On this tour you’ll explore virtually every aspect of the daily life in a rural Javanese village. Submerge yourself in the mystical Javanese traditions of this remarkable place by visiting it’s most spiritual sites, learn about its history through contemporary art murals and get an exclusive look behind the scenes of an authentic Jathilan performance. This spectacular dance, performed on bamboo horses by local farmers, involves trances and magic tricks. It will definitely leave you in awe.
DAY 1 Leaving at 1pm from ViaVia we drive for two hours to Aswahita, the cultural center in Bagelen. We’ll take an afternoon stroll around the village to visit home industries, taste some local snacks and get more in-depth information about the contemporary art murals that depict the small town’s history. In the evening we witness and part take in a Jathilan and gamelan performance.
DAY 2 In the early morning (6 am) we follow the footsteps of the legendary Imam Sunan Geseng who merged elements of Javanese mysticism with Islam. After our walk, we head back to our homestay to enjoy a late breakfast and drive back to Jogja.
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*Bagelen Street Art Project
Not too long ago Bagelen was just an anonymous village a couple of hours away from Jogjakarta. Surrounded by mystical forested hills, this small town seemed barely affected by modernization. Recently however the decision was made to open up a new, state of the art, international airport at its doorstep. This would change the village forever.
To explore the town’s new opportunities, unlocked by this situation, ViaVia Jogja set up the project “Kembali ke Jalur” (translated: Return to the Track). Together with an army of street artists, we went on a search for the identity of a village that balances between history and future. This resulted in a series of splendid murals that tell a story about preserving the town’s rich traditions in a rapid developing environment.
Discover these art pieces with us and at the same time get a better understanding about the traditional life of a small, rural Javanese town.
Book 2 days in advance.
