BANTEN GREAT MOSQUE, SUROSOWAN PALACE, KAIBON PALACE, SPEELWIJK FORTRESS – THE TRUTH EVIDENCES OF BANTEN SULTANATE VICTORY (2)

(PART – 2)
TASIK ARDI – THE NOBLEMAN RECREATION GARDEN & THE SOPHISTICATED WATER PLUMBING SYSTEM

In the Islamic kingdom period, there are 3 main characteristic of the government city. They are Palace, Mosque and Garden. The Garden of the Banten kingdom is believed to be Tasikardi. It is about 2.5 km from Surosowan Palace.

Driving from Cilegon for about 7 kilometers, we turn left in Kramatwatu intersection. Our first destination was the Tasikardi. It is an artificial lake that was built at period of Sultan Maulana Yusuf (the 2^nd sultan of Banten) and then Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (1651-1682) built the clean water distribution pipeline for the resident’s need. It is also said that the bottom of this lake (reservoir) covered by red floor tile. In language terminology, “Tasik” means lake while “Ardi” means artificial. In its time, the lake with artificial land completed with garden was provided as recreation place for the family member of sultan.

Arrived at Tasikardi, it could be seen from the roadway on the right, it is big reservoir with green big trees surrounding on it. Getting closer to that lake, our eyes caught up on water bikes that swam across along the lake. Unfortunately, the water of Tasikardi is brown dark color, dirty and the surrounding is poorly maintained. It is really hard to imagine that long time ago, in the sultanate period, this artificial lake was beautiful, along with its park so it was used for recreation place of palace members. In the middle of the lake there is squares area which is an artificial land/garden about 5 acres, where the sultan and family used to visit for recreation. The ruins of building, park and bathroom still can be seen here.

Tasikardi Park was used to welcome guest from Netherlands in the period of Sultan Muhammad Syifa Zainal Asyikin. One of the guest was Cornellis de Bruin, which was in this reception he had been shown the tayuban dance performance. This situation was captured in the painting that displayed in the Banten Museum now day.

Not only used as the recreation place, the water of Tasikardi was being used for irrigation and fresh water supply to Surosowan palace. No wonder that along the road from intersection of Kramatwatu, we could see rice fields in our right and left side, just like green and gold-yellow thick carpets. When most of rice field in Cilegon and Serang nearly dried due to long-dry-season, near Tasikardi you’ll find the opposite condition.

The water from Tasikardi also was the main supply of fresh water for the palace resident. Before entered to the palace, the water has been refined through three steps. The water flow via terracotta/clay pipeline to the first refiner which was called as Pengidelan Abang (Red Refiner), than the water from Pengidelan Abang transferred to Pengidelan Putih (White Refiner), and last the water being refined in Pengidelan Emas (Golden Refiner) before it was transferred to Surosowan palace by terracotta pipeline system. Don’t imagine that the color of the refiner is the same as each name. The name just indicates that the red one was dirtier than the white one, and in the golden one, the water was the cleanest. These pengidelan were the white-four sides building which have a cubic measure of length + 20 meters, width + 7 meters, and height + 3 meters. The principal of this refinery are precipitation and filtering.

The three buildings of refiners could be found between Tasik Ardi and Surosowan palace. You can find the first one near Tasikardi, about 500 meters, just in the right side of the road. The pengidelan were laid down in parallel, connected to the royal pool and golden fountain. The architect of this sophisticated plumbing system at the time was Hendrik Lucaszoon Cardeel, the one who also involved in the development of Surosowan palace and the great mosque.

To enter this area, you have only to pay Rp. 2000/person (about 0.25 USD/person). Inside, you can find some rest area made from bamboo. You can also take a walk to go around the lake/reservoir, enjoy the dense of leaves on your right and left side.

On the day of our visit here, there wasn’t many people seen here, or maybe it was still early in the morning. Usually, this area always crowded by young people, especially in the Saturday night. People come here for dating, fishing, family gathering, etc. This are also full in the Lebaran day (Islamic day, after fasting month), most people gather here since the ticket is cheap enough.

Continue – Surosowan Palace, the sultan’s residence

BANTEN GREAT MOSQUE, SUROSOWAN PALACE, KAIBON PALACE, SPEELWIJK FORTRESS – THE TRUTH EVIDENCES OF BANTEN SULTANATE VICTORY

(PART – 1)
BANTEN SULTANATE

Talking of the glorious of Islamic period in Indonesian history is tasteless without mentioning Banten kingdom which reached the glorious moment at the time of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa ruled the kingdom. Here is my journey to the old Banten which called as Bantam in the European perspective long century ago.

In the 12^th until 16^th century, Banten has already known as a big, famous harbor as connection among the islands in Indonesia and also across the country region. Banten harbor was lively and busy with traders or merchants that came from various countries, especially from Gujarat (India), Malay, Chinese, Portuguese, England, and Dutch.

Banten already has important roles in its time. Its strategic function due to Banten was laid in the international’s voyage and trading. Banten is located in the Sunda strait coastal, made up Banten as a crossing gate of Sumatra and Java islands. Banten was also known as the exporter of black pepper during the 15^th century.

The arrangement of the Banten city was also interesting. The 2^nd sultan of Banten, Maulana Yusuf, placed the citizen in order based on ability and region. The foreign village was placed outside the city gate, for example “Pakojan” village in the west of Karangantu trade market was occupied by traders from mid east, “Pecinan” village was occupied by Chinese traders, “Kepandean” village was occupied by blacksmith, “Kamasan” village was the center of gold manufacturing, etc. There were also villages based on social strata, e.g. “Kademangan” for Demangs (village headman in Java); “Kesantrian” for knights, Senapati (Commander in Chief), and royal soldiers; etc.

The sultan ran his kingdom from his royal palace, known as Surosowan palace. The sultan also made his ritual religion service in Great Mosque that placed not far from the palace. However, today, the only left just the ruins, except the great mosque which until today is one of the main destinations of Indonesian people for “ziarah” (visiting sacred place). The other left behind are the great mosque, artificial lake (reservoir) “tasik Ardi”, ruins of Kaibon palace, ruins of Speelwijk fortress, and other are house of worships.

The first sultan of Banten was Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin. He is the son of “Sunan (title for the holy man who first brought Islam to Java) Gunung Jati”. Maulana Hasanuddin was succeeded by his son, Maulana Yusuf. Just after Maulana Yusuf died, there was power struggle between Jepara prince and Maulana Muhammad (son of Maulana Yusuf). Maulana Muhammad won the struggle by the support of religious leaders.

Banten kingdom reached the glorious period in the time of Abdul Fathi Abdul Fatah which is famous as Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. In his time, Banten harbor became the international trade center. Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa is also known because his struggle to fight the Dutch Colonial. Due to his struggle, the surosowan palace was destroyed during VOC attack lead by governor general Daendles in 1808. The Banten sultanate was completely ended by the British administration under the lead of Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1813 when Sultan Syafiuddin (the last Banten dynasty) was forced to abdicate.

Feel as one of the citizen of Serang – Banten and tried to image the ancient of Banten civilization, this week August 3, 2008, me, my wife and kids went to the old Banten region where the ruins of the kingdom still exist.

Continue – Tasikardi, the nobleman recreation garden & the sophisticated water plumbing system.