Yok dolan, rek!

The largest Hindu-Buddhist kingdom in the archipelago, Majapahit, left its mark on the fertile land of East Java. Legend has it that descendants displaced by the spread of Islam in Java gave birth to the Tengger community, now residing in the Bromo Mountains.

In the East Java Pavilion at TMII, two statues, Kotbuto and Angkobuto, warmly welcome visitors at the entrance. The grand temple complex named Penataran in Blitar showcases its true size at this location adorned with a statue of Ganesha that symbolizes power and knowledge in Hindu mythology. The stories of Majapahit’s glory unfold through reliefs like the ‘Coronation of Raden Wijaya’ as the first king of Majapahit and the scene of ‘Palapa Oath.’ Additionally, the Karapan Sapi Statue, set against the backdrop of the northern limestone hills, depicts the famous game and performance from the island of Madura.

Here, a towering ten-sided obelisk with eleven segments stands tall. A replica of Surabaya’s Heroes Monument, it has a scale of 1:15 compared to the original. Adorning the monument is the Bamboo Spear Patriot statue, which opens the pages of history. Not only that, the relief of the ‘November 10, 1945 Battle’ presents a dramatic narrative of the tearing of the Dutch flag and the destruction of the Dutch headquarters, which has now become the original location of the Heroes Monument in front of the Surabaya Governor’s office.

One of the displayed traditional houses is the village head’s house with its gazebo and slit drum, inspired by Ponorogo and Pacitan. The entire structure was moved in its entirety to TMII to preserve its authentic traditional ambiance.

There are also traditional houses from Madura, representing the uniqueness of Sumenep, Pamekasan, Bangkalan, and Situbondo Regencies. Its diversity is portrayed through Langgar, a place of worship that is rich in spirituality, Pir as a local Bangkalan transportation mode, fishing boats that navigate the sea, and Pagupon as a place to take care of doves. The nature of East Java is present in this pavilion, featuring East Java’s endemic trees such as Maja, Srikaya, Kelapa Gading, Sawo Kecik, Mango, and teakwood.

DID YOU KNOW?

East Java played a crucial role in the spread of Islam on Java Island. Islamic religious figures known as Wali Sanga even left their footsteps on this land. Some of them include Sunan Bonang, Sunan Ampel, Sunan Giri, and Sunan Drajat. At TMII, visitors can witness a replica of the Ampel Mosque Tower, a legendary symbol of these figures’ existence in East Java.