In the middle of Mataram city, you can find a park that is quite beautiful. This water park is also a place of worship for Hindus with several temples built in the center.
Taman Mayura is a legacy of the Karangasem Kingdom, proof that a part of Lombok Island was once ruled by Balinese kingdoms. Taman Mayura and its temples are still well preserved until today and become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city of Mataram.
History of Taman Mayura
This park was built by the King Anak Agung Made Karangasem in the mid-18th century. Initially, the park was named Kelepug which is an onomatopoeia of the sound of water droplets falling into the pond.
But later this park was infested with snakes, disturbing people who wished to pray here. To overcome this problem, the King’s advisers then suggested that they bring peacocks from Palembang to eat the snakes. Those peacocks is then bred in the park area. Mayura means Peacock in Sanskrit.
Garden area
Mayura is divided into two parts; garden area and temple area. In the garden area, you can find a large pool. In the middle of the pool, there is a Pavilion called Rat Kerte, although it is also sometimes referred to as a Gili or Balekambang.
This pavilion was initially used as a gathering place for royal officials or to receive honorary guests. The area of the park is bordered by shady mangosteen trees.
Temple area
According to the management, the spiritual soul of the Taman Mayura is the temple area, located in the middle of the park. Inside this temple area, you can find the four main temples.
There are Gunung Rinjani Temple, Ngelurah Temple, Pura Padmasana, and Gedong Temple. Among them, the Gedong Temple is the most famous and is ofte nused as a place of worship for Hindus from all over the world. This temple has another name, Pura Jagad Rana.
Although the temples are places of worship for Hindus, but it is open to be visited by tourists of all background. However, all visitors must wear appropriate clothing and wear sash. This temple is usually closed to the public during Hindu religious celebrations such as Galungan, Kuningan, or Nyepi.
Location of Taman Mayura
Taman Mayura is located in the middle of the city of Mataram, with a very easy access. It’s even located close to business and shopping complexes in Cakranegara. The full address of Taman Mayura is Jl. Purbasari, Mayura, Mataram District, Mataram City.
The park is open from 08.00 a.m and closes at 5:00 p.m., but some parts can be closed during the day. Make sure you wear appropriate clothes when coming to this park.
Taman Mayura offers the beauty of history in the form of parks and temples. Because of its location, which is in the middle of the city, you don’t need to worry about accommodation and transportation.
