Museum Ullen Sentalu is a historical treasure in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This museum offers a charm of beauty and uniqueness that will amaze every visitor. Located on Jalan Boyong, Kaliurang, Pakem District, Sleman, Yogyakarta, the Ullen Sentalu Museum may be a little far from the city center, but that doesn’t stop tourists from all over the world from coming and witnessing the charm of Javanese culture hidden in it.
A Brief History of the Ullen Sentalu Museum
Museum Ullen Sentalu is a private museum founded by Haryono and developed with his family under the auspices of the Ulating Blencong Foundation since 1994. After a thorough development process, the museum was finally inaugurated on March 1, 1997 by KGPAA Paku Alam VIII.
The name “Ullen Sentalu” itself contains the noble meaning and hope implied by its owner. The Javanese saying “Ulating Blencong Sejatining Tataraning Lumaku” was taken as the basis for embedding this name, which means “light is the guide for the path of life”. With that name, the museum hopes to function as a vehicle and means of preserving Indonesian material and non-material culture that can enrich insights into the history of past Javanese culture and reflect today’s culture.
The vision and mission of the Ullen Sentalu Museum rests on safeguarding and preserving the nation’s culture through the reconstruction of Javanese civilization and history, so that it can become a complete picture of the nation’s personality and cultural character. As a permanent institution, the Ullen Sentalu Museum holds a great responsibility in protecting and preserving tangible and especially intangible cultural heritage.
The Uniqueness and Attractiveness of the Museum Ullen Sentalu
The Ullen Sentalu Museum is one of the tourist destinations that introduces culture and collections of historical objects originating from the Mataram Dynasty and the lives of the nobles during the Surakarta Sunanate, Yogyakarta Sultanate, Mangkunegaran Praja, and Pakualaman Duchy. Visiting this museum is like entering a time tunnel that takes us back to the glorious past.
Museum Ullen Sentalu has two main buildings, namely Guwa Selo Giri (underground building) and Kampung Kambang. In Kampung Kambang, there are five sections that display various collections such as batik cloth, kebaya, manuscripts, photographs, paintings, and others. One of the uniqueness of this museum is a special presentation on the history and collections of the princesses and queens of the palace, which is the “heart of the collection” of the Ullen Sentalu Museum.
There are two types of tours offered to visitors, namely the Adiluhung Mataram Tour and the Vorstenlanden Tour. The Adiluhung Mataram Tour takes visitors to explore the Adiluhung culture of Mataram through paintings, photographs, poetry and batik which are told in a fairy tale. Meanwhile, on the Vorstenlanden Tour, visitors are invited to explore the history of Javanese land rule and the golden age of the Yogyakarta Sultanate and Surakarta Sunanate through the Museum Ullen Sentalu masterpiece collection of paintings.
One of the interesting aspects of the Museum Ullen Sentalu is the quality of its management system and the attention it pays to visitors. Visitors feel comfortable because guides/educators provide information about the history and stories behind each collection on display.
Dive into Javanese Culture on the Mataram Adiluhung Tour
The Adiluhung Mataram Tour invites visitors to explore the Adiluhung culture of Mataram through paintings, photographs, poetry and batik which are told in depth. Visitors will get acquainted with the nobles of Mataram and enter into their life stories which reveal philosophical and meaningful Javanese art and culture through the charm of paintings, poetry collections, and photographs.
Not only displaying a collection of physical objects, this tour also provides an overview of the life and policies of the Mataram nobility. Ancient poems, paintings, and photographs bring us to reflect for a moment about the social order and life of the people at that time.
Vorstenlanden Tour: Remembering the Power of the Empire
Meanwhile, the Vorstenlanden Tour will take us back to the golden age of the Yogyakarta Sultanate and Surakarta Sunanate. On this tour, visitors will be invited to take a closer look at the Museum Ullen Sentalu masterpiece collections that reflect the lives of members of aristocratic families who are not exposed to outsiders.
In this tour, visitors will find a room dedicated to uncovering the history and collections of the princesses and queens of the palace. Various objects and paintings will invite us to explore the life of the palace women who are full of beauty and wisdom. This room is clear evidence that women also played an important role in Javanese culture in the past.
Facilities and Services at the Museum Ullen Sentalu
The Ullen Sentalu Museum has complete facilities which are amazing make visitors. There is a souvenir shop that sells a variety of unique and quality items as a memento of your visit. The canteen serves delicious food and drinks to fill your stomach after touring the museum.
