Going to East Java for a Religious Trip ? Here Are 5 Graves of Walis You Can Visit

Before the holy month of Ramadan, it is customary for Muslims in Indonesia to go on a pilgrimage to the graves of the walis, or ulema who spread Islam.

The most notable wali is a group known as the “Wali Songo,” comprising nine walis, who made significant contributions to the spread of Islam in Indonesia, particularly on Java island.

Their graves are located across the island, both in West Java and East Java. Pilgrims regularly flock to these graves, with the peak happening before the beginning of the fasting month.

They come from different places. In addition to people from Java and the other Indonesian regions, there are even people traveling from other countries. This is amazing!

Five of the nine walis are interred in Surabaya, Gresik, and Tuban in East Java. If you are taking a vacation, this religious trip to the graves of the Wali Songo in East Java is something you should consider.

Not only for winding down, religious tourism is also good for your mental health. From here, you can follow the walis’ journey as they work to spread Islam. Ready to learn more about these five walis and their graves in East Java? Read on!

5 Wali Graves in East Java

Sunan Gresik

The first stop on your tour could be Sunan Gresik’s grave. It is located not very far from the Jami’ Mosque Gresik, which is next to the city square. 

Sunan Gresik, whose real name was Maulana Malik Ibrahim, was the forerunner of the Wali Songo. He was regarded as the first wali who paved the way for the spread of Islam on Java island.

He was the son of Barakat Zainul Alam, a great ulema of the Maghreb, which includes present-day Morocco. That is why Sunan Gresik, who died in 1419 CE, also went by the name Malik Maghribi, in honor of his father’s homeland.

Sunan Ampel

The next stop is Sunan Ampel’s grave, which is located within the Ampel Mosque’s complex on Jalan Petukangan I, Ampel, Semampir, Surabaya. Situated in the heart of the city, the grave of Sunan Ampel, who died in 1481 CE, is easy to navigate to.

The wali, who was born with the name Raden Mohammad Ali Rahmatullah or simply Raden Rahmat, was the son of Sunan Maulana Malik Ibrahim or Sunan Gresik, the first wali to introduce Islam on Java island.

Sunan Ampel spent his life practicing da’wah around Ampel, where his body was buried. One of his notable teachings was “moh limo,” which calls on Muslims to abstain from five sinful acts: gambling, drinking, using drugs, fornicating, and stealing.

Sunan Giri

The grave of Sunan Giri is the only grave of a Wali Songo member in East Java that is located at a height. As the son of Maulana Ishak, he was buried in the Giri Kedaton Palace complex, 120 meters above sea level, in Kebomas, Gresik.

Sunan Giri received his education at Pesantren Ampel Denta, an Islamic boarding school in Surabaya, and performed the hajj with Sunan Bonang. Sunan Giri later founded his own pesantren, located in Giri village. In addition to practicing da’wah, the wali, whose real name was Raden Paku Muhammad Ainul Yaqin, was also known as an expert in constitutional law.

Sunan Drajat

Sunan Drajat’s grave is shaded under a cungkup, or shelter, with relief sculptures adorning the walls surrounding it. Near the grave is the Sunan Drajat Museum, which houses antique gamelan. It comprises several traditional musical instruments, which became tools for his da’wah.

The grave is located in Drajat village, Paciran, Lamongan. As the messenger of Islam in Lamongan, his main concern was social issues.

Sunan Drajat was known by many names: Sunan Mahmud, Sunan Mayang Madu, Sunan Muryapada, Raden Imam, and Maulana Hasyim. In 1484, he was given the title “Sunan Mayang Madu” by Raden Patah, the ruler of the Demak Sultanate.

Sunan Bonang

The real name of this last wali on the list was Syekh Maulana Makdum Ibrahim. Sunan Bonang was the son of Sunan Ampel and Dewi Condrowati, also known as Nyai Ageng Manila.

His grave is located on Jalan K.H. Mustain, Kutorejo, Tuban. When entering the graveyard, you will be surprised to see three Hinduism-Buddhism-inspired gopuras gracing the entrance. That is because, before his arrival, Hinduism and Buddhism were the two main religions practiced in the area.

Sunan Bonang spread Islam subtly by adapting Islamic teachings to make it compatible with the rich Javanese traditions. It was done through the use of wayang and gamelan.

To that end, he wrote traditional songs called gending and infused them with Islamic values. Into each song’s verse, he inserted the two parts of the shahada, giving the accompanying gamelan music its name, sekaten.

Travel to the Wali Songo’s Graves in East Java on a Chartered Bus

Those are the graves of five walis you can visit while going to East Java on vacation. Be sure to check out each city’s traditional food: rawon from Surabaya, nasi krawu from Gresik, and spicy eel from Tuban.

If you want more convenience when visiting these cities, you might want to consider renting a bus from TRAC. In addition to its outstanding safety management system, TRAC is also renowned for its experience and reputation in the transportation industry.

We offer a range of rental bus options to suit all needs, includingthe Big Bus, Medium Bus, and Small Bus. These buses offer 11- to 59-seat configurations. 

Our latest offering is the Luxury Bus, which provides the highest ride quality ever. You can check out other bus options from TRAC here.

For more information about TRAC services, you can contact the customer care representative here. TRAC staff will be happy to help you find solutions for your needs.

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