Kampong of Batik Ngasem

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A. Overview

Kampong Ngasem is one of the batik sale centers in Yogyakarta. This kampong is an important place in the history of batik that it becomes the icon of Yogyakarta batik. A large number of Ngasem people earn their living by making and trading batik. And since the 19 century, it has been known as batik kampong. For that reason, some batik merchants chose this place and made their fortunes in the 1970s. They showed their glory by building big luxurious houses with magnificent architecture and some of these houses have now been restored to their former glory.

In Kampong Ngasem you can see a lot of batik dealers in shops, stores and batik galleries which have been made by the local citizen. These stores are spread throughout the kampong.

Kampong Ngasem area is bordered by Kauman Street, Kadipaten Street and Ngasem Street. Which are all included in ndalem beteng (palace area). If you take a look around through those streets, you will find a wall (bastion) surrounding Kampong Ngasem.

The batik making processes in Kampong Ngasem involved various methods. You can find hand-painted batik (batik tulis) or mass-produced stamp-blocked batik (batik cap). The making of batik in Ngasem, however, still relies much on the people’s skills.

B. Features

If you are a batik lover, a visit to Kampong Ngasem will be very exciting as you can find various batik collections. By visiting the kampong, visitors will get a special experience they will unlikely get in usual markets or other batik dealing centers. The batik collections in this kampong are quite comprehensive in both design and type and the prices are affordable. This kampong is the center of batik tradingin Yogyakarta along with Beringharjo Market. The batik prices in this market start from thousands to hundreds of thousands of rupiah depending on the quality, design and the type of the fabric.

This batik center offers various designs and types of batiks. There are hand-painted batiks from Yogyakarta and Solo, stamp-blocked (printed) batik and other designs. There is also Yogyakartan batik, the Yogyakarta Palace antique batik, batik pesisir, Yogyakarta-style duster batik. Besides, there are also various kinds of batik such as Pekalongan, Banyumas, Madura, Betawi and other types of batik from other areas. This kampong also offers fabrics for making clothes, bed sheets, pillowcases and other accessories in batik.

When visitors buy batik in this kampong, bargaining is suggested. If visitors are good at bargaining, they may get a lower price althoughhe dealers price their goods based on the quality. According to buyers, shopping in this kampong will not leave you disappointed because besides the affordable prices, the friendly dealers also makes the buyers feel comfortable.

Besides being known as a batik center, this kampong used to be a center for buying and selling birds. The area also provides other various needs; there are non-batik clothes, foods, accessories, electronics, gold, kitchen ware and much more. There are also special export-quality handicrafts from Yogyakarta; carved wooden mirrors, carved glass and various souvenirs made from glasses.

Visitors will not have to feel crowded when visiting Kampong Ngasem for shopping. The shopping will be more exciting because visitors can browse separate shops, stores and galleries but in one area. This atmosphere is the exact opposite to shopping batik in a market. Besides shopping, visitors can see the beauty of Ngayogyokarto Hadiningrat Palace.

Another activity in the kampong is a visit to the hand-painted batik factory which lies in Kampong Kauman which is not far from Ngasem. There, visitors can see directly the processes of making batik, from the pattern creation to the coloring process.

C. Location

Kampong of Batik Ngasem is located in the west of Yogyakarta Palace and is included in the Kraton Sub-District administrative area, Yogyakarta.

D. Access

The location of the kampong in central Yogyakarta makes access to Ngasem easy. Besides being reachable by private transport, visitors can also find the kampong by most of public transports in Yogyakarta. If you take the route from Tugu Train Station, you can go to the south until you reach the Yogyakarta Palace. Next, go to westwards to Kampong Kauman gate which is the entrance to Kampong Ngasem.

E. Tickets

There is no admission charge for visitors to visit Ngasem the Batik Kampong, but there is a charge for parking.

F. Accommodation and Facilities

Around Ngasem area there are several facilities, including parking area, mosque, shopping information center, public convenience, and some local food stalls selling gudeg and snacks, bakpia and geplak. The kampong also provides another interesting service, which internet order and consultation. Some of the batik dealers have been selling via the internet or online system, so now visitors can choose and order before coming to the kampong.

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

Read : 10093 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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