Sir Thomas Raffles wrote a literature titled History of Java I in 1817. In these literature mentioned that there is a classic city covered teak forests at that time. This story is the beginning of the discovery of Trowulan heritage. Trowulan is a town in Indonesia which has an important part of the Indonesia history. In this place, there is a kingdom that once ruled most of the Indonesia territory ie Java, Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Kalimantan (Borneo) and eastern Indonesia. Name of the kingdom is Majapahit. Majapahit kingdom was founded in 1293 and reached the heyday under the reign of Hayam Wuruk king and Gadjah Mada governor ruling in 1350 until 1389. Historical sources about the existence of the Majapahit kingdom is Negarakertagama book which written in ancient Javanese language. Negarakertagama book recognized by UNESCO as a Memory of the World Program since 2008.
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Bajang Ratu Gate in Trowulan (this image belongs to Gunawan Kartapranata)
image source: https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:Bajang_Ratu_Gate_Trowulan.jpg |
History tale of Trowulan in 700 years ago left many historical relics such as temples and irrigation canals for drainage systems. Some buildings which become heritage sites of the Majapahit kingdom was temples such as Tikus, Brahu, and Kedaton. In addition to the building in the form of the temple, there are also other heritage sites are Bajang Ratu (gate), Wringin Lawang (gate), Segaran (pond), petilasan Gadjah Mada (pavilion), and the tomb of the Cempaka princess (a consort from the last king of Majapahit kingdom). Trowulan museum which existing in this place is to save the historical remains such as ceramics, metals, production equipment, and household appliances. This museum brings together information from all the ancient sites in one place. In this museum, visitors can see diverse of rare and beautiful collection. Historical relics of the Majapahit kingdom show that human civilization at that time was already very advanced. Majapahit kingdom also have enough a role for the history of the world, it was revealed by a professor of Southeast Asian Archaeology from the National University of Singapore which states that there are influences of cultures, style buildings, temples, sculptures and arts in Singapuraa and Thailand. Even, Majapahit kingdom ever cooperated with Japan's kingdom to against the China kingdom (Mongol) in the war in the Pacific Ocean.
Trowulan site locations can be reached by both of private vehicle or public transportation. Archeological Museum of Mojokerto is located in Jalan Ahmad Yani No. 14, Mojokerto, while the archaeological museum of Trowulan is located Jalan Raya Trowulan No 13, Mojokerto. Travelers can use the public bus from the Surabaya city and headed straight Trowulan. There are many public transportation pass the Jalan Raya Trowulan. Area of Trowulan historical tourism is very large and requires more than one day to circumnavigate the entire region. Distance of one temple to the other temples is far enough away that is about 2 or 3 kilometers, visitors can use motorbike taxis to reach the site. There are already a lot of accommodation around tourist areas of Trowulan history sites.
