Giyanti is located around 4 KM from the highway to Wonosobo and approximately 9 KM from the heart Wonosobo. Giyanthi is a typical a village in Java with thick javanese culture. The people are friendly and work as farmers. Though the world is getting more modern, the people of Giyanti still maintain their way of life and the traditional culture. Thats why in 1999, this village is officially becoming Tourism Village of Wonosobo.
This village offers lengger (embleg) performance for tourist at night or day as ordered. For this a pendopo for this performance has been established. Usually foreign tourist order the tour at night and this cultural tour will give the tourist a unique experience, cus the trip to Giyanti is like trip to very remote rural which you must pass dark narrow farming area with silence ambiance and night animals singing.
Unlike other village, this relatively small village has 3 house to pray for moslem, for catholic and for Javanese belief. And those three adherents live in a harmony and holding hands with each other. You can see from how they participate in Nyadran Ritual Ceremony where every family and every one in the village participate.
Nyadran Ritual is held annually every Jum'at Kliwon (Friday 13th) in the month of Sura according to Javanese calendar. And it is held to thank God for the blessings of bountiful earth and village well being. The ritual is started by parade that is led by village old man and they go to the cemetary of Giyanti founders, Adipati Mertoloyo, the follower of Prince Diponegoro after the great war with dutch in 1825-1830 and then he refuge to Giyanti. Then proceed to pray at the graves of Kiai Monyet dan Mbah Kertojanti which are located at the same place. The old man prayed in Islam way but also use Hindu ritual like offering and incense. Javanese adopts easily cultures that comes to the community and mix it. The ritual then continued in the village where colorful banners row along the village street. At the village street women are ready with tenongan, a bamboo bin with jajan pasar (traditional food) and fruits inside. They dress in javanese village dress. Very impressive to see the parades moving to pendapa where Pak Parno, a respectable man tells a story about Giyanti Village and its tradition. Adipati Mertoloyo developing art, farming, and culture around 1832, that until now it is commemorated as the anniversary of Giyanti Village. The ritual is followed by wayang kulit (shadow puppet show) and other traditional performances.
If you visit this village in a day, you can visit local people makind traditional Javanese masks, puppets, and bamboo handicraft. Here you can also order tour to dress in embleg dancer costumes.
Tips to visit Giyanti Village
1. From Jogja
Take bus to Magelang from Giwangan bus Station. From Magelang take bus to Wonosobo and stop by at
Binangun Vegetable Market (Pasar Sayur Binangun). And take Ojek to Giyanti
2. Best Time to visit is Sura Month when Nyadran is held
3. If you visit Wonosobo and also want to enjoy this, order from tour operator to arrange for you. You can to
watch in a group so it will cost you cheaper.
4. Or you can get your tours from Jogja, Dieng and Giyanti arranged by
tour operator.
