The History Of Kraton Surakarta

In 1742, the court of the great Mataram Dynasty in Kartasura was invaded and ransacked by a rival rurel from the island kingdom of Madura. Three years later, the Mataram king, Pakubuwono II restored to his throne with dutch assistance, move his court to nearby Surakarta where he had built a new palace on the banks of Java longest rives, Bengawan Solo. According to legend, the site of the Kraton Surakarta was chosen by the queen of the south seas, Nyai Loro Kidul whose authority traditionally legitimizes the Javanese Kingship. Surrounding the main Pendopo in the central kraton court yard is a sea of black sand, indicating that the kraton falls withirg the environs od Loro Kiduls south sea territory.
On the top floor of a curious octagonal tower which stands to the left of the Mataram Kraton gate is a medifatdon room in which the Sunan, on the anniversary of his coronation communes with Loro Kidul and reaffirms the divine mandate for her kingship. The Kraton Surakarta was swept by five in 1985, tragically destroying almost 70 % of the building including the Pendopo and Royal apartments. The narrow always which for historical veasons of security provide the only access to the kraton was reduced to a smouldering heap of ash.
In keeping with the legend of its genesis, the ashes of the kraton were cast into the south sea and returned to Loro Kidul. Restoration of the kraton is being carried out according to the exact. Decification of the original buildings and using identical materials, the great sky blue Pendopo once again stands in its sea of sand surrounded by 72 sacred trees and shaded by cheerful green and white candy stripe royal apartments a new kase of life.
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