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This
archeological site lies on a small plateau about 196 meter above
the sea level. The remains cover the areas of two villages, Dawung
and Sambirejo, belong to Yogyakarta Special Territory Province,
about 3 km to the south of Prambanan Temples. The views from the
plateau's ridge are most beautiful during the dawn or in the late
afternoon.
Group
of Gapura (Main Gate)
First
Group
It's
formed of 3 gates pressing close to each other, lies North to South.
The middle largest one id the First Main Gate flanked by two gates
called the Gates Flanker.
Second
Group
It's
formed of 5 gates. Four Gates-Flanker flank the middle largest one
called the Second Main Gates.
Temple
of Limestone
It
has the shape of base, about 5 x 5 square meter, made up of limestone.
This base is located in the north east, about 45 meter from the
first main gate.
Temple
of Incineration
Its
location is in the north east, about 37 meter from the Second Main
Gate. This double-terraced base is 26 meters long, 26 meters wide,
3 meters high and made up of river stone. A well of 4 x 4 sq. m
is found in the middle of its second terrace with a step on the
west side. A pool of 2 m long and 1 m wide is also found in the
south east of the well.
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Group
of Paseban
(Public Audience Hall)
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The
rest of building which could be found is just a stone structure
of floor lying north to south. The ruins of gate, fence and slope
are also found here. There is a square located in the north of the
stone structure of floor.
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Group
of Pendopo
(Royal Audience Hall)
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Base
of Pendopo
This
measuring 20 m long 20 m wide and 1.25 m high is located in the
north. 20 round pedestals are found on the floor.
Base
of Pringgitan
It
measures 20 m long, 6 m wide and 1.25 m high is located in the south.
These two bases are surrounded by a fence which is 40 m long, 36
m wide and 3 m high with decorations having the shape of buds above
it. The fences are equipped with 3 roofed gates in the north, in
the south and in the west side respectively. Three steps have been
made for climbing up to the bases.
Its
specialty and uniqueness lie in its location and kind of building
which are different from other remains in the same age. The name
"Ratu Boko Palace" (The Palace of the Eternal Queen) was
given by the locals just based on a legend of Ratu Boko (or Baka,
the eternal), Rara Jonggrang's father.
Ratu
Boko was probably built in about the 8th century by the Buddhist
Sailendras and later took over by Hindu Mataram. Van Boecjholzt
discovered it in 1790. In 1989 - 1990, P. Subroto in his research
concluded that there is a lot of similarities between the components
of Ratu Boko Palace and some early palaces in India. Who was the
founder? How long had it been dwelled? We haven't known them until
today. In fact, we even haven't known the function. Was it used
as a royal park, a palace, a fort or a shrine temple?
Base
of Public Building
It's
located outside the fence, about 1.5 meters to the east. Its base
which is 38 m long, 7 m wide and 1.5 m high lies north to south.
There 4 steps on the west side. 20 pedestals are found on its floor.
There are also 4 grooves which were possible used for laying walls
partitions.
Bathing
Palace (water reservoir)
This
complex lies to the east of Pendopo and consists of 3 groups. The
complex are bordered by rectangular fence. the first group consists
of 3 square pools, two of them, pool A and B, lie north to south.
There is a gate between pool A and pool B. The second group consists
of 8 round pools devided into 3 rows.
Miniature
Temples
These
temples are located in the south east of The Pendopo and are formed
of 2 temple-flankers and middle largest one is called the main temple.
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Group
of Keputren (Princessly Palace)
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The
third group consists of a rectangular pool only, 31 x 8 square m,
surrounded by the fence with 2 gates on the south west side and
the north east side. A ruined gate is found about 20 meter in the
south of the other groups. A ruin of stone structure is also found
about 60 meters from that gate with its floor which is still in
good condition. Its base has the shape of a square measuring 20
m long and 20 m wide. There are 28 pedestals on the floor.
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Group
of Caves
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These
two caves are located on the south slope of a rocky hill.
Male
Cave
It
lies about 300 m to the north east of Base of Paseban measuring
3.5 m long, 3 m wide and 1.5 m high. Two recesses are engraved on
the inside back wall and a recess on the other respective inside
walls.
Female
Cave
It
lies about 20 m to the south east of Base of Paseban and lower than
the Male Cave. This cave is smaller. A recess is engraved on the
inside back wall.
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