Regent's Park Hotel

Beauty Queen KEN DEDES

by RoyJava

Many literary works have been written by Javanese authors. These include Ken Arok and Ken Dedes, the story of the orphan who usurped his King and married the Queen of the ancient Javanese kingdom. My favourite legend of East-Java! Of whom I enjoyed the painting, seen at Singosari.

Traditionally this unprecedented feat was prompted by forbidden love; one day, so the story goes, the young Ken Arok met Ratu Tunggul Ametung's (1222 A.D. - 1292 A.D.) wife Ken Dedes, who happened to be the regency's Beauty Queen, at the sight of whose legs he vowed to blast anyone and anything in his way to make her his. The famous Queen Ken Dedes has been regarded as the ancestress of the East-Java people. And it was at this time that the exceptional personality of a guy named Ken Arok, suddenly entered into the area neighboring the Singasari kingdom. It turned out later that he was not Javanese. Ken Arok was interested in contacting powerful wizards and seers. He traveled with Empu Gandring a Hindu-wizard who taught him all sorts of crafts (black arts, witchcraft). On Ken Arok's orders Ratu Tunggul Ametung was assassinated with a "Kris" (the mystic blade of Indonesia) provided by wizard Empu Gandring, and given to the assassin. The assassin was then immediately put to death by Ken Arok, who then took Ken Dedes as his wife and ascended onto the throne becoming Ratu of Singasari. This then was the beginning of the most famous empire ever in East Java the Majapahit. Including beauty, the "kris" legend and ... morder!

Ken Dedes

KEN DEDES Bathing Place

by RoyJava

The legend of Queen Ken Dedes, it grapped me in a hard way. Numerous temple remains dating from the 13th century Kingdom of Singosari still can be seen in the Batu - Malang region. Included Candi Singosari ofcourse, as well the so called ancient "Bathing Place of Ken Dedes", a beautiful place with lusty vegetation.

It is told the Sendang Dedes (Well of Dedes water) used to be a Garden of Eden (Taman Sari) to the Putri/Queen Ken Dedes and her court ladies. The Kedaton (Palace) was a place of beauty, pleasure, and ... mysteries. Still reports in local magazines around love to tell about these mysterious events around the bathing place ...
Note: see for the modern Ken Dedes Swimming Pool
Ukirsari's great VT Malang Page at Website-link >>>

Ken Dedes

I beautiful city surrounded by mountains.

by cokes

Malang is home to a very good friend of mine so I could`nt wait to go and check it out. When I 1st got into Malang the traffic was crazy and the roads seemed to be very busy. When I got to Malang City centre I must say it was very beautiful. The one thing I like about Malang is the view of Mt Arjuna from the city centre and the cool air. Malang is also the 2nd biggest city in East Java.I also like the beautiful houses in Malang especially the beautiful Dutch homes in Ijen Boulevard. One thing that I really like when driving through the streets of Malang was the little kids all practising there marching for Independance Day.

Malang has a rich history and I`m glad I made to Candi Singosari and Candi Jawi and do hope oneday I can stop here again and if possible stay over here. Malang has so much more to offer and unfortunately I did`nt have too much time here so hopefully next time my friend will be home so I can have a guide from Malang to show me around :P.