Trowulan

Trowulan is an extensive archaeological site in Mojokerto Regency, East Java, identified with the capital of the Majapahit kingdom that rose in the late 13th century after 1293. The area preserves the remains of a major premodern Javanese polity and is one of Indonesia’s principal sites for Majapahit archaeology.

The site includes brick gateways, pools, temple foundations and remains of canals and ponds distributed across a broad zone; many excavated features date to the 14th century. The local museum displays recovered ceramics, stone sculpture and inscriptions, while named monuments such as Bajang Ratu Gate and Candi Tikus are focal points for visitors.

Trowulan was the political and urban center of the Majapahit state and developed under rulers whose power peaked in the 14th century. The site fell from prominence after the kingdom’s decline in the late 15th century and was gradually buried, with systematic archaeological work beginning in the 20th century and continuing under Indonesian authorities.

The archaeological zone sits in lowland Java within Mojokerto Regency, surrounded by agricultural land and small towns. It is accessed from the regional road network serving East Java and lies inland from the northern Java coast, near the town of Trowulan.

• Visiting conditions: Best seen in dry months when exposed earth and excavated brickwork are easier to access and walk between scattered sites.
• On-site conditions: Several ruins lie in open agricultural land so bring sun protection and expect simple paths between points of interest.

What to See #

• Trowulan archaeological zone: A cluster of major ruins, temples and waterworks identified with the capital city of the Majapahit kingdom, excavated across a wide archaeological zone in Mojokerto Regency.
• Trowulan Museum: A small regional museum that houses recovered Majapahit-era ceramics, stone sculptures and inscriptions from nearby excavations.
• Bajang Ratu Gate: A 14th-century brick gateway noted for its tall lintel and decorative reliefs, often used as a landmark to contextualize the site's urban layout.
• Candi Tikus (bathing pool): A rectangular bathing temple with a stepped piscina and stone drains interpreted as part of royal or elite waterworks from the Majapahit period.
• Wringinlawang Gate: A large split brick gateway that marks one of the ceremonial axes of the site and helps illustrate the former urban grid.