Pasar Bringharjo, Traditional marketplace in Prawirodirjan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Pasar Bringharjo is a multi-storey covered market in the center of Prawirodirjan in Yogyakarta, selling fabrics, spices, herbs, fruit, vegetables, and handcrafted goods. Each floor is organized by category, with textiles mainly upstairs and fresh food and herbs on the ground level.
The site where the market now stands was a grove of banyan trees in the 18th century before it became an open trading area. The permanent building was erected in 1925 when Dutch colonial authorities established a fixed structure for trade.
Women vendors in the hall serve jamu, a traditional herbal drink made with turmeric and ginger, poured from plastic cups into smaller glasses. Visitors can also taste Javanese sticky rice cakes and fried dumplings prepared fresh in the morning.
The best time to visit is in the morning between 6 and 9 when vegetable vendors set up their stalls and herbs are still fresh. Aisles are narrow, so it helps to bring a small bag and be mindful of other shoppers moving through the space.
The third floor has stalls with old typewriters, military helmets, and radios that draw collectors from across Java. Some vendors there have held the same spots for decades and know the origin of every single object they offer for sale.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
