YOGYAKARTA PALACE

Yogyakarta Presidential Palace is located at the southern end of Jl. Akhmad Yani (formerly Jl. Malioboro); Ngupasan, Gondomanan Sub District, Yogyakarta. The complex was built on 43,585 meters per square land. Since it was built, the palace has not changed much. At the front yard, stands a two meters tall statue of a giant gurding the entrance (Dwarapala). Moreover, there is a 3 and half meters “tugu” (a statue in the form of tall pillar) named ‘Tugu Dagoba” (the Yogyakartans call it “Tugu Lilin/candle”), with artificial flame on top. It is made of “andesite” rock. The backyard is full of big trees shading the presidential palace with their thick leaves. Yogyakarta Presidential Palace is also well known as “Gedung Agung” (the Great Building) or “Gedung Negara” (the State Building). One of the main functions of the main building of the palace is a place to receive royal guests.

Yogyakarta Presidential Palace was formerly an officicial house of the 18th Resident in Yogyakarta (1823 – 1825). He was a Dutch named Anthonie Hendriks Smissaert, who was also the one initiating the construction of the “Gedung Agung”. The building was built in May 1824 by A. Payen, an architect appointed by the Governor General of West Indies. The construction was temporarily delayed due to the Diponegoro War (1825 – 1830) and continued after the war was over (1832). Among several Dutch governors who lived in the building were J.E. Jesper (1926 – 1927); P.R.W. van Gesseler Verschuur (1929 – 1932); H.M. de Kock (1932 – 1935); J. Bijlevel (1935 – 1940); and L. Adam (1940 – 1942). At the time of Japan colonization, the palace served as the official house for the leader in Yogyakarta, Koochi Zimmukyoku Tyookan.

On 6 January 1946, Yogyakarta was announced as the capital city of the Republic of Indonesia after the Indonesian Government moved from Jakarta to Yogyakarta. At that time, “Gedung Agung” became a Presdintial Palace, a home for president Soekarno, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, as well as his family.

On 28 December 1949, President Soekarno moved to Jakarta, and since then the palace was no longer the home of the president. After the independence, when the second president of the Republic of Indonesia ruled to be exact, since 17 April 1988, Yogyakarta Presidential Palace/”Gedung Agung” has been functioning as a place to conduct the Afternoon Parade Ceremony every 17 August, to hold initiation events for the Indonesian Air Forces’ newcomers as well as farewel parties between the Indonesian Armed Forces junior officer graduates and the Governor and people of Yogyakarta. Furthermore, since 17 August 1991, D.I. Yogyakarta has been commemorating the Seconds of the Proclamation of the Independence at Yogyakarta Presidential Palace.

CIPANAS PALACE

Cipanas Presidential Palace is located in Cipanas Village, Pacet Sub District, Cianjur Regency, at the foot of Mountain Gede, West Java, reconstructed from a “bantunan” (a house of landlord) built in 1740 by a Dutch landlord named Van Heots, 1,100 meters above sea level on approximately 26 acres of land and the building is 7,760 meters per square. In 1916, when the Dutch governed, three buildings were constructed and until now they are called Pavilion Yudistira, Pavilion Bima and Pavilion Arjuna. In 1954, when the first Indonesian President, Ir. Soekarno governed, a building doted by stones was built (Bentol Building).

The palace was encircled by beatiful natural surrounding, blessed with fresh cool air and Mountain Gede as its background. In the forest of the palace, until 2001, according to a catalog composed alphabetically, which was published by the Presidential Palace in cooperation with LIPI (the national scientific Council), live 1,334 speciments, 171 species, 132 “marga” and 61 tribes. Other than beautiful natural surrounding, the palace have plenty natural warm water. The palace serves as a resting house for the president, the vice president and their family as well as a place to spend the night for visiting heads of states. In 1971, Queen Yuliana spent time visiting the palace.

Bentol Building

Bentol Building is situated behind the main buildings, on the slope of the mountain, therefore it is taller than the other buildings, and it is a product of two Indonesian architects: R.M. Soedarsono and F. Silaban. The atmosphere is quiet and serene and these qualities were beneficial for President Soekarno in formulating plans and strategies in leading the nation, which were manifested in a state speech delivered in every commemoration day of the proclamation of independence.

