Kraton Yogyakarta

The Sultan's Palace, or Kraton, with its grand and elegan Javanese architecture, lay in the centre of the city. It was founded by Pangeran Mangkubumi in 1775, whose the son, the prince, was then called Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I. He choose the right place for the site of the building, right between Winongo River and Code River a swamp area that dried up then. The Sultan's palace stretches from north to south. The front yard of the Palace is called Alun-alun Utara (NorthSquare) and the back yard called Alun-alun Selatan (South Square). The design of this historical building demonstates that the Palace, the obelisk (theTugu, the column) and Mount Merapi positioned in one line. It is believed that the axis is blessed. In the old-time, Sri Sultan is used to concentrate his mind along this axis before leading a meeting, making decision or giving order to his people.