Trowulan

Trowulan is a vast archaeological site located in the Mojokerto Regency of East Java, Indonesia.

It covers approximately 100 square kilometers of land. Scholars believe this area was the capital city of the Majapahit Empire. The empire was a major power during the 14th and 15th centuries. This capital was known by names such as Majapahit or Wilwatikta. Today, the site serves as a window into a complex and dense urban civilization.

To understand how the city functioned, we can look at historical descriptions. The 14th-century poem Nagarakretagama provides poetic details about the royal sectors. It describes a royal compound protected by thick, high walls made of red brick. The main palace gate was located in the north wall and featured decorated iron doors. Inside the palace, there were courtyards for religious buildings and pavilions for bathing. Beyond the palace, different groups lived in specific quarters. These included Shiva priests, Buddhists, and members of the nobility. The city was organized into settlement units called "kuwu." These units consisted of groups of buildings surrounded by walls. A nobleman would control these groups, which allowed many people to live closely together.

Daily life in the capital involved sophisticated architecture and social structures. A 15th-century Chinese source describes the palace as being very clean and well-kept. The palace walls were reportedly more than 10 meters high and featured double gates. Houses within the city were built on pillars and stood 10 to 13 meters high. These dwellings had wooden floors covered with fine mats. The roofs were made of wooden shingles, while commoners used straw for their roofs. A book on court etiquette even described the capital as a place where one could walk without passing through paddy fields. This suggests a very dense and continuous urban environment.

The history of Trowulan is marked by both great power and sudden change. The empire reached its height in the 14th century, but conflict eventually arrived. In 1478, an invasion led by Girindrawardhana occurred to defeat the leader Kertabhumi. During this invasion, the city was razed, meaning it was leveled or destroyed. Following this event, the capital of the Majapahit Empire was moved to a place called Daha in Kediri.

Over the centuries, much of the city was buried. Frequent flooding from the Brantas River and volcanic debris from Mount Kelud covered the ruins under meters of mud.

Archaeologists have uncovered many significant structures that still stand today.

Tikus Temple is a ritual bathing pool, or petirtaan, made of red brick. It is shaped like a sunken rectangular basin with steps leading down into it. Another notable structure is the Bajang Ratu gate. This is an elegant, slender red-brick gate that rises 16.5 meters high. It features intricate relief decorations of stories like the Ramayana.

Brahu Temple is a surviving structure that some believe served as a royal mortuary shrine for early Majapahit rulers.

Other massive works show how the city managed its resources and movement.

The Segaran Pool is a huge rectangular basin measuring 800 by 500 meters. The name comes from the Javanese word "segara," which means sea. While its exact purpose is debated, researchers suggest it may have been a city reservoir. This would provide essential freshwater to the dense population during dry seasons. Some local traditions suggest it was also used for training troops or as a royal swimming pool.

The Wringin Lawang is a massive "candi bentar," or split gateway. It stands 15.5 meters tall and has no doors. It likely served a ceremonial purpose to create a sense of grandeur for those entering important compounds.

Modern study of Trowulan connects the site to much larger global histories. In the Troloyo hamlet, many Islamic tombstones have been found dating from 1350 to 1478. These artifacts prove that a Muslim community was well-established in Java by the mid-14th century. It also shows that Islam was practiced within the royal capital itself. At the Menak Jingga Temple, researchers found ornaments shaped like the Qilin, a mythical Chinese creature. This suggests a strong cultural relationship between Majapahit and the Ming Dynasty in China.

Through these findings, Trowulan reveals how a powerful empire connected different religions, cultures, and technologies.