Culture & History6 min read·
Wukirsari Village: Giriloyo Batik & Wayang Kulit Craft
Wukirsari in Imogiri, Bantul, was named one of the world's best tourism villages by UNWTO — home to Giriloyo batik and Pucung wayang kulit craft.
In 2024, UNWTO (the UN’s tourism body) named Wukirsari Tourism Village in Imogiri District, Bantul, one of the Best Tourism Villages in the World — one of two Indonesian entries alongside Jatiluwih Village in Bali. The award wasn’t just a formality: Wukirsari genuinely holds two living cultural traditions still actively practiced by residents, not just staged for tourists.
Giriloyo Batik Village
This classic hand-batik hub carries a history intertwined with the nearby Imogiri Royal Cemetery — legend has it the batik-making tradition began out of the Mataram court’s need for cloth for ceremonies held at the royal graves. Hundreds of batik artisans are still active in Giriloyo today. Visitors can join a hands-on batik lesson using a canting wax pen, from sketching the pattern to dyeing, and take their own finished piece home.
Pucung Wayang Kulit Craft
Beyond batik, Wukirsari is also home to hundreds of wayang kulit (leather shadow puppet) craftsmen in Dusun Pucung. The puppet-making process — from carving buffalo or cow hide to sungging, the detailed painting of a character’s face and clothing — can be watched up close, and some craftsmen welcome visitors wanting to learn the basics of carving.
A Living Culture
Beyond these two main crafts, Wukirsari regularly holds traditions like gejog lesung (music made with rice-pounding pestles and mortars) and cultural processions. The village setting itself — green hills, rice fields, and old joglo houses — provides a backdrop that makes a visit here feel far removed from a typical city tour.
Location & Access
Wukirsari sits in Imogiri District, about 17 km, or a 30 to 40-minute drive, from central Yogyakarta.
Visiting Tips
- Set aside at least half a day if you want to complete a full batik workshop, since the process needs time for dyeing and drying.
- Pair it with the Imogiri Royal Cemetery, which sits nearby — one trip can cover both the religious and craft sides of Mataram history.
- Bring cash to buy directly from the artisans — prices are usually friendlier than at souvenir shops in the city.
The title of world’s best tourism village wasn’t earned through luxury facilities, but through heritage genuinely still practiced generation after generation. That’s what makes Wukirsari feel different from most tourism villages.