Located in the bustling eastern part of Bandung, Udjo's House of Angklung attempts to manifest beautiful harmony of vibrating bamboos that echoes from this simple amphitheater all the way to the other side of the world. It spreads the values of simplicity, co-operation, unity, and togetherness, as well as maintaining the mutual relationship between humans and the environment.
Established in 1966 by the late Udjo Ngalagena (1929-2001) and his beloved wife, the late Uum Sumiyati, Saung Angklung Udjo was built with purpose and dedication to conserve West Java’s Sundanese traditional art and culture. It was Udjo Ngalagena who brought the passion and principles which made Udjo's House of Angklung a place where Sundanese art and culture thrive and gain proper respect worldwide. His efforts to introduce and promote angklung finally paid off when UNESCO inscribed Angklung in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List in November 2010.
Udjo's House of Angklung also dedicates itself to the conservation and preservation of the natural environment. As a form of environmental responsibility, Udjo's House of Angklung cooperates with the Ministry of Forestry, getting involved in the ‘Indonesia Planting’ Campaign, known as Kampanye Indonesia Menanam, and created the Forestry Counseling Centre.
Udjo's House of Angklung adopts the philosophy of easy, affordable, educative, attractive, massive, and cheerful performances that are the essence of their ultimate show called “Kaulinan Urang Lembur” or villagers’ playtime. The show is packed with spectacular short performances, commencing with wayang golek (wooden puppet) show, helaran (agricultural harvesting celebration) rites, traditional dances, kids games, introduction to angklung, angklung orchestral performance, interactive angklung performance that involves visitors playing angklung, and arumba performance.
Get There
If you prefer to take a bus from Jakarta, you can hire bus providers that cooperate with Saung Angklung Udjo. You can also go there by hiring shuttle bus or travel agents that have worked with Saung Angklung Udjo. After arriving in Bandung, taxi is the best means of transportation to get to Saung Angklung Udjo, since it provides comfort and speed to reach the destination. If you wish to be a bit adventurous and try to experience the local way of getting around, you can try angkot. The colorful public transportation came in various routes and destinations, and most likely to be found in every major street. You might have to change course two or three times before you get to Saung Angklung Udjo, depending on where you are. If you choose angkot, you will take the one heading to Padasuka or Cicaheum Terminal.