TOURISM PLACE: ISTANA GEBANG

Hello, come back with Nylaaa in this occasion.

I'd like to share a tourism place that located in Blitar.

What is the name? the name is "Istana Gebang".

Istana Gebang is a house in Blitar City, which served as the residence of the Sukarno family around the year 1917. It's not Sukarno's childhood home rather, it's where he lived during his teenage years. Many sources on Google incorrectly state that Istana Gebang was his childhood home, so it's important to clarify this information. This house was actually purchased by Sukarno's father when he was transferred from Mojokerto to Blitar in 1917.

In that year, Sukarno was already not a child, as he was born on June 6, 1901, making him 16 years old at the time. If you want to know the complete story, keep reading.

This is the view of outside Istana Gebang, it is so shiny because I arrive here at 8.30 a.m.

Istana Gebang was once the residence of Sukarno's family from 1917 to 1919. Its previous owner was CH Portier, a railway employee in Blitar at that time. Allegedly, this house was constructed around the same time as the construction of the railway in Blitar. In what year? Well, in 1884.

Indeed, Istana Gebang needs to be preserved as it is a historic building. It's approximately 139 years old. Istana Gebang, also known as Ndalem Gebang, is quite spacious, covering nearly 1.8 hectares. It consists of the main house, a pavilion, a rear kitchen, an art hall, and many other structures. Such buildings were common during that era and remind me of my grandparents' house in Kediri. There, too, you can find colonial-era houses like these.

Back to the story, in 1917, Sukarno's father, named Soekemi Soetrohardjo, had to relocate for work from Mojokerto to Blitar.

He was a teacher. At that time, he held the position of Male Teacher Instructor (Normal Jongens School). The school is now SMAN 1 Kota Blitar.

At that time, Sukarno was still studying at HBS Surabaya and only occasionally visited Istana Gebang during his holidays.

After Sukarno's parents passed away, the house became the property of Sukarno's sister, Ibu Sukarmini. It is said that Sukarno handed over his inheritance rights to his sister. Ibu Sukarmini lived in Ndalem Gebang with her husband, Mr. Wardoyo. As a result, Istana Gebang is also known by the name "Ndalemipun Bu Wardoyo."

In 2010, the Blitar government designated this house as a cultural heritage site, and it remains so to this day. This place functions as a museum and preserves the belongings of Sukarno and his family, including family photos.

This is the view of regulation board in front of Istana Gebang.

Here is the place that you can take this bag for putting your sandals or shoes, because when you enter to Istana Gebang you do not allow to wear your sandals or shoes.

Here is the first living room that you will face it when you visit to Istana Gebang, there is the recepsionist place that you have to write your name, adddres and sign it. and here also the place for buying the ticket. How much is the price? Just keep reading and you will find it in the last.

In this first living room there are two kinds of chair, as you see from this picture that I took. It looks so antique and memorable.

Here is the mirror of in one of the bedroom, and I say that it looks so misterius when you enter this room because this room has a door to continue to the guest room and look so wide.

This pictures can be found in front the bedroom near the working table, it contains Sukarno and his family's pictures.

Here is the meeting room in front of the dining room, it has long table and many chairs.

Here is the one of poetry that I captured.

Here is the picture of a space from the main house to the meeting room that I told above.

Here is the dining room.

This picture is the warehouse, you can find the antique goods here.

This is gamelan Java's picture near by the warehouse.

This the old well.

This is the old or the first bathroom in this house. It located behind of the house and you will find it when you have already done taking around this place.