Istana adalah tempat kediaman raja dan keluarganya. Beberapa Istana di dunia ini sangatlah Indah. terutama Istana nabi Sulaiman AS. Tapi beberapa istana2 itu kini tinggal sejarah dan beralih fungsi seperti museum, gedung parlemen, bahkan hotel atau gedung perkantoran.
Tapi sebaik-baik Istana tentulah yg terbaik adalah Istana di Surga spt Firman Allah:
Maha Suci (Allah) yang jika Dia menghendaki, niscaya dijadikan-Nya bagimu yang lebih baik dari yang demikian, (yaitu) surga-surga yang mengalir sungai-sungai di bawahnya, dan dijadikan-Nya (pula) untukmu istana-istana (QS 25:10)
Kraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Palace)
Setelah Perjanjian Giyanti, Pangeran Mangkubumi diberi wilayah Yogyakarta. Untuk menjalankan pemerintahannya, Pangeran Mangkubumi membangun sebuah istana pada tahun 1755 di wilayah Hutan Beringan. Tanah ini dinilai cukup baik karena diapit dua sungai, sehingga terlindung dari kemungkinan banjir. Raja pertama di Kesultanan Yogyakarta adalah Pangeran Mangkubumi dengan gelar Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I (HB I).
Karaton, Keraton atau Kraton, berasal dari kata ka-ratu-an, yang berarti tempat tinggal ratu/raja. Sedang arti lebih luas, diuraikan secara sederhana, bahwa seluruh struktur dan bangunan wilayah Kraton mengandung arti berkaitan dengan pandangan hidup Jawa yang essensial, yakni Sangkan Paraning Dumadi (dari mana asalnya manusia dan kemana akhirnya manusia setelah mati).
Garis besarnya, wilayah Kraton memanjang 5 km ke arah selatan hingga Krapyak dan 2 km ke utara berakhir di Tugu. Pada garis ini terdapat garis linier dualisme terbalik, sehingga bisa dibaca secara simbolik filosofis. Dari arah selatan ke utara, sebagai lahirnya manusia dari tempat tinggi ke alam fana, dan sebaliknya sebagai proses kembalinya manusia ke sisi Dumadi (Tuhan dalam pandangan Jawa). Sedangkan Kraton sebagai jasmani dengan raja sebagai lambang jiwa sejati yang hadir ke dalam badan jasmani.
Kraton menuju Tugu juga diartikan sebagai jalan hidup yang penuh godaan. Pasar Beringharjo melambangkan godaan wanita. Sedangkan godaan akan kekuasaan dilambangkan lewat Gedung Kepatihan. Keduanya terletak di sebelah kanan. Jalan lurus itu sendiri sebagai lambang manusia yang dekat dengan Pencipta (Sankan Paraning Dumadi).
Secara sederhana, Tugu perlambangan Lingga (laki-laki) dan Krapyak sebagai Yoni (perempuan). Dan Kraton sebagai jasmani yang berasal dari keduanya
Going around Jogja for a vacation means there are lots of tourist objects which will be a pity if you miss it. You will have some kinds of tourist objects which are available here based on your interests. You can visit many historical buildings, have a culinary tour, even a tour that will add your experience and knowledge about Jogja's traditional specialty handicraft.
For you who love to hunt and taste the new food surely will be delighted if you can share the same menu with Kraton kings' favorite menus. Just try to visit one of the famous restaurants here, Gadri Resto. This is the restaurant that will bring our sense of taste wandering around through the great taste and the originality of the recipes (which have been hereditary used in Kraton). You can also eat traditional Jogja's foods in a joglo (Javanese traditional house) in a unique restaurant, Bale Raos.
The historical buildings around Kraton are also interesting to be seen. The traditional structure whose originality, beauty, and the shape of the uniqueness of the building's structure which is also symbolized the Kraton people's life. That is definitely useful for you to widen your tour experience.
Not only culinary tour and historical buildings, you can also dig a new lesson by learning how to make batik cloth, kite, music, with expert teacher in its field; Pak Hadjir (batik teacher whose name is well known by world). Kraton Jogja, offers more than just a cultural tourism.
Grand Palace, Bangkok (Thailand)
Forbidden City (China)
The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five hundred years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. Since 1925, the Forbidden City has been under the charge of the Palace Museum, whose extensive collection of artwork and artifacts were built upon the imperial collections of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Part of the museum's former collection is now located in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Both museums descend from the same institution, but were split after the Chinese Civil War.
