Keraton Horse Cart Museum

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A. Overview

Keraton Yogyakarta Horse Cart Museum is part of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace complex. Those in this unique museum are not usual carts. They are horse-drawn carts belong to the Sultanate Royalty. The horse carts were and some are Keraton’s primary transports for either governmental duty or private occasion.

The museum has been existed since the time of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VII. The carts date back to tens or even hundreds of years ago. Some of them are still used at times for Keraton traditional ceremonies while the others are no longer used considering their age and history.

Aside from the Javanese belief in the existence of spirit or power in every object, each of the carts was given a name because they are considered to have served the Keraton well and thus become royal heirlooms. Every cart has a name and was or is used for particular purpose.

Visiting Keraton Yogyakarta Horse Cart Museum often means looking back at the past of Keraton Ngayogyokarto Hadiningrat. The carts have become artifacts of various important occasions in Keraton’s history. They can also give us a clue as to how advanced Keraton’s technology was back then. Moreover, the carts can tell us something about the diplomatic relations between Keraton and other governments.

B. Features

Based on their models, the carts can be distinguished into three kinds: open roof and two-wheeled carts, Kapolitan Cart for example; open roof and four-wheeled carts, such as Kyai Jongwiyat and all Landower carts; closed roof and four-wheeled carts, for example, Nyai Jimad, Kyai Garudayaksa, and Kyai Wimanaputra.

Different models mean different functions and users. Carts of the first model are used by the Sultan for recreation. The second model carts carry respected persons, for example, Sultan’s guards, royal dancers, and army commanders. The third model carts are special for Sultan and the royal family. Kyai Ratapralaya, which was made in Kampong Rotowijayan, is the royal hearse. This cart has only been used twice so far.

The carts, being royal heirlooms, receive special treatment called Jamasan, in which the carts are washed, “fed” with offerings, and prayed on. Jamasan for Keraton heirlooms always falls on the first Tuesday Kliwon (a day in the five day Javanese calendar) or Friday Kliwon in Suro months (the first month in Javanese calendar). The ceremony is conducted at two venues, Gedong Pusaka and Keraton Yogyakarta Horse Cart Museum.

Jamasan in the museum is performed only for heirloom carts. The process is led by a senior Keraton custodian who is also the museum curator. The cart which must be washed once a year is Kanjeng Nyai Jimad. Kanjeng Nyai Jimad was the royal grand cart used by Sultan Hamengku Buwono I until Sultan Hamengku Buwono IV and is considered the “senior” of other carts. The 1750 Dutch-made cart was a gift from Governor General Jacob Mossel.

Based on the year of the making or the purchase, the carts can be listed as follows:

