Radya Pustaka Museum Celebrates Its 135th Anniversary with a Special Exhibition “Rajamala”

Surakarta, November 6, 2025. Radya Pustaka Museum, one of the oldest museums in Indonesia, celebrates its 135th anniversary with the theme “Rajamala Mengembang, Songsong Membentang”. The highlight of this year’s celebration is the “Rajamala” exhibition, featuring rare collections and historical stories surrounding Rajamala, a mythical figure that became the emblem of the royal ship of the Kasunanan Surakarta Palace.

Founded on October 28, 1890, by Kanjeng Raden Adipati Sosrodiningrat IV, Radya Pustaka Museum has witnessed the long journey of Javanese culture. The museum houses a wide range of collections, including ancient manuscripts, statues, traditional daggers (keris), and relics from the Mataram and Surakarta kingdoms. Located on Slamet Riyadi Street, it has long been a favorite historical destination for students, tourists, and cultural researchers alike.

To commemorate this special occasion, the “Rajamala” exhibition features art installations, historical documentation, and contemporary artworks that reinterpret Rajamala as a symbol of perseverance, self-control, and Javanese wisdom. Several young artists from Solo are also participating, presenting visual and multimedia works that blend traditional values with modern artistic expressions.

In addition to the main exhibition, the museum will also host a series of traditional dance performances, a special wayang kulit (shadow puppet) show themed around Rajamala, and free educational tours for students throughout the celebration period.

The “Rajamala” exhibition will be held in the museum’s main courtyard from October 28 to November 2, 2025, and will be open to the public daily starting at 9:00 a.m.

With more than a century of history, Radya Pustaka Museum remains committed to being a center for the preservation of Javanese culture while staying relevant in modern times. The museum continues to present history not as a static relic of the past, but as a living source of inspiration for the future.

By , Alisa Noory