Kraton Ratu Boko or Ratu Boko's Palace is located on
a plateau, about 3 km south of Prambanan temple complex. The local inhabitants named this site after King Boko, the
legendary king mentioned in Loro Jonggrang folklore. In Javanese, Ratu
Boko means "Stork King". The site covers 16 hectares in two
hamlets (Dawung and Sambireja) of the village of Bokoharjo and
Prambanan, Sleman Regency. In striking contrast to other Classic-period
sites in Central Java and Yogyakarta, which are remains
of temples, Ratu Boko displays attributes of an occupation or settlement site,
although its precise function is unknown. The site was probably a palace
complex of the kings of Syailendra or Mataram
Kingdom that also built temples scattered across Prambanan Plain.
This site is located 196 m above the sea level, on the highest point in the
site, there is a small pavilion from which one will be able to see a panoramic
view of Prambanan temple with Mount Merapi as the background.
Abhayagiri Vihara inscription dated 792 CE is one of the few written evidence discovered in Ratu Boko site. The inscription mentioned Tejahpurnapane Panamkarana or Rakai Panangkaran (746-784 M), and also mentioned a vihara located on top of the hill called Abhyagiri Wihara which means "a vihara on top of the hill that free from danger". Rakai Panangkaran was a pious follower of Mahayana Buddhist, a Dhyani Buddha statue was discovered in the site which confirmed its initial Buddhist nature of the site. Nevertheless, some Hindu elements is also found in the site, such as the discovery of statues of Hindu deities; Durga, Ganesha and Yoni.
It seems that the compound was converted as a hilltop fortress by a local landlord named Rakai Walaing Pu Kumbayoni. The Ratu Boko complex consists of gopura (gates), paseban, pools, pendopo, pringgitan, kaputren (women's quarter), and a meditation caves.
Here I am chasing sunset and making pictures at the iconic gateway of Kraton Ratu Boko...
and the visit was with my sister and my niece,
thank you all for stopping by and viewing the post...
xxx
