Kris Souvenir in North Square of Surakarta

For the traveler who wants to get unique souvenirs of Kris and precious stones, you should go to the  “ Alun Alun Utara “ or The North Square of Surakarta.

This place  can accessed on the way to palace, precisely before going into the main part of the palace, from the Pasar Gede, you'll pass through the North Square, where the entrance is marked by a large gate near the statue Slamet Riyadi. A statue of the Hero of the Republic of Indonesia became more interesting when seen at twilight. If you arrived at this place, you better go on foot, because the location of each tourist objects near each other, or at least you can ride a Becak or Indonesia rickshaw.

Once come to this square, you will see so many shady banyan trees along the way. Not far from the gate, on the left side of the road, you will find the Batu Mulia Market, There is a huge collection of precious stones in place.

Then you can go to the center and souvenir dagger opposite Crafts Gamelan "Great Hall" or on the left side of North Square. In this place you can find a wide range of local souvenirs are usually a dagger, blangkon, and traditional musical instruments of the Javanese.

Do you know Keris or Kris? The kris is an asymmetrical dagger, a traditional weapon with magical power (in old time)  most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, especially in Java Island.

A kris  has three  parts: bilah (blade), hulu (hilt), and warangka (sheath).  The art of kris is on these three parts  which often carved in meticulous detail and made from various materials, metal, precious or rare types of wood, or gold or ivory.

A kris's aesthetic value covers the dhapur (the form and design of the blade, with around 150 variants), the pamor (the pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with around 60 variants), and tangguh referring to the age and origin of a kris.

While Blangkon (Javanes) or belangkon (Indonesian) is a traditional headdress worn by Javanese men and made of batik fabric. Actually Blangkon souvenir sold in North Square of Surakarta is Surakarta Blangkon type. Because There are 4 different types of blangkons,  Ngayogyakarta blangkons, Surakarta blangkons, Kedu blangkons, and Banyumasan blangkons. But if you are lucky, you will get three other type of blangkon here.

Souvenir of Wayang Kulit

As one of Indonesia's cultural heritage leather puppets which on November 7, 2003 has been recognized as a UNESCO cultural works, there are a variety of efforts to preserve the existence this work art by wayang kulit  lovers. In Yogyakarta, for example, we can get a shadow puppet for souvenirs in various forms. This souvenir is suitable for  your home or office interior decoration. If you are a fan of art, you have to get at least one form of puppet souvenir for your collection.

Beatiful for house interior

Souvenir of wayang kulit made ​​of buffalo leather and buffalo horn. Most craftsmen in Yogyakarta is a fan art of puppet who has been acquainted with the world of puppets since their childhood. So the puppet making business they are doing is actually a form of participation as well as to help preserve the art and culture of wayang kulit, so  that the younger generations will not  forget this  traditional arts and culture of Indonesia.

One of the craftsmen, Sagio the one of only a few Yogyakarta-style wayang kulit (leather shadow puppet) craftsmen who has managed to survive difficult times. He have learnt about shadow puppet craftsmanship from his father, when his age 11 years.  Sagio profoundly love  wayang throughout his entire life.

It’s wayang that has enabled him to tour the world to introduce the Indonesian art. But it’s also wayang that makes him feel sad and anxious. He  keep crafting wayang kulit because he love it. Wayang has helped him survive. So  now it’s his turn to preserve it.

Sagio lives in Gendeng hamlet in Bangunjiwo Kasihan, Yogyakarta. The village is known as a center of leather puppet makers. During the area’s wayang heyday between 1988 and 1997, more than 150 wayang makers could be found there. The hilly area teemed with tourists from Holland, France, America, Germany, Australia and Japan.