Cheap Jogja Vacations: The Beringharjo Central Market

Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII named the market place “Beringharjo” after the forest area opened up on 2 August 1756 for the purpose. The appointment of Yap Sa Ting Ho, a contemporary and close acquaintance of Danurejo I, the first court administrator of Yogyakarta (1755-1799), as Captain of the Chinese community whose mainstays are commerce and trade indicates that Yogyakarta thrived quite early and must have had contributed substantially to the existence of the market place. Remains of old Chinese's warehouses that used to line the North side can still be seen. The present building was constructed by the Nederlandsch Indische Beton Maatschappij (the Netherland India Concerete Co) on 24 March 1925 and completed in March 1926. it underwent some minor renovation and extensions by an inner side street in 1960 and 1974.

Area where current Beringharjo market lies used to be forest of banyan trees. After the foundation of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Kingdom, this area was used as a place for economy transaction by people of Yogyakarta and its vicinities. Just hundreds years later, namely in 1925, this place had a permanent building. The name 'Beringharjo' was given by Hamengku Buwono VIII that's mean place where banyan tree (bering) used to grow is expected to bring welfare (harjo).

As a central market, here is found the most compact collection of merchandise: clothes, textile, batik, shoes, bags, baskets, mats, spices, foodstuff, agriculture product and other household articles. A narrow alley outside the northern fence a lined by shabby stalls but loaded with the most unlikely articles. From motorcycle spare parts, obsolete parts of machines, used armary boots, broken clocks, old records, used cameras and others more considered as scrap and junk. However, chances are; you may find an old brass incense burner to adorn your book shelve, a housecart lantern for your wall or a fine “baju encim” embroidered muslim shirt Chinese's ladies used to wear, which is “in” with the young fancy fashion fans. Business hours is 9 am to 4 pm. Just as interesting as the wares are the people and the whole colorful market scene.

As part of Malioboro, Beringharjo becomes one of the visiting destinations in Yogya. its existence has philosophical meaning, and this market has been the center of economy activity since years ago. As it symbolizes stages of human life and economy fulfillment, the market that was renovated several times. Furthermore, as symbolizing economy functions, Beringharjo also one of the poles (consisting of South Square, Sultan Palace, North Square, and Beringharjo market).

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