Candirejo
Profile
Introduction
Based on local tale, the word Candirejo was came from the word Candighra. Then this Candighra was moved to Candirga, and this word moved again to Candirja. And while the time walked through, this word also has its changing. Until now, the word stays for Candirejo. Now, this word stays for the village located in Magelang regency, one of regencies in Central Java province, Indonesia territory.
Candirejo is built by two words, candi and rejo. Both are Javanese. In english, candi can be meant by temple, but if we refer to Javanese, it meant rock/stone. And the word rejo can be meant by fertile. In fact, Candirejo village is located in area with many rocks around. It is understandable because the region where Candirejo village is located, is part of Menoreh mountain ground. Menoreh mountain is used to be a volcano. The existence of the word candi (stone/rock) is also strengthen by names of some regions in this village. There are regions named of Watu Kendhil, Watu Ambeng, Watu Dandang, etc., where word watu is have a meaning of stone. So, if both meaning are constucted together, the word Candirejo can have a meaning of one area with many rocks within, but it is fertile.
Another version of the tale; this village is named by Candirejo because some old temples (candi) were found in this area. In Brangkal, an old temple was found, and people called the temple as Brangkal temple (candi Brangkal).
Candirejo village is one of ten villages which part of Natural Resources Management for Local Community Empowerment (NRM-LCE) Project. This project is handled by PATRA-PALA foundation, local villagers, and the government of Magelang regency. This project is fully supported by Japan International Corporation Agency (IICA). For this area, this spesific project’s purpose is conservation of Menoreh mountain area for its function as national monument and its world inherited culture..
Local Community
Local community of Candirejo village have good motivation for developing their life. Their local culture and the nature can be exploited to be a tourism interest. They have local handicrafts, local agriculture system, and another attractions which able to attract foreigners to visit.
The living of Candirejo villagers is dominated by agriculture activities. If they have a lot of agriculture products, they will move to Borobudur or Jagalan traditional market to sell them. Delman (horse riding carriage) is transportation means which is dominantly used by the locals.
The traditional houses of the locals are called “rumah Jawa Kampung” and “rumah Jawa Limasan”, and in English, rumah Jawa means Javanese house. In this type of houses, the kitchen is separated from house. Woods are stil main material for cooking.
Tourism Facilities
Tourism Interests
As one of ten villages of NRE-LCE program, the purity of local traditions and the nature
are main marks for Candirejo village. From here, Candirejo village has some interesets which
can be attracted foreigners to visit.
The local community empowerment is main objective from NRE-LCE program. The results can
be positive for locals to increase their economy. Now, we can meet many local handicrafts
made by natural resources around teh village. These can be good souvenirs for those visiting
the village.
Traditional Ceremonies
Nyadran is a ritual for sending requiem for ancestors which held one a year, in Rawuh month (Javanese calendar), welcoming Ramadhan (fasting month in Moslem calendar). In village degree, this ritual is lead by Mijil mount key-keeper, held in Mijil mount. Otherwise, in sub-village (Javanese: dusun), this ritual is lead by sub-village chief or religious leader. Main food prepared for this ritual is called Ingkung, a chicken boiled with some oreganos. This process is called “ukep” by the locals. Ingkung is served with rices and some vegetables.
The other rituals is Saparan and Perti Desa, which is held one a year in 15th of Sapar month (Javanese calendar). The purposes of these ritual are requesting that God will gives walfare for the locals and good harvests.
Series of Perti Desa are;
a. Sedekah Bumi/Selamatan Desa (Earth Offering/Village Ceremonial Ritual)
The components are;
- Tumpeng (Java: ceremonial dish of yellow rice served in a cone shape) and Ingkung.
- Golong Milan Dusun, a collection of Golong rices, the amount is fifteen, represented of fifteen sub-village in Candirejo village.
- Nine Golong rices represent the unity of people and their leader.
- Larakan (Java: sajian), which consist of crops.
- Golong Kencana.
b. Wayangan (The Puppet Show)
In wayangan, the components must be prepared are below.
- Jajan pasar, traditional foods which can be meet in Javanese traditional market. These represent request to God, in order that the local farmers can easily sell their crops to the sellers, and the sellers easily get customers.
- Toasted Ingkung.
- Two sets of coconuts.
- Little chicken (alive).
These traditional rituals represent relationship between human beings and God, the anchestors, the other human beings, and the nature.
Traditional Art
Long time ago, when Indonesia was colonized by Holland government, the Diponegoro prince (one of Indonesian heroes) followers visited Candirejo village. That moment then inspirated a traditional dance called Jathilan, describing war exercises of Dipoengoro’s riding horse troops. This art performance started developing from 1920 and now has some versions. Music accompanied this Jathilan is called karawitan.
Another traditional art performance is wayangan (the puppet show). There are three kinds of wayangan; wayang kulit (leather puppet show), wayang golek (wood puppet show), and wayang orang (performed by men and women). Wayang kulit performance is often held along with a ritual or a traditional ceremony. This wayangan was appeared when Budha cultural influence came into this area.
After Budha era, Islam (Moslem) influence came to this area. This effect brought some art performances, such as Gatholoco/Wulangsunu dance, Kubrosiswo and Shalawatan that contain Islam life guiding for humans being.
Souvenirs
Pandanus Handicrafts
Pandanus plants are easily found in Candirejo village. But, not like the others that grown in coast area, these are smaller and more tight. Because of the characteristics, pandanus plants in this village are good materials for handicrafts.