Potala Palace (China)
The Potala Palace (Tibetan: པོ་ཏ་ལ; Wylie: Po ta la; simplified Chinese: 布达拉宫; traditional Chinese: 布達拉宮) is located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It was named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara. The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, after an invasion and failed uprising in 1959. Today the Potala Palace has been converted into a museum by the Chinese government. Lozang Gyatso, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, started the construction of the Potala Palace in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel (d. 1646), pointed out that the site was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa.
Gyeongbokgung (South Korea)
Gyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung, translates in English as "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven." Today the palace is open to the public, and houses the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum of Korea. The National Museum of Korea, also previously located in the palace grounds, was relocated to Yongsan-gu in 2005. Heavily destroyed by the Japanese government in the early 20th century, the palace complex is slowly being restored to its original form prior the destruction. As of 2009, roughly 40 percent of the original number of palace buildings still stand or are being reconstructed.
Agra Fort (India)
Agra Fort (Hindi: आगरा क़िला, Urdu: آگرہ قلعہ) is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra. It is about 2.5 km northwest of its much more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled palatial city. It is the most important fort in India. The great Mugals, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb lived here, and the country was governed from here. It contained the largest state treasury and mint. It was visited by foreign ambassadors, travelers and the highest dignitaries who participated in the making of history in India. This was originally a brick fort and the Sikarwar held it.
Mysore Palace (India)
The Palace of Mysore (Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು ಅರಮನೆ) is a palace situated in the city of Mysore in southern India. It is the official residence of the Wodeyars – the erstwhile royal family of Mysore, and also houses two durbar halls (ceremonial meeting hall of the royal court). Mysore has a number of historic palaces, and is commonly described as the City of Palaces. However, the term "Mysore Palace" specifically refers to one within the old fort. The palace was commissioned in 1897, and its construction was completed in 1912. It is now one of the most famous tourist attractions in Mysore. Although tourists are allowed to visit the palace, they are not allowed to take photographs inside the palace. Price of admission: Foreign tourists 200 Rs., Indians 20 Rs.
Umaid Bhawan Palace (India)
Umaid Bhawan Palace, located at Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India, is one of the world's largest private residences. A part of the palace is managed by Taj Hotels. Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present owners of the palace, this monument has 347 rooms and serves as the principal residence of the erstwhile Jodhpur royal family. Umaid Bhawan Palace was called Chittar Palace during its construction due to its location on Chittar Hill, the highest point in Jodhpur. Ground for the foundations of the building was broken on 18 November 1929 by Maharaja Umaid Singh and the construction work was completed in 1943. Built on the Chittar Hill in southeastern area of the Jodhpur, construction employed more than 5000 men for fifteen years.
Lake Palace (India)
Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag Niwas) is a luxury hotel, of 83 rooms and suites featuring white marble walls, located on a natural foundation of 4 acres (16,000 m2) rock on the Jag Niwas island in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India. The hotel operates a boat which transports guests to the hotel from a jetty at the City Palace. Bhagwat Singh decided to convert the Jag Niwas Palace into Udaipur’s first luxury hotel. Didi Contractor, an American artist, became a design consultant to this hotel project. Didi’s accounts gives an insight to the life and responsibility of the new maharana of Udaipur: "I worked from 1961 to 1969 and what an adventure! His Highness, you know, was a real monarch – really like kings always were. So one had a sense of being one of the last people to be an artist for the king.
Alhambra
The Alhambra (/ælˈhæmbrə/; Spanish: [aˈlambɾa]; Arabic: الْحَمْرَاء, trans. Al-Ḥamrā; literally "the red one"), the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra (Arabic: الْقَلْعَةُ ٱلْحَمْرَاءُ, trans. Al-Qal‘at al-Ḥamrā’, "the red fortress"), is a palace and fortress complex located in the Province of Granada, Spain. It was constructed during the mid 14th century by the Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, occupying the top of the hill of the Assabica on the southeastern border of the city of Granada.
