Discover Bantul: History, Crafts and Landscapes
Accommodation in Bantul
Bantul offers a wide variety of discoveries: historic places and traditional crafts are just as much in focus as dunes, a lagoon and the beach. Vivid examples range from batik on wood in Desa Wisata Krebet to the barchan dunes of Parangkusumo. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Bantul, you can base your plans on whether you would like to focus primarily on culture, crafts or activities by the water.
History in specific places
Goa Selarong is a historic attraction in Dusun Kembang Putihan, Kalurahan Guwosari, Kapanewon Pajangan, Kabupaten Bantul. During the guerrilla war against the Dutch from 1825 to 1830, the cave served as a refuge for Pangeran Diponegoro and his followers. Private transport is recommended for getting there, as public transport does not go all the way to the attraction. If Goa Selarong is on your itinerary, take this information into account when planning how to get around.
Makam Imogiri was built by Sultan Agung between 1632 and 1640. The burial site of the kings of Mataram and their families, as well as the kings of Surakarta and their families, is in Dusun Pajimatan, Kalurahan Girirejo, Kecamatan Imogiri, Kabupaten Bantul. Another place with its own distinctive historical character is Makam Giriloyo: the complex comprises three courtyards surrounded by brick walls; the first courtyard contains 33 graves.
Museum Sejarah Purbakala Pleret stands on the site of the former Islamic Mataram Palace complex in the Kerta-Plered cultural heritage area. It is located on Jalan Raya Pleret in Kapanewon Pleret and officially opened to the public on 10 March 2014. The courtyards of Makam Giriloyo, the burial site at Imogiri and the former palace complex at Pleret each offer a different starting point for exploring history.
Crafts and rural traditions
At Desa Wisata Krebet in Dusun Krebet, Kelurahan Sendangsari, Kecamatan Pajangan, batik is made on wood rather than fabric. If you would like to learn about the technique, you can do so at craft galleries or through the tourism village administration. This makes Krebet a specific destination for travellers interested in the combination of design and handcraft.
Other places are also known for their own craft traditions. Desa Wisata Wukirsari in Kabupaten Bantul is known as a centre for traditional hand-drawn batik and wayang kulit crafts, and offers an authentic experience of rural life in Java. Desa Wisata Kasongan in Desa Bangunjiwo, Kecamatan Kasihan, Kabupaten Bantul, is a centre for pottery. This gives you a choice of different focuses: painted woodwork, hand-drawn batik and wayang kulit crafts, or ceramics.
Dunes, lagoon and beach
Gumuk Pasir Barcan Parangkusumo is an unusual landform. Its volcanic sediment was carried from Gunung Merapi along the Opak River to the sea, then blown inland again by the wind. The dune is described as the only barchan dune in Southeast Asia. Anyone interested in landscapes and how they form will find a different way to explore Bantul here than at the historic sites or craft villages.
At Laguna Pengklik in Kelurahan Srigading, you can go canoeing; ten canoes are available for tourists to rent there. While paddling, you can see the mangrove forest on the eastern side of the lagoon. Pantai Baru in Desa Poncosari, Kecamatan Srandakan, offers views of the sunset and a green forest of Cemara trees that acts as a breakwater. ATVs are also available there for rides on the beach, and food stalls serve seafood prepared in a variety of ways.
When planning your trip, it is worth first prioritising the experiences that matter most to you: cultural heritage, handicrafts, canoeing or beach activities. These interests can guide your choice of a holiday rental in Bantul, without requiring the different destinations to become part of one shared route. You can also include Parangtritis as another place in Kabupaten Bantul when planning your trip.
For an overview of the wider trip: Yogyakarta.
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