Dominantly, pandanus plants are processed into floormates. These floormates are not only directly used, but they also can be a half raw materials for bags producing, little Jathilan houses, and other products. These products can be found in village traditional market, or in Borobudur temple park.
Bamboo Handicrafts
Candirejo village has many locations which have bamboo plants a lot. There are four types of bamboo plants in this village. They are pring wulung (black bamboo), pring petung (large-diameter bamboo), pring legi (sweet bamboo), and pring ijo (green bamboo). The locals utilize bamboo to make home furnitures, kitchen tools, home fences, and others. Besides of that, we can found local handicrafts made by bamboo plants, such as bamboo painting.
Accommodations
Candirejo village is equipped with some good enough accommodations. For allowing real traditional village atmosphere, accommodations provided in this village are just home stays.
Below is a list of home stays in Candirejo village..
Name of Homestay Owner Rooms
Alamanda Mr. Utoyo 2
Amarilis Mr. Agus Sutanto 2
Bunga Bakung Mr. Suramidi 2
Bunga Matahari Mr. Endro Suwarto 2
Cempaka Mr. Suhadi 2
Ceplok Piring Mr. Handi Kuswanto 2
Edelweiss Mr. Maduk Sasono 2
Kembang Setaman Mr. Tatak Sariawan 2
Kenanga Mr. Harjiyanto 2
Lavender Mr. Murwanto 2
Lily Mrs. Susana 5
Mawar Mrs. Genduk Tusiarno 3
Melati Mr. Alpandi 3
Nusa Indah Mr. Tribianto 2
Rafflesia Mr. Budi 2
Sakura Mr. Sareh Heryanto 3
Seruni Mr. Teguh 2
Soka Mr. Darsono 2
Tapak Dara Mr. Digdo Wijono 2
Wijaya Kusuma Mr. Sumidi 2
Package Tours
1. Village Tour
Join an exploratory village tour either on foot, by bicycle or Andong (horse drawn carriage) and gain insight and knowledge of local customs and traditions, art and handicrafts, traditional health drinks and the agricultural system of intercropping.
2. Menoreh Range
This tour gives you the chance to experience the everyday life of the village community. During the walk you will also gain an appreciation and knowledge of the local bird life, medicinal plants and the agricultural system Of intercropping used in the area.
3. Agricultural Tour
This tour will increase our awareness of the importance of conservation and the management of sustainable natural resources in this area. Learn about the agricultural system of intercropping used and get direct experience in the fields of planting, preparing the ground for cultivation and picking many kinds of fresh fruits.
4. River Activities
Want to catch fish like the locals? Join them with their “nylantrang” (fishing nets) and have a go yourself to find out if it is as easy as it looks! Need to cool off? Take the chance to bathe and swim in the river accompanied by a guide.
5. Nature Education Tour
This tour will increase your family’s awareness of the importance of conservation and the anagement of sustainable natural resources for the future prosperity of mankind. Learn about organic farming, the production of organic fertilizer and traditional local forms of nature conservation such as the custom of “ilag-ilag” among others.
6. Experience Local Life
Stay a while and really experience the local way of life of the Javanese community
in Candirejo. Stay in one of the traditional home stays and find out about the daily
activities by joining the owner from dawn to dusk and beyond. See how food is prepared and
cooked, experience life in the fields, at the river or around the village. You can also
take advantage of one of the other packages on offer to add to your experience and enjoyment.
7. Traditional Arts
Visitors have the chance to enjoy many traditional arts in Candirejo village. Each type of art has its own special characteristics as well as having strong local cultural value and enjoying them ogether with the local community gives the visitor a unique experience.
Supporting Facilities
Candirejo village can be reached from some big cities in Central Java and Yogyakarta. We can find Candirejo village from Semarang (capital of Central Java province), Solo, and Yogyakarta (capital of D.I. Yogyakarta province).
The distance from Semarang to Candirejo is about 90 kilometers. If we want to get Candirejo village from Ahmad Yani airport in Semarang, we can use taxi, and travel directly to Candirejo village. We can use buses, which served route from Semarang to Magelang regency. From Magelang, we can use public transportation to reach Candirejo, such as ojek (motorcycle) and delman (horse drawn carriage).
The distance from Solo to Candirejo village is about 100 kilometers. To get Candirejo village from Solo, we can use taxi if we start to go from Adi Sumarmo airport, Solo. If we use buses, we can go to Tirtonadi terminal in Solo, and choose the bus that served Tirtonadi terminal to Umbulharjo terminal route. From Umbulharjo terminal located in Yogyakarta, we can use bus to reach Borobudur terminal. From here, there are some public transportation vehicles which served route to Candirejo village, such as ojek and delman (Java: andong).
From Semarang, Solo, and Yogyakarta, the lowest distance to go to Candirejo village is provided from Yogyakarta. The distance from Yogyakarta to Candirejo village is about 40 kilometers. Taxi can be used to travel directly from Adi Sutjipto airport to this tourism village. Buses can be used from Umbulharjo terminal to Borobudur terminal. From Borobudur terminal, some public transportation vehicles are provided, such as ojek and delman..
Tourism Information Center
Koperasi Desa Wisata Candirejo
Sangen, Candirejo, Borobudur, Magelang
Central Java - Indonesia 56553
Phone +62(293)788608
Mobile (+62)8175414855 (contact: Ian), (+62)81328808520 (contact: Tatag)
Add comment May 29th, 2007