Dieng Temples, Groups of Temple in Dieng Plateu Indonesia

Indonesia have many temple archeological remains. One of them is Dieng Temples Group, consists of four group of temple. Located in Dieng Plateu, Central Java.

ARJUNA TEMPLE
This Temple Group is consisted of five temples which are built in two parallel lines.The eastern line consist of four,mostly facing westward respectively the temples of Arjuna,Srikandi,Puntadewa and Sembadra.While, the western line temple which stands face to face with Arjuna Temple.At these temple are depicted about the accon panying Dieties of Siwa.While at the Srikandi is depicted on the recess of the temple about all the main deities if Hinduism,they are Brahmana,Siwa and Wisnu.

GATOTKACA TEMPLE
Group of Gatotkaca Temple located in foothills Pangonan, on the westside of Balekambang Lake.
Initially, this group consisted of. 6 temples, there are Sentyaki Temple , Petruk Temple , Antareja Temple, Sadewa Temple and Gantutkaca Temple.
According to its architecture,gatotokaca Temple was built after Srikandi Temple. This matter look from way of doorstep location, foot/feet, number of alcove, building layout.

BIMA TEMPLE
Group Temple of located Bima about 750 metre toward the south Temple of Gatotkaca Bima temple built in 6 AD is unique in two respects. Apart from its resemblance to the temple architecture of India, Bima temple also has a gate that looks to the east, while other temples on the plateau looks toward the west. It is believed that this site was a holy site, or a point of contact with the immortals. That's why, propagators of Hinduism from India built a spiritual center at this location.

DWARAWATI TEMPLE
Group of Dwarawati Temple located between others temples, built in slope of mountain bukit Perahu. In this location, in the past time there are two temple Dwarawati and Parikesit that restorated in 1955 and 1980. Dwarawati Temple has the size of groun plan 5,3 m X 5,3 m. Those temple look like Gatotkaca temple. Located 1 Km from area of Arjuna Temple.

Resources: http://www.central-java-tourism.com/en/places-candi.php

Gedong Songo, Ancient Temple in Central Java

Gedong Songo is the one of many ancient temples in Central Java, only about 2 hours trip from Semarang by car. Located at the Mount Ungaran. If you interesting to go to Gedong Songo Temple, visit this link.

Gedong Songo (nine buildings), a group of small 8th century Hindu Javanese temples, can be reached either by car or on horseback from the town. Built at about the same time as the temples of the Dieng complex, Gedong Songo is one of the most beautifully sited temple complexes in Central Java and the views alone are worth the trip. Gedung Songo ('Nine Buildings') belong to the earliest antiquities of Java, they follow up the temples on the Dieng Plateau directly, for what about time.

They were also built high in the mountains in an area full with volcanic activity; and they were also from Hinduist origin. But where the temples on Dieng Plateau are somewhat squeezed into a foggy valley, Gedung Songo are spread over the higher parts of the mountains, which guarantee a splendid view. On clear days, the horizon is one long row of volcanoes, from mount Lawu in the east, towards mount Sumbing, mount Sundoro and Dieng Plateau in the west.

The temples were built between 730 and 780, the first temple excepted, which could have been built some 30 years later. Gunung Songo is not the original name and also doesn't point at the number of structures. The number nine has a special meaning in the Javanese culture, in which there is a strong attachment to numbers. The temples are located at about the same distance from each other (100 meters, 200 meters) on a naturally formed terrace of edge of a mountain.

Travel to Borobudur Temple, Beautiful Budhist Temple

Download map Location of Borobudur Temple, click here.

Borobudur, Hindu-Buddhist temple, near Magelang in Central Java Province on the island of Java in Indonesia. Built in the 9th century under the Sailendra dynasty of Java, it was abandoned in the 11th century and partially excavated by archaeologists in the early 20th century. Gunadarma, the architect made the design of Borobudur as the biggest Budhist Temple in the world. The Borobudur, built long time and last long.

Influenced by the Gupta architecture of India, the temple is constructed on a hill 46 m (150 ft) high and consists of eight steplike stone terraces, one on top of the other. The first five terraces are square and surrounded by walls adorned with Buddhist sculpture in bas-relief; the upper three are circular, each with a circle of bell-shaped stupas (Buddhist shrines). The entire edifice is crowned by a large stupa at the center of the top circle. The way to the summit extends through some 4.8 km (some 3 mi) of passages and stairways. The design of Borobudur, a temple-mountain symbolizing the structure of the universe, influenced temples built at Angkor, Cambodia. Borobudur was rededicated as an Indonesian national monument in 1983 following extensive reclamation, aided by the United Nations.

