peeping inside the palace

    this mangkunegaran palace is one of two palaces situated in the region of surakarta or solo, and one among five surviving palaces in java. this hereditary principality was established in 1757 by mas said later used the royal title 'k.g.p.a.a mangkunegoro I'. the palace it self was rebuilt by thomas karsten working together with prince mangkunegaran VII, between 1917 and 1920. nowdays this palace is led by the mangkunegoro IX who’s divorced from sukmawati, the daughter of indonesian president and the nation's founding father soekarno.

    
    this palace as the other palaces in java is surrounded by fort and houses of the 'abdi dalem', the king's servants. going a bit further inside you'll be welcomed by the grand 'pendopo' pavilion. architecturally this palace is an eclectic mix of javanese, a bit chinese and western (dutch) which somehow dominating this classy building situated at the heart of the surakarta region. as most palaces in java this palace is painted in white, torqois and gold, the colors considered as royal colors.

    This palace doesn’t really inhabitant, the king and queen as well as the crowned prince are preferably to live in the conveniences of the metropolitan city Jakarta. And left the royal carriage with the horses at their royal home in the old city of surakarta.

too bad on my last (and first) visit i didn't get the privilege to access the inside of this well taken care palace. well maybe next time...