Beringharjo Market

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2.8 ( 12 Voter(s) )

A. Overview

Visiting Beringharjo Market at Malioboro is an awesome experience. As the biggest traditional market, Beringharjo grew alongside the history of the City of Culture, Yogyakarta. The market is a concrete building and the oldest market with historical and philosophical values which cannot be separated from Yogyakarta Palace. Looking at its history, Beringharjo Market has gone through three phases, the kingdom, the colonization and the independence era. Thus, Beringharjo Market is always memorized for its value of collective memory in the heart of Yogyakarta people.

The establishment of this market is a part of the city planning design of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate which is usually called Catur Tunggal which covers four aspects namely the palace as the administrative center, the palace yard as the public space, the mosque as the prayer house and the market as the center of economic transaction. In term of setting, Beringharjo Market is located outside of Yogyakarta Palace (njobo keraton), at the north of the North Yard.

The area on which Beringharjo market stands was formerly a wood of banyan tree. Soon after the establishment of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate in 1758 AD, Yogyakarta people altered the area into a place for economic transaction. Hundreds of years later, Yogyakarta Palace realized the importance of establishing a more representative market. Therefore, on March 24, 1925, Nederlancsh Indisch Beton Maatschappij (the Indies Concrete Company) was delegated to build stalls. In August 1925, 11 stalls were finished and gradually, some more other came afterward.

The name Beringharjo itself was given after Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII throrned on March 24, 1925. He ordered all institutions to be under the aegis of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate in Javanese. There was the name Beringharjo then. It means an area which used to be a wood of banyan tree (in Indonesian beringin) which is hoped to bring prosperity (in Javanese harjo). The name is considered appropriate because the location was formerly a wood of banyan tree and banyan tree is a symbol of grandeur and protection for people.

This traditional warket which was once caught on fire in 1986 stands on a 2,5 acres of land and gone through two renovations, in 1951 and 1970. in its development, nowadays, the management of the market that the Dutch refered as one of the most wonderful market in Java (Eender Mooiste Passer op Java) is assumed by the Local Government of Yogyakarta.

B. Features

The specific feature of Beringharjo Market can be seen in its interior which is the unification of the colonial and Javanese traditional architecture. Therefore, although refered as a traditional market, Beringharjo is quite modern. That is what Beringharjohas been trying to prove; a traditional market in the heart of Yogyakarta which stands still despite by the presence of modern shopping centers in its surrounding.

In general, this market consists of two separated buildings, the west and the east side. The main building on the west side consists of two floors, and the second building on the east side consists of three floors. The main entrance to the market is on the west side, facing straight to Malioboro Street. This entrance is a building with a colonial feature of an inscription that reads Pasar Beringharjo in Roman alphabet and Javanese letter.

On the right and left side of the main entrance there are two 2,5 x 3,5 m rooms used as the office of the market management. The entrance connects to the main passage of the market which is straight from west to east. This passage inside the market is around 2 meter wide with open stalls on its right and left side. Beside the main entrance, there are other smaller doors on the north, east and south side.

Another attractiveness of Beringharjo Market is the batik center on the lower ground of the main building. Not only Solo and Yogyakarta batik, Pekalongan batik is also available here. From “batik cloth” to “batik clothes” made of cotton and silk, from tens to hundreds of thousands are all available here. Collections of batik cloth are provided at the stalls on the northern side of the west market. Meanwhile, collections of batik clothes are sold at almost everywhere of the western part of the market. In addition to batik, the western stalls of the market provide surjan (long-sleeved man’s jacket usually of woven, stripped material), blangkon (male batik headdress) as well as woven and batik sarong. Slippers and bags of cheap price are also availabe around the western stairs of the market. The bargaining system such as on the other traditional market is applied.

