Bung Karno Blitar Cemetery is a tourist destination rich in history and learning. In this area visitors will be invited to observe the struggle of the Indonesian nation and the life of our country’s first leader, President Soekarno.
Although using the concept of learning history and religious tourism, this area is far from boring. Designed with Javanese architecture and various other media, it makes anyone feel at home visiting here. Curious about the complete info? Come on, see the explanation below!
History of Bung Karno’s Tomb in Blitar
The history of Bung Karno’s Tomb is another story that cannot be separated from the area. Starting from the placement process to the inauguration, it has always been a hot topic for several people.
President Ir. Soekarno died on Sunday, June 21, 1970 under house arrest and was not allowed to carry out any political activities. According to the explanation from the family, Ir. Soekarno had the will to be buried modestly near the Bogor Palace.
However, due to disagreements from relatives, finally President Soeharto, who was ruling at that time, decided to bury him in Bogor next to the graves of his parents.
This decision was of course opposed by the family, but President Soeharto finally explained that the decision was taken because Ir. Soekarno had a very close relationship with his mother.
Despite the controversy, this place is never empty of visitors. In fact, initially many people came bringing the burial ground home. Because they were worried that the tomb would sink, the management finally limited the number of visitors.
The tomb was restored in 1979, one of which was by adding a large mirror around the tomb. But the glass was finally released completely during Gus Dur’s reign until now.
Tour of Bung Karno’s Grave in Blitar
With an area of up to 1.8 hectares, this place is divided into three parts, namely the courtyard, terrace and pavilion which are so thick with Javanese nuances. The three elements above also have the meaning of the stages of life, namely, fetus, life and death.
Besides the beauty of the architecture, there are many other things that you can enjoy here. The following Advontura summarizes the various tourist activities of the Bung Karno Blitar Cemetery!
Living History at the Bung Karno Museum
You can find this museum in the western part of Building A. Inside, visitors will be greeted with various paintings and relics of the Proclaimer.
Starting from Bung Karno’s “life” paintings, ancient rupiah currency which is said to be able to roll up by itself when held by a certain person, President Soekarno’s favorite suitcase made in Germany, Kyai Sekar Jagad’s ancient keris, and many more.
Although most of it contains Bung Karno’s relics, visitors will also learn about the history of Indonesia’s development indirectly from its various collections.
Watching Documentary Films at the Bung Karno Library
Building iconic it was inaugurated on 3 July 2004 by President Megawati Soekarnoputri. Its full name is the Bung Karno Proclamation Library.
Its development goals are based on a strong vision and mission in developing a better Indonesia amidst the brunt of liberalism ideology.
The library here has a modern and minimalist architectural design that is pleasing to the eye. The book collection is also quite complete and can be read by children, students, and the general public.
Some of his collections include various works on Bung Karno, philosophy and general books, encyclopedias, electronic writing, to the periodic novel series. In addition, there are several rare collections and memorabilia that are difficult to find elsewhere.
One activity favorite the visitors were a screening of the Bung Karno documentary film. It’s just that the video is only played at certain times.
Take a photo at the Peace Gong
Right behind the museum and library, there is a large gong with a diameter of up to 2.5 meters which was a donation from The World Peace Committee.
The Peace Gong is a special monument to remind the importance of maintaining world peace in the hope that there will be no more wars, SARA conflicts, and so on.
Also read: Cirebon Sunyaragi Cave Tour – Entrance Ticket & Opening Hours
Pilgrimage to the Tomb of President Soekarno
This activity is a mandatory activity for most people. Before entering the tomb pavilion, you will find the Great Gate as in Bentar Temple those in Bali.
When entering, visitors can find the pavilion or graves of Bung Karno and his parents. The Tomb of the Proclaimer is elongated and has a black marble tombstone that reads:
“Bung Karno is buried here. Proclaimer of Independence and First President of the Republic of Indonesia. People’s Mouthpiece.”
Complete with the Red and White Flag on the right and the Yellow Pennant on the left. Visitors are also allowed to sit directly near the tomb as long as they maintain decency and cleanliness.
On the left side of the cemetery you will find a prayer room. Meanwhile, if you want to go out, visitors will be invited to a small road past various traditional souvenir stalls.
Buying Typical Souvenirs
After the pilgrimage the visitors will be directed to the souvenir shop and souvenirs before reaching the exit.
Various kinds of souvenirs are sold, from key chains, bracelets, t-shirts, small statues, paintings and so on. You can still bid on the desired price.
Art Tour at Gebang Palace
If you still have a lot of free time, you can try visiting Bung Karno’s childhood home on Jalan Sultan Agung Blitar.
Inside, you can see Bung Karno’s legacy, such as household appliances and the cars he used to use.
In addition, every June 6, there is an annual art event entitled “Grebeg Pancasila” which you can attend.
Address of Bung Karno’s Grave in Blitar
Bung Karno’s grave address is on Jalan Ir. Soekarno Number 152 Bendogerit, Sananwetan District, Blitar City, East Java.
Road access to this area is also very good. If you depart from Blitar City Square, it is only about 2.5 kilometers.
Entrance ticket to Bung Karno’s Tomb in Blitar
Public visitors who come are not charged an entrance fee for Bung Karno’s Tomb. However, you still have to pay for parking.
The opening hours for this area are from 7 am to 5 pm. You can visit this place every day both on national holidays and weekends.
Hotels in Blitar Near Bung Karno’s Tomb
For those of you who plan to stay around this area, Advontura has prepared several hotel recommendations in Blitar near Bung Karno’s Cemetery with very varied price ranges.
Some of the recommendations include, RedDoorz @ Jalan Tanjung Blitar, SPOT ON 2417 Melati Residence, Grand Mansion Hotel Blitar, Patria Palace Hotel and so on. For the tariff, you can prepare Rp. 150,000.00 to Rp. 390,000.00.
Thus our explanation this time about Bung Karno’s Tomb in Blitar. Hopefully this article is useful for those of you who are looking for a unique tourist destination. See you on other travel discussions!
Also read: Trunyan Village, Unique Cemetery typical of the Oldest Village in Bali