Kanjeng Nyai Jimad. Made in the Netherlands in 1750, the cart was actually a gift from Spain, which at that time had maintained commercial relation with Yogyakarta Sultanate. This cart was used as a daily transport by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I-III. The cart was fueled by eight horses. Now, the cart is still in original condition. The cart seat was made of buffalo leather. Every year, in Suro (Muharram) month, the cart is washed.
Mondro Juwolo. The cart was used by Pangeran Diponegoro (Indonesian national hero). It was repainted during the Nusantara Keraton Festival IV in 2005. Mondro Juwolo was a 1800 Dutch-made and harnessed six-horses power.
Kyai Manik Retno. The Dutch-made cart was purchased during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IV in 1815. It was used by the Sultan and his consort. The pleasure cart was drawn by six horses.
Kyai Jolodoro. The 1815 Dutch-made cart was an inheritance of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IV. Jolodoro was a pleasure cart (the word Jolo means ‘to net’ and doro means ‘girl’). The coachman controlled the cart from the rear part of the four-horse cart.
Kyai Wimono Putro. The cart was purchased during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VI, precisely in 1860. Kyai Wimono Putro was used in the inauguration of the crown prince. The six-horse cart is still in its original condition (the wood paint).
Garuda Yeksa. The cart was made by the Dutch in 1861 or during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VI. The cart is used in the inauguration of a new sultan. The horse harnesses the power of eight horses that must be of the same color and sex. It is also called Kencana (Golden) Cart. Every part of the cart is still original, including the symbol of Garuda, which is made of 18 carat gold that weighs 20 kilograms. To avoid eroding the gold, the cart is cleaned up only when about to be used. It is believed that every time it is rubbed or cleaned up, it loses around 6-7 grams of the gold. The crown is made of brass and the peak resembles that of Monas Monument. People say that Indonesia’s first president Soekarno indeed took an inspiration from the shape of this crown when designing the famous National Monument (Monas). The cart design was created by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I. One interesting thing is that when the door is opened, there comes out a small ladder automatically, just like that in airplanes. The cart is still used up to now and controlled by only one coachman.
Kyai Harsunaba. The cart is a daily vehicle of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VI-VIII. The cart was purchased in 1870 and drawn by four horses.
Kyai Jongwiyat. The cart was made in Den Haag, Netherlands, in 1880. Kyai Jongwiyat was an inheritance of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VII and used in war (manggala yudha), to prepare the troops and so on. Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VII was the most-frequent sultan to engage war with the Dutch. The cart harnesses the power of six horses. When Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X married his daughter some years ago, the cart was used again. Some parts of the cart have been renovated, such as the paint which is now yellow.
Roto Biru. The cart was made in the Netherlands in 1901 or during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII. The cart was named Roto Biru because its dominant color was bright blue, from the body to the wheels. It was a manggala yudha (war-cart) for army commanders. When Sultan Hamengku Buwono X married his daughter, the cart carried the parents of the bridegroom. The cart was pulled by four horses.
Kus Sepuluh. The cart was made in the Netherlands in 1901 or in the time of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII. It was originally a Landower cart usually for carrying bride and bridegroom. The original green paint has been changed into yellow. It is believed that the color carries political meaning (yellow is the color of a political party in Indonesia). Despite the fact that it is a wedding cart, the cart was not used in the wedding of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X’s daughter.
Kus Gading. The cart was purchased during the reign of Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII. It was a 1901 Dutch-made, four-horse cart.
Kyai Rejo Pawoko. The cart was made in 1901 or during the tenure of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII and used for transport by the Sultan’s brothers. The cart was pulled by four horses and is believed to be purchased at the same time with the birth of Bung Karno, Indonesia’s first president.
Landower. It was a 1901 Dutch-made cart, believed to be constructed during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII. It was a four-horse cart.
Landower Wisman. The cart was bought from the Dutch in 1901 or during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII. The cart’s most recent renovation was carried out in 2003. It used to be the Sultan’s transport when observing farms. The cart used the power of four horses.
Landower. The cart was bought when Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII was on the throne or in 1901. The four-horse Dutch-made cart used to be displayed in Ambarukmo Hotel.
Premili. The cart was constructed in Semarang in 1925 but the spare parts were imported straight from the Dutch. The cart is used for carrying the royal dancers. On one of the wheels of this four-horse cart, there is an inscription that reads “G. Barendsi”.
Kyai Kutha Kaharjo. The four horse cart was made in Berlin in 1927 and purchased during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX. Kyai Kutha Kaharjo was used usually for special events held by the Keraton.
Roto Praloyo. The cart is a hearse purchased during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII in 1938. It was this cart that carried the body of Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX from the Royal Palace to the Imogiri Royal Mataram Graveyard. Roto Praloyo is drawn by eight horses.
Kyai Jetayu. The cart was bought in the time of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII in 1931. The cart was the transport of Sultan’s teenage daughters and drawn by four horses. The coachman seat was above the passenger box.
Kapulitin. This one is a race cart. Purchased during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VII, who was a horse-riding lover, the cart was drawn only by a horse.
Kyai Puspoko Manik. The cart was made in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The cart is usually used in Keraton special events, including wedding. The cart harnesses the power of four horses.
Landower Surabaya. The cart had been ordered since the time of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VII but the construction was not finished until the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII. The cart was a Swiss-made used for agricultural counseling in Surabaya.
Kyai Noto Puro. The cart was made in the Netherlands when Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VII was on the throne. The four-horse vehicle was a war cart. Its physical model has been renovated though.

The carts above must be cleaned up once a year through Jamasan washing rite. What is interesting is that, in every Jamasan, Nyai Jimad cart must always be accompanied by another cart. The accompanying cart is chosen in turn every year. Jamasan participants are all male and wearing full Yogyakarta traditional clothes with surjan (Javanese traditional suit) and blangkon (Javanese traditional hat). Being unique and only held once a year, the traditional ceremony has become an interesting tourism attraction.

Aside from the ceremonial process, there is another interesting thing. Throughout the ceremony, there are usually many attendants, who are mostly elderly, jostling around the cart. They are waiting for the washing water residue—they call this activity “ngalap berkah”. Until today, many people still believe the water can make their field fertile, make them live longer, and give them good health. Many people even wash their face with the residual water they take from drains around the venue.

C. Location

The museum is situated in the Yogyakarta Royal Palace Complex, i.e. northwest of the Palace North Square or precisely on Rotowijayan Street. The museum is administratively in the territory of Kadipaten Subdistrict, Keraton District, Yogyakarta Regency, DI Yogyakarta Province.

D. Access

The access to the museum is easy because it is near to Yogyakarta Palace. From the Palace, tourists only have to walk to get to the museum.

E. Ticket

The museum entrance ticket is Rp 2.000,- (2008) and to take picture, there is an extra charge of Rp 1.000,- for a visitor.

F. Accommodations and Other Facilities

The museum always provides guides for visitors to take them around the museum while explaining the names, history, the years of the making and, of course, the users of each cart in details.

Text: Adi Tri Pramono
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Reza Daffi
(Primary data and various sources)

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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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