Joglo Gumuk

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Javanese historical wooden houses in the middle of the rice fields. These charming historical wooden houses are situated with a beautiful view over rice fields.

Located on the edge of a small village, it offers a perfect mix of living in tropical nature with fast access to the city center of Yogyakarta. And this is OUR STORY:
When we were in the process of building our two houses on the land in front of the rice fields, we were discussing what name we could give our new spot. But the people in our village were faster. We are Joglo Gumuk. Joglo is the name of the kind of the historical house we built and Gumuk is Javanese and describes this area between the village and the ricefields. Which is where we are located. We found that a perfect fit also in the sense that we as artists also always feel somehow in between. We dont understand us as another vacation rental. We basically created a place which we would like to share to people who are looking for an authentic place in the nature. Our land is located around 8 km south of Yogyakarta in the area of Bangungjiwo, the village Gendeng. The area is continously growing. Fortunately we are still spared out from this development and our house is on the path, where only the village people are passing every day to the rice fields for their daily labor. We didnt buy the land, we rented it from a family, who lives in this village. We understand us as guests here. We try to assimilate as the people around us try to assimilate to accommodate the needs of our guests and us. Our landlord family Persiyem and Sukarman are working for us to keep the land and the house in good condition and to serve our guests. To make the communication between English speaking guests and Persiyem and Sukarman smooth, we have our friend Mia taking care of the first contact of guests, arranging pick ups and take care of special needs. There is also Tamat, the father of Sukarman. He lived on the land already before we came, staying in a simple tent. He wants to retreat from village life and just be close to nature. We built him a small hut. He is guarding the land night and day. We are very grateful to have these wonderful people taking care of our guests and us. This is our story! Come and enjoy! Katia Engel and Faozan Rizal

07/09/2026

🌾 Today, the community around Joglo Gumuk held the Wiwitan ceremony, a traditional ritual marking the harvest.

Wiwitan is a moment of gratitude and of paying homage to Dewi Sri, the goddess of rice and fertility. In Javanese belief, each stalk of rice carries its own children — the grains that will later nourish people.

During the ceremony, the community symbolically asks Dewi Sri for permission to take these children away from their mother and bring them to a dark place: the rice barn, where the harvest will be stored.

For us, it is a beautiful reminder that rice is not simply a crop or a product. It is part of a living relationship between people, land, food and the more-than-human world. 🌾

RuralJava LivingTraditions RiceFields Indonesia

25/08/2026

Did you ever notice the small pavilion just before the entrance to Joglo Gumuk? 🌿

We built it as an extra place to sit, rest and take a break — especially for the farmers from the village. Many of them carry heavy loads of leaves, grass and other things they have harvested from the fields, and the pavilion is perfectly situated in the shade, halfway between the village and the rice fields.

In this photo series, you see Mbak Dalyani, the sister of Pak Sukarman, who has just returned from harvesting a large amount of banana leaves. She uses the pavilion — or Plonga Plongo, as we call it — to sort and organise her harvest before carrying it home.

And there is a little story behind the name: Plonga Plongo means “daydreaming” in Javanese. We bought the pavilion from a local painter who named it Plonga Plongo because this was his favourite place to sit, daydream and find inspiration for his paintings.

When you stay with us, feel free to sit down here too. It’s the perfect spot to rest, watch village life go by, and perhaps meet a farmer on their way home from the fields. 🌾

# PlongaPlongo

20/08/2026

MAKING SPACE FOR NATURE 🌿

When we developed the land that is now Joglo Gumuk, we chose to work with what was already there: former fish ponds, bamboo, and jackfruit, mahogany and palm trees planted by the family of Pak Sukarman a generation ago.

We built the houses into this existing landscape and gradually introduced a variety of edible and non-edible plants, creating habitat for insects, birds, amphibians and other species.

We see it as our responsibility to provide space for biodiversity alongside the surrounding rice fields. And we see that diversity growing: frogs, kingfishers, flying lizards (Draco), butterflies, bees and dragonflies have all made Joglo Gumuk their home.

You may notice that parts of our garden look a little wild. Fallen leaves remain on the ground and some areas are deliberately left untidy. This provides food, shelter and habitat for many small inhabitants.

For us, living with nature is a negotiation between the species already here, those looking for a home, and the space we need ourselves. It is not about creating a perfectly manicured garden that keeps nature at a distance, but about finding a balance where both people and other species can feel at home.

We invite our guests to slow down and observe. Our gallery of species documents some of the creatures discovered by our guests — and we are always happy to add new ones. Have you spotted something we haven't documented yet? Send us your photograph!

📷 The beautiful photo series in this post was taken by our guest Murat (Murat Yilmaz), a skilled photographer who stayed with us for a month. Thank you, Murat, for sharing your perspective and contributing to our collection!

14/08/2026

Have you ever tried Ketupat?

Ketupat is a traditional Javanese rice cake cooked inside a beautifully woven pouch made from young coconut leaves.

Often prepared for Eid celebrations and other festive occasions, ketupat is associated with togetherness and forgiveness, and is traditionally served with curries, satay and other savoury dishes.

We have just created this workshop, where you can learn how to weave your very own ketupat pouch from young coconut leaves. Watching Mbak Isti's skilled hands to weave one can make it look almost effortless — but once you try it yourself, you may discover that it is quite a different story! Thank you to our guest Polona Lupinšek, who was the first going for this challenge!

Once you have mastered the weaving, you will fill your pouch with rice, and we will cook the ketupat together over a traditional wood-fired stove.

While the ketupat is cooking, you will prepare sayur tempeh — fermented soybeans and seasonal vegetables gently simmered in a fragrant coconut gravy.

And then comes the best part: once everything is ready, sit down and enjoy the traditional meal you have prepared together, for lunch or dinner.

10/08/2026

🌿 New at Joglo Gumuk: Javanese Plant-Based Cooking Workshop

We're happy to introduce a new experience for our guests at Joglo Gumuk.

Join us for a hands-on cooking workshop and discover the flavours of Java through fresh, seasonal ingredients and everyday recipes that have been passed down through generations.

Many classic Javanese dishes are naturally plant-based, reflecting a culinary tradition shaped by seasonal harvests and locally grown produce. In this workshop, our guests Elena Cassar and TimothyAntman are learning how to prepare Pepes Tahu—tofu seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices, carefully wrapped in banana leaves before being steamed.

Depending on the season and your preferences, the menu may also include dishes such as Gudeg, Yogyakarta's signature dish made from young jackfruit, Gulai Nangka (young jackfruit curry), or dishes featuring banana blossom. Together, we'll also prepare traditional side dishes such as Urap, Tempe Goreng, and Sambal Tempe, before sharing the meal together.

26/07/2026

We're happy to share a small change that reflects something important to us. 🌿

Our breakfast menu has grown with more plant-based choices, including spiced tofu on freshly baked artisan bread as a delicious alternative to our omelet.

Simple, nourishing food made with local ingredients, served alongside tropical fruit and coffee roasted right here at Joglo Gumuk.

A gentle start to the day—for you and a little kinder to the planet. 💚

SustainableTravel VeganFriendly VegetarianTravel BreakfastWithAView RuralJava

19/07/2026

Slow down, listen and observe what is around you at Joglo Gumuk.

Address

Yogyakarta City
55184

Website

http://joglogumuk.com/

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