Indonesia Plans to Revitalize Ndalem Joyodipuran as Ancient Mataram Museum

RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture has officially announced plans to revitalize the Ndalem Joyodipuran National Cultural Heritage site in Yogyakarta. The site, which previously served as the office of the Yogyakarta Cultural Heritage Preservation Center, will be transformed into the Ancient Mataram Museum and an integrated cultural center, or cultural enclave, for the public.

The strategic move follows the relocation of the Yogyakarta Cultural Heritage Preservation Center’s operations to a new office, allowing Ndalem Joyodipuran to be fully optimized as a public education facility. The establishment of the Ancient Mataram Museum is considered important to provide a clearer understanding of the timeline of civilization in the Indonesian archipelago, particularly the distinction between the Ancient Mataram and Islamic Mataram periods.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, announced the plan during a visit to Ndalem Joyodipuran in Yogyakarta on September 8, 2026. “This area is an asset of the Ministry of Culture that was previously used as the office of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Center. Since we now have a new office, this site will be revitalized into the Ancient Mataram Museum,” he said.

Fadli Zon explained that the ministry’s collection of artifacts, including Bronze Age remains and statues, would be arranged and displayed so they can be accessed by the public in an educational, comfortable, and informative environment. “We are preparing this place to become a cultural enclave, or a cultural hub, for the community,” he said.

Throughout the revitalization process, the Ministry of Culture has reaffirmed its commitment to cultural heritage conservation principles. The original structure of Ndalem Joyodipuran will be preserved as much as possible to maintain its historical value and architectural authenticity, while contemporary exhibition facilities will be introduced to ensure safety and visitor comfort.

Beyond its archaeological significance, Ndalem Joyodipuran also holds an important place in Indonesia’s national history. The site once served as the secretariat of the early Jong Java movement and witnessed the First Indonesian Women’s Congress on December 22, 1928, which was held at the site’s Pendopo and later became the historical foundation for Indonesia’s National Mother’s Day.

During his visit, Fadli Zon also viewed the Serat Centhini, also known as Suluk Tambangraras, one of the greatest masterpieces of New Javanese literature, often described as an encyclopedia of Javanese culture. The library at Ndalem Joyodipuran houses a substantial collection of 675 manuscripts, including babad, serat, and suluk texts.

“Serat Centhini is one of the important works that emerged during the reign of Pakubuwono IV in the 1800s and contains extensive knowledge about Javanese culture,” Fadli Zon said. He added that the manuscript covers a wide range of subjects, from traditional daggers known as keris and wayang puppetry to stories about Javanese society, philosophy, and other aspects of cultural life.

The minister also explained plans to make Serat Centhini part of the library collection at the National Museum. The move is intended to provide the public with easier access to the manuscripts in both physical and digitized formats, with Fadli Zon emphasizing that Serat Centhini could become an important part and an icon of the National Museum’s future library collection.

Through the transformation, the Ministry of Culture aims to ensure that Ndalem Joyodipuran becomes more than a static display of artifacts. The site is envisioned as a living, inclusive, and productive cultural hub for artists, cultural figures, academicians, and members of the public interested in history and cultural heritage.