This museum also provides clean and comfortable toilets, as well as a large parking space for the convenience of visitors. In addition, visitors can take part in various activities such as Mataram art and culture workshops, etiquette, norms, ideas, paintings, indies-Javanese architecture, cultural tours, outbound, exhibitions, and so on organized by the Museum Ullen Sentalu.
Opening Hours and Entrance Ticket Prices
Museum Ullen Sentalu is open Tuesday to Friday at 08.30 – 16.00 WIB, and on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) at 08.30 – 17.00 WIB. The museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays.
The ticket price for the Museum Ullen Sentalu is quite affordable for domestic and foreign visitors. For adult domestic visitors, entrance tickets are priced at Rp. 30,000, – and for children (5 – 16 years) for Rp. 15.000,-. Meanwhile, foreign visitors must pay an entrance ticket of Rp. 50.000,-.
This entry ticket can also be used to visit the Ullen Sentalu Unit II Museum, so you can get two different tourist experiences in one ticket.
Recognizing Cultural Identity in Every Visit
The Museum Ullen Sentalu is a beautiful blend of Javanese culture, natural beauty and interesting architecture. When you are in this museum, you will feel like you are immersing in the culture and life of the palace in the past.
This museum has succeeded in presenting Javanese culture in a modern packaging so that it can attract the interest of the current generation to know and appreciate local wisdom. The quality of its good management system and attention to visitors have made the Museum Ullen Sentalu a leading tourist destination in Yogyakarta.
By seeing the many collections and cultural meanings contained in it, the Museum Ullen Sentaluis the right place to explore Indonesia’s history and cultural identity. Every visit to this museum will leave a deep impression of the charm of Javanese culture and local wisdom values that can be appreciated and preserved for future generations.
As an educative and attractive tourist destination, the Museum Ullen Sentalu deserves recognition as one of the best museums in Indonesia. So, don’t miss the opportunity to visit this museum while on vacation in Yogyakarta and feel for yourself the lively and colorful charm of Javanese culture in the Ullen Sentalu Museum!
Want to visit the Museum Ullen Sentalu? Don’t forget to visit the Merapi Lava Tour too! The Museum Ullen Sentalu is very close to Merapi. Goajomblang.com provides tour packages to Borobudur and Merapi which are perfect for you to use. The following is information about the tour package:
Borobudur Sunrise ( via Punthuk Setumbu Hill ) and Merapi Lava Tour
This tour package offers travelers a chance to experience the stunning sunrise over Borobudur Temple from Punthuk Setumbu Hill and explore the geological history of Merapi Volcano through a Lava Tour.
| Price | Min. Person |
|---|---|
| USD 115 | 1 |
| USD 77 | 2 |
| USD 65 | 3 |
| USD 58 | 4 |
| USD 60 | 5 |
For more people please contact us.
This tour package offers travelers a chance to experience the stunning sunrise over Borobudur Temple from Punthuk Setumbu Hill and explore the geological history of Merapi Volcano through a Lava Tour by 4×4 Jeep.
Highlights:
Catch the stunning sunrise over Borobudur Temple from Punthuk Setumbu Hill
Witness the magnificent Borobudur Temple, the largest single Buddhist Monument in the world
Learn about the geological history of Merapi Volcano on a Lava Tour by 4×4 Jeep. Stop Point: Remnants of My Treasure Museum, Alien Stone, Kaliadem Bunker
Itinerary:
- 03:30 AM – 04:30 AM: Hotel pick-up (Yogyakarta area) and drive to Punthuk Setumbu Hill
- 04:30 AM – 04:45 AM: Hike up to Punthuk Setumbu Hill
- 04:45 AM – 06:00 AM: Witness the stunning sunrise over Borobudur Temple via Punthuk Setumbu Hill
- 06:00 AM – 06:30 AM: Return to the base of the hill and enjoy a light breakfast
- 07:00 AM – 09:00 AM: Enter and climb up Borobudur Temple into the top level and learn its great history explained by the local guide
- 09:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Drive to the Jeep Basecamp of Merapi Volcano
- 10:30 AM – 12:00 AM: Learn about the geological history, witness the stunning view of Merapi Volcano on a J4x4 Jeep Lava Tour
- 12:30 AM – 13:30 AM: Return transfer to hotel. End of service!
The Trip Cost Includes:
- Private A/C Transportation
- Pick up and drop off at your accommodation
- English Speaking Driver
- Borobudur Temple Entrance Ticket (Foreigner)
- Ticket to climb up Borobudur Temple
- Punthuk Setumbu Hill Entrance Ticket (Foreigner)
- Merapi Lava Tour Entrance Ticket (Foreigner)
- Guides
