JP

Cirebon is getting more popular for weekend visitors from Jakarta, particularly during long weekends such as during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Accessible on-land from Jakarta, Cirebon offers various attractive destinations, especially its famous batik center, Trusmi.

Destinations in Cirebon include two famous palaces, the Kasepuhan and the Kanoman palaces, and some Cirebon-original culinary joints. Out of all these destinations, Trusmi is the most appealing for those who like shopping, and batik.

Located a few kilometers west of Cirebon downtown, Trusmi is easy to find. It is located in Trusmi village in Plered subdistrict. Most batik stores are located along Jl. Syeh Datul Kahfi, Jl. Trusmi and Jl. Panembahan Ratu, which are connected to each other.

Arriving in Trusmi, you can be easily overwhelmed by the many batik stores along the roads. However, after visiting some of them, you can easily find your preferred spots.

Notable stores found in Trusmi include Pesona Batik Cirebon, Pusat Grosir Batik Trusmi, Batik Nofa, Batik Salma, Batik Lia, Batik Annur, Batik Heygen’s and Gallery Batik Mahkota Trusmi.

Once inside your favorite stores, you will easily forget the time and can be distracted for hours, picking up your favorite batik shirts or clothes from dozens or even hundreds of options.

Batik prices in Trusmi vary from below Rp 100,000 (US$7.7) a piece for batik produced using the copper stamp method with simple coloring called batik cap to over Rp 5 million for the refined batik tulis.

Prices depend on a number of factors: the fabrics, the technique used –batik cap or batik tulis – and in the case of batik tulis, the intricacy of the works and how many colors were utilized.

In some stores, however, you need to bargain, as the prices are not fixed. Other stores, like Pesona Batik Cirebon, Pusat Grosir Batik Trusmi and Batik Salma, offer fixed prices.

If you have ample time, you can also visit batik workshops, where you can see directly how batik workers operate. You can also learn how to make batik, and even ask the batik masters about the designs they produce.

Cirebon is one of Indonesia’s famous Batik centers, mostly in Java, which creates their own styles. The other centers are Solo, Pekalongan and Lasem – all in Central Java – Yogyakarta, Madura in East Java and Garut in West Java.

The Cirebon styles are created from distinct patterns derived from the two Cirebon palaces. The famous Cirebon pattern is mega mendung (dusk cloud), which batik lovers can identify it easily. Other patterns include patran keris, singa barong, paksinaga liman, ayam alas, sawat penganten and many more.

How to get there

Reaching Cirebon from Jakarta is a lot easier now, with the toll road now linking Jakarta to Brebes in Central Java, passing Cirebon. Driving from Jakarta to Cirebon takes around four hours, depending on the traffic.

The other alternative is to travel by train. The choices of trains also vary as many trains from Jakarta to destinations in Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java mostly pass Cirebon.

Where to stay

Cirebon has plenty of hotels. According to official figures, Cirebon has more than 60 hotels. Despite the wealth of options, there are no five-star hotels in Cirebon.

Eating

Cirebon has plenty to offer in terms of cuisine. Local foods must be tried, including the famous nasi jamblang (rice with different kinds of side dishes). The side dishes are put on display for you to pick and choose.

Other delicious local dishes are empal genthong (meat soup with rich coconut milk) and tahu gejrot, deep fried tofu served with a clear sauce and mixed with pounded shallots and chili.

Best time to visit Trusmi

If you like big crowds, the best time to visit Trusmi is during the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, when Jl. Syah Datul Kahfi is transformed into a temporary market flocked to by thousands of people.

During holiday seasons or just long weekends, Trusmi is also busy with local tourists shopping for batik.

But if you don’t like the hassle of people, then visit Trusmi during the low season.

Food as gift

Besides batik, you can bring home some delicacies from Cirebon. Toko Daud, not far from Trusmi, provides a lot of choices of traditional dried food and beverages.

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