Kota Gede
Good for: gift shopping, window shopping
- Address
- Kota Gede
- Price
- admission Rp1000
- Hours
- around 09:00-12:00 Sun, Mon & Thu, around 13:00-15:00 Fri
Lonely Planet review for Kota Gede
Kota Gede has been famed as the hub of Yogya's silver industry since the 1930s. But this quiet old town, which is now a suburb of Yogya, was the first capital of the Mataram kingdom, founded by Panembahan Senopati in 1582. Senopati is buried in the small mossy graveyard of an old mosque to the south of the town's central market. You can visit Kota Gede, but be sure to wear conservative dress; on days when the tomb is closed there is little to see here.
Jl Kemasan, the main street leading into town from the north, is lined with busy silver workshops. Most of the shops have similar stock, including hand-beaten bowls, boxes, fine filigree and modern jewellery .
Kota Gede is about 5km southeast of Jl Malioboro. Catch bus 4, a becak or cycle there; it is flat most of the way.
Traveller reviews for Kota Gede (1)
-
-
Every shop has a silver lining
kylielovesrangas recommends this,
If you are into silver and are cashed up on your Indonesian holiday, then make a special trip to Kota Gede. Its main street is lined with more silver shops than you're likely to see anywhere else on the planet. Problem is, they all seem to stock the same sorts of designs, over and over again. Silversmiths of Yogya, and Bali, and even Thailand to some extent, seem to think that if they cater for mass markets, then they will sell more silver. They'd be wrong; most Westerners do not come here to buy a silver marajuana leaf or a peace symbol. We've come out of our way for something unique - give me a silver buddha or an intricately-melded Indonesian filigree any day.
You can find unique items of Indonesian design but they do come at a price. If you're after a cheap pair of simple earrings or even small presents for friends, then Kota Gede will easily cater.
Anyone interested in Yogya's silver history should delve deeper into some of the larger shops, which might superficially appear to be catering for tourists, but are most certainly pitching to a wider Indonesian market; it's well worth checking out some of the ancient and beautiful designs on all sorts of items.
Good for: gift shopping, window shopping