If we want to visit Borobudur Temple, its only need two hours by car from Adisucipto Airport in Yogyakarta. There are many accomodation provide around the temple and very cheap.

Borobudur is incredible. Situated in the mountainous jungles about 50 km outside of Yogyakarta is one of the most impressive and the biggest Buddhist temples ever constructed. What makes it so impressive? The size? The setting? The fact that every stone was transported 90 km from volcanic rock in the 17th century?

Travel to Prambanan, The Most Beautiful Temple in The World

Prambanan temple is extraordinarily beautiful building constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center of Yogyakarta, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.

There is a legend that Javanese people always tell about this temple. As the story tells, there was a man named Bandung Bondowoso who loved Roro Jonggrang. To refuse his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso to make her a temple with 1,000 statues only in one-night time. The request was nearly fulfilled when Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and to set a fire in order to look like morning had broken. Feeling to be cheated, Bondowoso who only completed 999 statues cursed Jonggrang to be the thousandth statue.

Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. Those three temples are symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief. All of them face to the east. Each main temple has accompanying temple facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Angsa for Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. Besides, there are 2 flank temples, 4 kelir temples and 4 corner temples. In the second area, there are 224 temples.

Entering Shiva temple, the highest temple and is located in the middle, you will find four rooms. One main room contains Shiva statue, while the other three rooms contain the statues of Durga (Shiva's wife), Agastya (Shiva's teacher), and Ganesha (Shiva's son). Durga statue is said to be the statue of Roro Jonggrang in the above legend.

In Vishnu temple, to the north of Shiva temple, you will find only one room with Vishnu statue in it. In Brahma temple, to the south of Shiva temple, you find only room as well with Brahma statue in it.

Quite attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple that is located close to Vishnu temple. This temple keeps a story of half-bird human being named Garuda. Garuda is a mystical bird in Hindu mythology. The figure is of golden body, white face, red wings, with the beak and wings similar to eagle's. It is assumed that the figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu (means 'rises' or 'shines') that is associated with the god of the Sun or Re in Old Egypt mythology or Phoenix in Old Greek mythology. Garuda succeeded in saving his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda's handicapped brother) by stealing Tirta Amerta (the sacred water of the gods).

Its ability to save her mother made many people admire it to the present time and it is used for various purposes. Indonesia uses the bird as the symbol of the country. Other country using the same symbol is Thailand, with the same reason but different form adaptation and appearance. In Thailand, Garuda is known as Krut or Pha Krut.

Prambanan also has panels of relief describing the story of Ramayana. Experts say that the relief is similar to the story of Ramayana that is told orally from generation to generation. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that - in Hindu - the tree is considered tree of life, eternity and environment harmony. In Prambanan, relief of Kalpataru tree is described as flanking a lion. The presence of this tree makes experts consider that Javanese society in the ninth century had wisdom to manage its environment.

Just like Garuda, Kalpataru tree is also used for various purposes. In Indonesia, Kalpataru is used as the logo of Indonesian Environment Institution. Some intellectuals in Bali even develop "Tri Hita Karana" concept for environment conservation by seeing Kalpataru relief in this temple. This tree of life is also seen in the gunungan (the puppet used as an opening of traditional puppet show or wayang kulit). This proves that relief panels in Prambanan have been widely known throughout the world.

If you see the relief in detail, you will see many birds on them; they are real birds as we can see on the earth right now. Relief panels of such birds are so natural that biologists can identify their genus. One of them is the relief of the Yellow-Crest Parrot (Cacatua sulphurea) that cites unanswered question. The reason is that the bird only exists in Masakambing Island, an island in the middle of Java Sea. Then, did the bird exist in Yogyakarta? No body has succeeded in revealing the mystery.

You can discover many more things in Prambanan. You can see relief of Wiracarita Ramayana based on oral tradition. If you feel tired of enjoying the relief, you can take a rest in the beautiful garden in the complex. Since 18 September 2006, you can enter zone 1 area of Prambanan temple. The damage caused by the earthquake on 27 May 2006 is being reconstructed. Please come and enjoy Prambanan temple.