President’s Bathing Facility

At the back of the main buildings, several other buildings exist, but the most influential entity for Cipanas Presidential Palace is the source of hot water, which is rich with minerals.
The hot water is good for health, therefore two buildings were built to accommodate the stream of the hot water. One of the building is specially provided as a bathing facility for the president, the vice president and their family, while the other one goes for the group of staff accompanying the president and the vice president.

TAMPAKSIRING PALACE

Tampaksiring Presidential Palace is situated approximately 700 meters above sea level, located on the hills in Tampaksiring Village, Tampaksiring Sub District, Gianyar Regency, Bali. The palace is the one and only palace constructed at the time when the Indonesian Government rules (1957 – 1960). Initiated by the first President of Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno, the palace was built by a hundred percent Indonesian architects and constructors.

The name, Tampaksiring, is taken from two Balinese words. “Tampak” means sole of foot and “siring” means slanting. According to a legend recorded on Usana Bali lontar leaf (lontar leaf was used as paper in ancient time), the name was originally rooted from the trace of feet of a king named Mayadenawa. The forest roamed through by King Mayadewa by walking with slanting feet is the area now called Tampaksiring (slanting sole).

Tampaksiring was constructed gradually, the architect was R.M. Soedarsono. The first buildings to be built were Merdeka House and Yudhistira House in 1957 and the construction was completed in 1963. Furthermore, to accommodate the XIV ASEAN Summit in Bali on 7 – 8 October 2003, a new building was built and Balai (a conference room) Wantilan was renovated, a new entrance building accompanied by Bentar Temple, Kori Agung, parking lot as well as Balai Bengong were also constructed.

Tampaksiring Palace does not only function as a place to convene state or governmental events which include the presence of the president or the vice president, but also serves as a resting house for the president, the vice president and their family. Among various state guests recorded to have visited tha palace were President Ne Win from Burma (presently Myanmar), President Tito from Yugoslavia, President Ho Chi Minh from Vietnam, Prime Minister Nehru from India, Prime Minister Khruschev from the Uni Soviet, Queen Juliana from the Netherlands and Emperor Hirohito from Japan.

Presently, the complex of Tampaksiring Presidential Palace consists of five main buildings and one “pendapa” (hall). Two of the main buildings are called Merdeka House (1,200 meters per square) and Negara House (1,476 meters per square), separated by two slopes around 15 meters deep but connected by a 40 meters bridge, the other three main buildings are called Yudhistira House, Bima House, a conference room as well as Balai Wantilan.

BOGOR PALACE

The Main Building

Bogor Presidential Palace is located in Paledang, Sub District of Central Bogor City, Bogor, East Java. It is approximately 60 km from Jakarta or 43 km from Cipanas. The palace is situated on 28.86 acres level land. 290 meters above sea level, the palace is in a city blessed with mild climate, a cool city where people come to refresh themselves. The palace is blessed with beautiful and cozy natural surrounding. The garden of the palace is trimmed nicely it serves as a giant green carpet encircling the palace. All you can see is fresh green grasses shaded by 346 types of trees. 591 deers live around the garden, running here and there; and the ponds accentuated by lotuses and fountains enhance its beauty.

The history of Bogor Presidential Palace can be tracked down from the time when a Dutch Governor General was in a search of a resting house and managed to find a villa (10 August 1744) called Buitenzorg (free from problems). He himself redesigned and rebuilt the place (1745 – 1750), imitating the architecture of Bleinhem Palace, the residence of Duke Malborough, located near Oxford, England.

A natural disaster struck on 10 October 1834. An earthquake brought a great destruction to the palace. When Governor General Albertus Yacob Duijmayer Van Twist ruled (1851 – 1856), the ruin of the old building was torn down and then it was rebuilt, using the IX Century European architecture. In 1870, the Buitenzorg was announced as the official residence of Dutch Governor Generals. The last resident of the Buitenzorg Palace was Governor General Tjarda van Starkenborg Stachhourwer, who was forced to submit the palace to General Imamura from the Japan colonizers. However, not less than 44 Governor Generals lived in the palace. After the independence, the Indonesian Government took over the palace (1950).

