Samudraraksa Ship Museum is located in Borobudur Temple area, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. This museum was established to commemorate the ancestors of Indonesian that sailed Hindian Ocean to Africa. This museum was officially opened in August 31 2005 by President Yudhoyono. The building consists of 3 buildings. First building is an information venue where displayed photos, posters, reliefs and movie studio. The second building is a joglo house where Samudraraksa displayed. Also displayed equipment used by the sailors to sail the ocean such as cooking items, household items, books, cassette, cd, vcd and medications. While the third building is used as offices and souvenir shop.
Samuderaraksa Ship history started when Phillipe Beale (former British Navy) visited Borobudur Temple in 8 November 1982. He saw ship relief carved in one of its wall. He was interested to make same boat and did expedition as done by Indonesian sailors in the 8th century. Twenty years later, in September 2002, he could make his dream reality. He contacted Nick Burningham an Australian archaeologist to design same ship as he saw in Borobudur relief. After finished designing the ship in 19 January 2003, they contacted As’as Abdullah who lived in Pulau Pagerungan Kecil, Sumenep regency. As’as Abdullah and other foreign architects built the ship using traditional technology made of wood.
In May 2003, the ship was finished completely. The size was 18.29 m x 4.5 m x 2.25 m. The front deck was designed as cabin and sleeping room, the middle was designed as dining and navigation room, the rear was used as control area, kitchen. As the ship was not equipped with engine, this ship was completed with 2 sails, 2 wheels, and double outrigger. This ship also had safety equipment such as GPS, NavTex (weather info), Echo Sounder (Detect water depth), Inmarst Telephone Satellite and Lift Raft.
On May 2003, there was an audition for ship crew : chosen 27 crews from Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, England, Sweden, and France. The captain was I Gusti Putu Ngurah Sedana. On May 25 2003, the ship sailed the ocean. In June 2003 they did sailing test from Pulau Pangerungan Kecil to Benoa Bali via Banyuwangi. On 2 July 2003, a pre sailing seminar was held in Jakarta. 2 weeks later on 16 july 2003, official ceremony of the ship was led by Indonesia Culture and Tourism minister, I Gde Ardika.
On July 2003 the ship left Benoa for Ancol, Jakarta via Surabaya, Karimunjawa and Semarang. Arriving in Jakarta on August 15 2003, the ship was named Samudraraksa means the Ocean Protector and depart to Madagaskar. The route was cinnamon route: Jakarta-Madagaskar, Cape Town, Ghana. This ship carried 1500 litter water, 900 kg rice, 2 upright sails, 1 tons of woods, 0.5 ton raw food and spices and etc.
On 12 September 2003, Samudraraksa landed on Victoria port, Seychelles. 2 weeks later, on 29 September 2003, Samudraraksa left Seychelles to Madagaskar. On 14 October, the shipreached Mahajanga, Madagaskar. On 26 October, Samudraraksa left Madagaskar to Cape Town, South Africa. On the way to Cape Town, on 16 November they stopped at Richard Bay. ON 1 December stopped at Durban, and on 7 December at Elizabeth Port. On 5 January 2004, the ship arrived in Cape Town.
Two weeks later on 17 January 2004, Samudraraksa went to Ghana and then few weeks sailed the ocean on 23 February arrived at the last destination, Tema Port, Accra, Ghana. The crews returned to Indonesia and awarded with Satya Lencana award by President Megawati. Samudraraksa was dismantled in Ghana, 7 months later transported to Indonesia. The ship then reassembled at Borobudur to be museum-ed.