Malioboro Street Jogja is a major shopping street and the centre of Yogyakarta’s largest tourist district surrounded with many hotels, restaurants and shops nearby.
Malioboro Street is one of the iconic tourist attractions in Yogyakarta that is always crowded with tourists. Located not far from Tugu Jogja Station, this street has become a favorite destination for travelers from various regions. However, behind its popularity, Malioboro Street holds a history and meaning that is interesting to know.
Malioboro Street was built by the Dutch colonial government and originally did not only serve as a transportation route. It has a long history of witnessing Indonesia’s struggle for independence. Its strategic role in the past made Malioboro an important center of economic and social activities.
So, what is the history and meaning behind Malioboro Street? Read the full story to understand more about this historical icon of Yogyakarta.
History of Malioboro Street
In Yogyakarta, there are three main roads that stretch from Tugu Jogja to Jogja Post Office. They are Jalan Pangeran Mangkubumi, Jalan Jenderal A. Yani, and Jalan Malioboro. Among the three, Malioboro Street has an important role as it is part of the imaginary line of the Yogyakarta Palace.
In the 19th century, the Dutch East Indies government built Malioboro as a center of economic activity. The name Malioboro became popular during the colonial period, precisely between 1790 and 1945. In 1790, the Dutch built Fort Vredeburg at the southern end of the street. In addition, they also built various important facilities such as the Dutch Club or Societeit Der Vereneging Djokdjakarta (1822), the Dutch Governor’s Residence (1830), Javasche Bank and the Post Office.
Malioboro’s rapid development cannot be separated from trade activities, especially between the Dutch government and Chinese traders. In 1887, after Tugu Station was established, Malioboro Street was divided into two parts. Apart from being an economic center, this street also holds the history of Indonesia’s independence struggle.
One of the historical events that took place in Malioboro was the March 1, 1949 General Strike. In a six-hour battle, Indonesian fighters managed to reclaim Yogyakarta from the hands of Dutch colonial forces. This event became one of the important moments in the struggle to defend Indonesia’s independence.
Until now, Malioboro Street remains the center of Yogyakarta’s life by maintaining its original concept and design. Various strategic places can still be found in this area, such as the DIY Governor’s Office, DIY DPRD Building, Beringharjo Market, Malioboro Terrace, and the Presidential Palace. Malioboro continues to be an inseparable cultural, historical and economic icon of Yogyakarta.
The Meaning of Malioboro
The name of Malioboro Street, which is thought to have been built by the Dutch government in the 1750s, has an interesting historical background. The name was inspired by a royal road mentioned in the Ramayana, which served as the main road and had an important role. This road was used to welcome the king and his guests and was believed to bring various blessings.
The street was originally named Malyabhara, which was later adapted as the name of the main street in the center of Yogyakarta. Later on, the Javanese pronunciation changed the sound to Malioboro, along with the habit of pronouncing the letter a into o. In Sanskrit, Malya means flower, while bhara means wearing. Therefore, Malyabhara can be interpreted as “the street adorned with flowers”, reflecting the specialty of the street.
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