The history of Sunda at the History of Sundaland Museum in Karawang offers a rich diversity, covering a long period of time and various aspects of the Sundanese people’s life. We begin the narration with the Kingdom of Sunda, specifically from the 7th to the 16th centuries, when the Sundanese region in West Java became the center of several strong Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms. These include the Kingdom of Tarumanagara and the Kingdom of Sunda. These kingdoms made significant contributions to the development of culture and art, including temple architecture, reliefs, and literature.
In the following period, the Islamization of Sunda took place, precisely in the 16th century when Islam entered the Sundanese region. This transformed the religious and social landscape of the people. Likewise, trade and colonialism played their roles. During the era of trade and colonialism, the Sunda region became a trading hub and interacted with European nations. Traders and explorers such as the Portuguese, Dutch, and English influenced the economy, politics, and culture of Sunda.
At the History of Sundaland Museum, the rich and diverse Sundanese folk culture is also introduced. This culture includes performing arts like wayang golek (wooden puppets), music like degung (traditional music), dance like jaipongan, and traditional rituals such as wedding ceremonies, agricultural rituals, and other customs.
One equally important part of the narrative is the Struggle for Independence. During Indonesia’s struggle for independence, the youth played a vital role in fighting for freedom. National heroes from Sunda, particularly during the Rengasdengklok incident, were key figures in this movement.
Thus, through a visit to the History of Sundaland Museum, we can gain a deeper understanding of the diverse history of Sunda and its people’s culture. This museum tells the story of the Kingdom of Sunda, even extending back to the prehistoric era and approaching the more modern cultural era. The museum features 17 thematic zones that house a variety of collection items, as well as Instagrammable photo spots.
At the History of Sundaland Museum, a wide range of Sundanese history stories are presented in great detail, starting from the Sundaland Prehistoric Era, Buni Culture, Admiral Chengho’s Expedition, the Mystery of Mount Padang, the Stone Grave Tradition, the Footsteps of the Baduy Tribe, the grandeur of the Cirebon & Kanoman Sultanates, the strength of the Pajajaran Kingdom with King Siliwangi, as well as the secrets of the Land of Pasundan itself.
The seventeen zones mentioned include the stage and performance zone, the origins of life, the discovery of prehistoric human fossils in the Land of Pasundan, the Stone Grave and Austronesian Zone, the Krakatoa Explosion, the Baduy Tribe, Buni Culture, the Tarumanegara Kingdom, the Sunda Kingdom and its various influences, the Champa Kingdom, and Islamic figures in the Land of Pasundan. Additionally, there are modern facilities such as a 3D theater, Augmented Reality (AR), and QR Movies.
Come on, let’s visit the History of Sundaland Museum, an Educational Tourism destination for today’s millennial families, only at the Karawang Nite Festival, Karawang City, West Java!