Yogyakarta is well known for its rich culture, arts, and natural beauty. One of its hidden treasures is Ruas Bambu Nusa, a sanctuary of creativity and environmental care. Ruas Bambu Nusa is more than an art venue. It has a deeper meaning, a philosophy, and a goal of supporting sustainable culture. In this article, you’ll find out about its background, unique features, and how to visit, all explained simply so everyone can understand and remember.
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What’s Ruas Bambu Nusa?
Ruas Bambu Nusa started as a creative idea from ecological artist Widya Poerwoko. It sits at the base of Mount Merapi in Wukirsari, Cangkringan, Sleman, Yogyakarta. The goal is to make a living artwork using bamboo as both the building material and a symbol, where people can live, experience, and take part.
Bamboo has long played a major role in Javanese and Indonesian culture, from building to art to tools. Ruas Bambu Nusa builds on this tradition by using bamboo in its buildings, gardens, and art.
What started as an art installation has grown into a place for culture, community, and the environment. Artists and builders use bamboo poles, connectors, natural ropes, and, sometimes, living bamboo shoots in their work.
Charm of Ruas Bambu Nusa
Ruas Bambu Nusa has grown from hosting occasional art shows to becoming a permanent place for music, artist residencies, workshops, a café, and more.
1. Suara Dewandaru
Suara Dewandaru is a café and listening area inside Ruas Bambu Nusa. It lets visitors enjoy music in a peaceful, natural setting with good sound, a calm atmosphere, and views of greenery. It’s part concert space, part lounge, and part sensory experience.
2. EcoCabin
EcoCabin is a place to stay or join a residency at Ruas Bambu Nusa. Guests can spend the night in nature, enjoy fresh air, listen to natural sounds, and be close to the bamboo art around them.
3. Open Area for Events
Ruas Bambu Nusa has open fields, bamboo domes, outdoor spaces, and clearings for concerts, workshops, performances, yoga, and social events. The open area is part of the art itself, with bamboo domes, curved supports, shaded paths, and creative landscaping that make it feel like a living work of art.
One special program is Suarasa, which brings together food, music, and social activities. It is organized by Ruas Bambu Nusa along with Dewandaru and Lokaloka Kitchen Lab.
How to Get to Ruas Bambu Nusa?
Ruas Bambu Nusa is at the foot of Mount Merapi. It is usually open to visitors every day, but it’s a good idea to check before you go. The café and listening area are open from about 11 AM to 11 PM, like other places nearby. For the latest updates, visit their Instagram @ruasbambunusa_.
To get there from central Yogyakarta, drive north toward Merapi and Cangkringan, then take local village roads to Wukirsari. You can follow signs or use online maps to find Ruas Bambu Nusa. There is parking nearby, and from there, a short walk through bamboo groves and gardens leads you to the main art and café area.
Since the area is partly rural and artistic, it helps to use a map app or GPS. Some public transport can get you close to Cangkringan, but you may need a local ride, like an ojek or motorbike taxi, for the last part of the trip.
Ruas Bambu Nusa is more than a place. It is a living art space and a center for bamboo, culture, and ecology. If you visit Yogyakarta, try to spend a peaceful afternoon or stay overnight among the bamboo domes, listen to Suara Dewandaru, explore the open areas, and enjoy the creative atmosphere. The experience is both relaxing and inspiring.