The Alhambra's Moorish palaces were built for the last Muslim Emirs in Spain and its court, of the Nasrid dynasty. After the Reconquista (reconquest) by the Reyes Católicos ("Catholic Monarchs") in 1492, some portions were used by the Christian rulers. The Palace of Charles V, built by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1527, was inserted in the Alhambra within the Nasrid fortifications. After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the Alhambra was "discovered" in the 19th century by European scholars and travelers, with restorations commencing. It is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country's most significant and well known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the inspiration for many songs and stories.
The Alhambra's Moorish palaces were built for the last Muslim Emirs in Spain and its court, of the Nasrid dynasty. After the Reconquista (reconquest) by the Reyes Católicos ("Catholic Monarchs") in 1492, some portions were used by the Christian rulers. The Palace of Charles V, built by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1527, was inserted in the Alhambra within the Nasrid fortifications. After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the Alhambra was "discovered" in the 19th century by European scholars and travelers, with restorations commencing. It is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country's most significant and well known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the inspiration for many songs and stories.
Dolmabahçe Palace (Turkey)
The Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, located at the European side of the Bosporus, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922, apart from a twenty-year interval (1889-1909) in which the Yıldız Palace was used. The Dolmabahçe Palace was ordered by the Empire's 31st Sultan, Abdülmecid I, and built between the years 1843 and 1856. Hacı Said Ağa was responsible for the construction works, while the project was realised by architects Garabet Balyan, his son Nigoğayos Balyan, and Evanis Kalfa. The construction works cost five million Ottoman mecidiye gold coins, the equivalent of 35 tonnes of gold.
Grand Kremlin Palace (Russia)
The Grand Kremlin Palace (Большой Кремлёвский дворец Bolshoy Kremlyovskiy Dvorets), also translated Great Kremlin Palace, was built from 1837 to 1849 in Moscow, Russia on the site of the estate of the Grand Princes, which had been established in the 14th century on Borovitsky Hill. Designed by a team of architects under the management of Konstantin Thon, it was intended to emphasize the greatness of Russian autocracy. Konstantin Thon was also the architect of the Kremlin Armoury and the Church of Christ the Savior. The Grand Kremlin Palace was formerly the tsar's Moscow residence. Its construction involved the demolition of the previous Baroque palace on the site, designed by Rastrelli, and the Church of St.
Peterhof Palace (Russia)
The Peterhof Palace (Russian: Петерго́ф, Petergof, originally named Peterhof, Dutch or German for "Peter's Court") is actually a series of palaces and gardens located in St Petersburg, Russia, laid out on the orders of Peter the Great. These Palaces and gardens are sometimes referred as the "Russian Versailles". The palace-ensemble along with the city centre is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Atop the bluff, near the middle of the Lower Gardens, stands the Grand Palace (Bolshoi Dvorets). Behind (south) of it are the comparatively small Upper Gardens (Verhnyy Sad). Upon the bluff's face below the Palace is the Grand Cascade (Bolshoi Kaskad). This and the Grand Palace are the centrepiece of the entire complex
Royal Palace of Madrid (Spain)
The Royal Palace of Madrid, also known as the Palacio de Oriente (English: The Orient Palace, or Far East Palace), is the official residence of the King of Spain in the city of Madrid, and it is only used for State Ceremonies. However, King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family do not reside in it, choosing instead the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid. The palace is owned by the Spanish State and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional, a public agency of the Ministry of the Presidency. The palace is located on Bailén Street, in the Western part of downtown Madrid, East of the Manzanares River, and is accessible from the Ópera metro station. The palace is partially open to public, except when it is being used for official business.
Royal Palace of Aranjuez (Spain)
The Royal Palace of Aranjuez (Spanish: Palacio Real de Aranjuez) is a residence of the King of Spain, located in the town of Aranjuez (province of Madrid). The palace is open to the public as one of the Spanish royal sites. It was commissioned by Philip II and designed by Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera, who also designed El Escorial. It was completed during the reign of Ferdinand VI; Charles III had two wings added to it. The huge gardens, built to relieve its royal residents from the dust and drought of the Spanish meseta using the waters of the adjacent Tagus and Jarama rivers, are Spain's most important of the Habsburg period. The Jardín de la Isla is on a man-made island bounded by the River Tagus and the Ria Canal.
Pena National Palace (Portugal)
The Pena National Palace (Portuguese: Palácio Nacional da Pena) is the oldest palace inspired by European Romanticism. It is located in the civil parish of São Pedro de Penaferrim, municipality of Sintra, Portugal. The palace stands on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials. The Pena Palace has a profusion of styles much in accordance with the exotic taste of the Romanticism.
