Memory of Majapahit – a Tribute to an Ancient Empire

The Majapahit empires were one of the last great rulers that were Hindus from the Malay Archipelago. Located in Palembang in the Sumatra islands, the Srivijayan rulers preceded the Majapahit. The history of this legendary empire is quite interesting.

The son-in-law of the king of Singhasari kingdom, Kertarajasa, established the Majapahit rule. The empire was based in Java. Kublai Khan, a prominent Mongol ruler caught an interest in the Singhasari around 1290. The fact that the Singhasari almost completely ousted Srivijaya from Java, had a good role to play in this sudden interest, and consequently, Kublai Khan started demanding tributes from the Singhasari. The emissaries from Kublai Khan were turned down by Kertanagara, the then ruler from Singhasari, and his actions warranted an expedition from the Khan.

The expedition forces reached the coasts of Java around 1293, but by this time Kertanagara had been killed by a rebel named Jayakatwang. The Majapahit founder formed an allegiance with the Mongols to fight Jayakatwang, but as soon as the Singhasari kingdom was demolished, the Mongols had to withdraw their forces and leave. This was mostly because of large scale confusion. Gajah Mada, was a prominent Majapahit prime minister and his tenure spread from 1331 to around 1364. He expanded the Majapahit rule well in to the nearby islands. The Srivijayan Kingdom was finally finished at last, when the Majapahit navy conquered Palembang. This occurred some years after the death of Gajah Mada.

When the Majapahit Empire finally fell after experiencing a four year war, a huge number of artisans, priests, skilled personnel, all started to migrate to the Bali islands. They stayed here until around the late 19th and the early years of the 20th century. By then, the Dutch colonials had begun to invade and conquer control over the Bali islands.

The remnants of this legacy can be seen in the form of statues, monuments, historical temples and other artifacts echoing the grandeur of a bygone era. Most of the Singhasari and Majapahit period artifacts including terracotta and golden statues are still preserved in the National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta.

These historical sites are the prominent attractions in this area, now called as Surabaya in Bali. Apart from this, the region also features lovely beaches, natural habitats and also magnificent volcanoes offering breathtaking sceneries.

Serviced residences in Surabaya, Indonesia are an ideal choice of accommodation for anyone who is interested in Majapahit legends. You could also indulge in a luxurious stay at a Surabaya serviced apartment and have a memorable vacation in this beautiful tropical island.