Suited to its image as a “big” (gedhe) market for Yogyakarta people, almost all needs either the primary or secondary ones can be found here. Household needs, nine basic necessities (food and clothing), souvenirs, crafts, accessories, clothing, fruits, vegetables, kerupuk (chips made from a starch base and ground fish, shrimp, etc.), melinjo and eel chips, even Yogyakarta specialized cuisines are all available here. Beringharjo Market operates from predawn to late at night.

The market is also a unique place for tourists to hunt for antiques. Antiques center is on the third floor of the eastern part of the market. Tourists can find old typewriter, the 60’s helmet, etc. They can also hunt for various ex-imported stuff such as clothes, shoes, bags and more, sold much cheaper than the original price yet with the same quality. Surely, tourists must be careful in selecting them.

Moreover, the northern area of Beringharjo which used to be known as the Chinatown is the most popular area. Tourists can find cassettes of old records from the 50’s musicians not available in other place. There is also the center for metal crafts such as Buddha statue in many forms. For ancient money collectors, this market provides ancient money from several countries.

Although it closes at 5 pm, some trading activities go on until night. The front part of the market still offers various kinds of Yogyakarta specialities such as martabak (crispy pancake made from a sheet of dough with various fillings), terang bulan (sweet thick crepes), klepon (sweet coconut riceballs), getuk (pounded tapioca), bakpia and many other traditional foods. At around 7 pm to midnight, there are usually gudeg sellers in front of the market who also provide kikil (dish made of cow leg skin) and various oseng-oseng (sauteéd). While eating, tourists can enjoy to the Javanese traditional music being played or talk to the seller who would be so friendly to them.

Beringharjo Market is almost always crowded with buyers, from dawn till dusk. Not less than 7.000 sellers offer their goods here. Beringharjo is located at the end of Malioboro Street and becomes a special magnet for visitors. Parents of students studying in Yogyakarta usually spend some time to shop here when they visit their children.

C. Location

Beringharjo Market is situated at the heart of Yogyakarta, at Pabringan Street No. 1, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia 55122. It is on the southern end of Malioboro and side by side with Vredeburg Fort, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta and Shopping Center. On the southwest of Beringharjo there is Gedung Agung. On the south and southeast of Beringharjo there are Taman Pintar and Yogyakarta Palace.

D. Access

Beringharjo Market is quite accessible. It is located exactly at the city center. Moreover, this market is not too far from Adi Sucipto Airport (about 8 km), from Giwangan Bus Station (about 6 km), from Lempuyangan Train Station (about 3 km) and from Tugu Train Station (about 1 km).

Visitors who depart from Adi Sucipto Airport can take Transjogja route 3A or 3B to Malioboro Street for Rp 3.000,-. After taking 25 minutes of journey, stop at Transjogja shelter in front of Kepatihan (governor office of DIY), then walk to Beringharjo Market for approximately 100 meters. Those who depart from Giwangan Bus Station can take the city bus lane 2, 4 or 15 to Malioboro and stop in front of Beringharjo Market for Rp 2.000,- (October 2008).

Tourists who depart from Lempuyangan Train Station can take pedicab or horse cart to Beringharjo for Rp 15.000,- or a taxi for around Rp 20.000,-. While those who depart from Tugu Train Station can take a pedicab or horse cart to Beringharjo for around Rp 10.000,- (October 2008).

E. Ticket

Visiting Beringharjo Market is free off charge. It opens daily from 6 am to 5 pm.

F. Accommodations and Facilities

In addition to the stalls, storerooms and offices, there are some supporting installations such as a wide parking area, loading and discharging facilities, security service, depository, daycare service, play ground, health center, market cooperative, ATM, restaurant, small mosque and conveniences.

Text: Tasyriq Hifzhillah
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Apri Widiastuti
(Primary data and various sources)

Read : 8047 time(s).

If you are from outside Yogyakarta and want to visit this place by travel agency services,
please contact:

Maharatu Tour and Travel

Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 27 Yogyakarta.
Telp. +62 274 8373005. Fax. +62 274 379250
Email : maharatu@maharatu.com -maharatu257@yahoo.com
Website : www.maharatu.com

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