Mafra National Palace (Portugal)
The Mafra National Palace is a monumental Baroque and Italianized Neoclassical palace-monastery located in Mafra, Portugal. Its dimensions are so huge that it dwarfs the city. The palace-monastery is said to be Portugal's attempt to rival the Spanish palace at Escorial outside Madrid, Spain, but was built more like a response to the power of the Vatican, having the monastery a similar loom to the Pope's official residence. As the Mafra National Palace had a great need for sculptors, local and from abroad, it became the location of a sculpture academy headed by the Italian Alessandro Giusti (1715-1799). Among the teachers were several important sculptors, such as José de Almeida (1709-1769), Claude de Laprade (1682-1738) and Giovanni Antonio da Padova (who created most of the statues for the cathedral of Évora).
Palace of Caserta (Italy)
The Royal Palace of Caserta (Italian: Reggia di Caserta) is a former royal residence in Caserta, southern Italy, constructed for the Bourbon kings of Naples. It was the largest palace and one of the largest buildings erected in Europe during the eighteenth century. In 1997, the Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described in its nomination as "the swan song of the spectacular art of the Baroque, from which it adopted all the features needed to create the illusions of multidirectional space". The Royal Palace of Madrid, where Charles had grown up, which had been devised by Filippo Juvarra for Charles' father, Philip V of Spain, and Charlottenburg Palace provided models.
Palazzo Vecchio (Italy)
The Palazzo Vecchiois the town hall of Florence, Italy. This massive, Romanesque, crenellated fortress-palace is among the most impressive town halls of Tuscany. Overlooking the Piazza della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo's David statue as well the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi, it is one of the most significant public places in Italy. The name was officially changed after Cosimo moved to the Palazzo Pitti, renaming his former palace the Palazzo Vecchio, the "Old Palace", although the adjacent town square, the Piazza della Signoria, still bears the old name. Cosimo commissioned Giorgio Vasari to build an above-ground walkway, the Vasari corridor, from the palace, through the Uffizi, over the Ponte Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti.
Palace of Fontainebleau (France)
The Palace of Fontainebleau, located 55 kilometres from the centre of Paris, is one of the largest French royal châteaux. The palace as it is today is the work of many French monarchs, building on an early 16th century structure of Francis I. The building is arranged around a series of courtyards. The city of Fontainebleau has grown up around the remainder of the Forest of Fontainebleau, a former royal hunting park. The older château on this site was already used in the latter part of the 12th century by King Louis VII, for whom Thomas Becket consecrated the chapel. Fontainebleau was a favourite residence of Philip Augustus (Philip II) and Louis IX. The creator of the present edifice was Francis I, under whom the architect Gilles le Breton erected most of the buildings of the Cour Ovale, including the Porte Dorée, its southern entrance.
Palace of Versailles (France)
The Palace of Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles, the Île-de-France region of France. In French, it is known as the Château de Versailles. Under the direction of the architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the Palace of Versailles acquired much of the look that it has today. In addition to the Hall of Mirrors, Hardouin-Mansart designed the north and south wings, which were used, respectively, by the nobility and Princes of the Bloods, and the Orangerie. Le Brun was occupied not only with the interior decoration of the new additions of the palace, but also collaborated with Le Nôtre's in landscaping the palace gardens (Berger, 1985; Thompson, 2006; Verlet, 1985). As symbol of France’s new prominence as a European super-power, Louis XIV officially installed his court at Versailles in May of 1682
Prince's Palace (Monaco)
The Prince's Palace of Monaco is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. Founded in 1191 as a Genoese fortress, during its long and often dramatic history it has been bombarded and besieged by many foreign powers. Since the end of the 13th century, it has been the stronghold and home of the Grimaldi family who first captured it in 1297. The Grimaldi ruled the area first as feudal lords, and from the 17th century as sovereign princes, but their power was often derived from fragile agreements with their larger and stronger neighbours. Thus, the Prince's Palace reflects the history not only of Monaco, but of the family which in 1997 celebrated 700 years of rule from the same palace. Thus while other European sovereigns were building luxurious, modern Renaissance and Baroque palaces, politics and common sense demanded that the palace of the Monaco rulers be fortified.