Old Banten

Coordinates: 6°02′33″S 106°09′39″E / 6.0424495°S 106.1609316°E

Old Banten (Indonesian: Banten Lama) is a historic city which was the capital of the Indonesian Sultanate of Banten. It is now part of the Serang Regency located about 11 km north of Serang city.

Today, Old Banten is a well-known historical tourist attraction where many people visit to pay their respects and pray (ziarah) at the graves of Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin and his descendants. The area reflects the sultanate's earlier glory.[1] Notable buildings include the impressive Great Mosque of Banten,[2] the watch tower, the water systems and the artifacts at the Museum of Banten Artifacts.

There are also remains of two important Kraton (palaces) nearby, the Kraton Kaibon and the larger Kraton Surosawan. The main visible remains of the Kraton Surosawan are the large walls of the Kraton located close to the Great Mosque, very close to the Museum of Banten Artifacts. All that currently remains of the palace inside the large walls are hints of the original buildings and of rooms that must once have stood within the fortified walls. Some plans for reconstruction were announced in early 2013 although it is not clear how the finance to support the reconstruction can be found.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 'Banten abounds in archeological treasures', The Jakarta Post, 10 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Multa Fidrus, 'Historic Grand Mosque to get new look', The Jakarta Post, 20 April 2013.
  3. ↑ Multa Fidrus, 'Heritage site; Banten called to revive Sultanate legacy', The Jakarta Post, 17 May 2013.

See also