple was used for cremation. Besides the two temples, a sacred terrace and pool will be found later if you walk about 10 meters away from the temple burning.

Well of mystery will see when walking to the southeast of Temple Burning. That said, the well was called Amrita Mantana meaning given holy water spells. Now, the water is still often used. Local people say, well water can bring good luck to the wearer. While Hindus use it for Tawur grand ceremony the day before Nyepi. Water use in the ceremony is believed to support the goal, which is to purify ourselves to return the earth and its contents at initial harmony. We recommend that you visit Prambanan temple the day before Nyepi day to see the ceremony.

Stepping into the eastern part of the palace, you will see two caves, a large pool measuring 20 meters x 50 meters and a Buddhist stupa that sits quietly. Two caves were formed from sedimentary rock called breccia stones. The cave, which is over the so-called Cave Men (Gua Lanang) while under the so-called Cave Women (Gua Wadon). Right in front of Gua Lanang there is a pool and three stupas. According to a research, it is known that it is Aksobya stupa, one of the Buddhist Pantheon.

Although founded by a Buddhist, it has Hindu elements. It can be seen with the Linga and Yoni, Ganesha statues, and gold plate that reads "Om Rudra ya namah swaha" as a form of worship of the god Rudra is another name of Lord Shiva. The existence of Hindu elements proved religious tolerance that is reflected in architectural works. Indeed, when the Rakai Panangkaran are Buddhists coexist with the followers of Hinduism.

Few know that this palace is witness of the early triumph in the land of Sumatra. Balaputradewa chance to flee the palace before the Sumatra when it was attacked by the Rakai Pikatan. Balaputradewa rebelled because they felt as the number two in the Ancient Mataram Kingdom government due to  Rakai Pikatan marriage Pramudhawardani (brother Balaputradewa. Following his defeat and fled to Sumatra, then he became king in the kingdom of Sriwijaya.

As a heritage building, Queen Boko Palace is unique among other relics. Other buildings are in the form of a temple or shrine, the name implies it shows characteristics of a place to live. It is shown from the façade and roof pillars made of wood, even though we can only see remains of the stone building. The palace, then you will get more, one of them very beautiful sunset scenery. Because of its beauty so it is fitting that this place be the best travel destination for you.

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