The Main Building as a Presidential Office

The Presidential Palace, at the times of Dutch colonization, mainly functioned as a villa for the residents to relax, but after the independence, it has been functioning as a presidential office and official residence of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Consequently, the following historical events took place at Bogor Presidential Palace:
a. Five States Conference (28 – 29 December 1954)
b. The signing of 11 March 1966 Letter of Order, well known as Supersemar
c. The discussion of conflict in Cambodia, Jakarta Informal Meeting (JIM)
d. APEC Summit (15 November 1994)

The components of Bogor Presidential Palace: the Main Building consists of Garuda Room as the function room; Teratai Room where guests are received; the Film Room where films are played; the President Office; the Library; the Living Room and Bedrooms; Holding Room for Ministers to wait before an event starts. The left wing of the Main Building consists of Panca Negara Room, which was once functioned as a place to prepare Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung; Bedrooms in the center part for the president and state guests and royal guests to spend the night. The right wing of the Main Building functions as the place for presidents from other countries and other state guests to spend the night. The left wing pavilion serves as the residential office of Bogor Presidential Palace while the right wing pavilion is used as the place for state officials and staff of state guests. In 1964, the palace was specifically used for a resting house for the president and his family, known as Dyah Bayurini.

JAKARTA PRESIDENTIAL PALACES

The complex of Jakarta Presidential Palaces is located on Jl. Merdeka Utara, near the park of National Monument (Monas), at the heart of the capital city, approximately 6.8 acres and 5 metres above sea level. The Jakarta Presidential Palaces consists of two palaces: the Merdeka Palace, which faces Monas, and the Negara Palace (State Palace), accrross Ciliwung River and Jl. Veteran. Several other buildings are also located in the complex of the palaces. They are the Presidential Office, the House of State, Baiturrahim Mosque and the Museum of Presidential Palaces. In the garden grow big old shading trees with long dangling roots as well as grasses covering the land like a green carpet and all these succeeds to make the Jakarta Presidential Palaces a shady cool place. Mainly functioning as a place to convene presidential events, the Jakarta Presidential Palaces also serve as the Office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, the centre of governmental activities and a place to hold state events, to have Indonesian Armed Forces’ junior officers sworn in, to receive state guests, a place for ambassadors from other countries to submit their credentials to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, a place to hold the opening ceremony of national meetings and workshops, national or international congresses and a place for commemorating the moment of proclamation of independence of the Republic of Indonesia every August 17.

Negara Palace
Negara Palace is a witness of numerous historical events, among them are the moment when General de Kock laid out his scheme to bring to an end Prince Diponegoro’s fight and formulate his strategy to deal with Tuanku Imam Bonjol to Governor General Baron Van der Capellen, and the time when Governor General Johannes van de Bosch applied the cultuurstelsel system, which forced the colonized people to cultivate land without payment. Subsequent to the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, on 25 March 1947, the building also witnessed the signing of Linggarjati Agreement by Sultan Sjahrir from the Indonesian side and Dr. Van Mook representing the Netherlands.

Merdeka Palace
Merdeka Palace was built in 1879 and it recorded many important events, which are influential to Indonesian governmental stance, hence, it owns a special place at the heart of Indonesian people. One of them is the history of the title of the place itself: “Merdeka” (Independent). The word “Merdeka” is truly significant, it is a symbol of hope that emphasizes the end of colonization on Indonesian land as well as the beginning of life as an independent nation. On 27 December 1949, Merdeka Palace witnessed the historical event concerning the Netherlands’ recognition of the independence of the United Republic of Indonesia proceeded through a series of ceremony conducted both in Amsterdam, the Netherlands at 10 a.m. and in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Indonesia at 4 p.m. That day, the whole country was waiting for the radio broadcast from Jakarta announcing the tremendous news, the news on the signing and the submission of the text conveying the Netherlands’ recognition of the United Republic of Indonesia’s independence. At the same time, the Red and White Flag rose before the Independence Palace, taking over the place of the Netherland flag, the Indonesia Raya anthem was sung and people all over Indonesia shouted “Merdeka!, merdeka!, merdeka!” As a result, the palace is called Merdeka Palace. The commemoration of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was first held on 17 August 1950 in Merdeka Palace. The State Palace.