tourism in Indonesia

Mendut Temple





Mendut was once linked to Borobudur by stone-paved walk, which passed by Pawon. All three sanctuaries are Buddhist, belong to the same period, and there was apparently some ritual link between them. It is believed that pilgrims assembled at Mendut and then processed down the 3 kilometers path to Borobudur, with stay for meditation at Pawon. The beautiful reliefs on the walls of the temple are the largest that have yet been found in Indonesia. They cover each of the main surfaces of the back and two sidewalls with large single panels. The central figures of these reliefs are male or female Bodhisattvas, being who postpone achieving Buddhahood in order to help men. On the short returns decorating each wall there are single figures of Bodhisattvas. The much smaller, but no less delicate reliefs on the balustrade and on the triangles formed by the walls to the stairs are filled with fables from the Jataka stories. With such beauty on the outside, it should not be surprising to find that the single chamber of the temple is even more impressive and just as in fine workmanship. There is a 3 meters high statue of the Lord Buddha as Sakyamuni, Light of the World, delivering his first sermon in the deer park, as shown by small figures under the footstool. He is flanked on his right by a somewhat smaller statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, and on his left, by similar statue of Bodhisattva Vajrapani. Each of these statues has been hewn from a single block of stone, which has saved them from the destruction that has overtaken so many other statues smaller in size, or made bronze and other metals that have been melted down and used for other purposes Whatever other decorations there once were in this chamber, they could hardly have improved the atmosphere of serenity and devotion still to be found there today. Lit with oil lamps and adorned with masses of flowers, glory was once present in Mendut.




LocationAdministratively, Mendut temple is located at Mendut village, Mungkid Magelang Regency, Central Java. This location is 2 kilometers southeast of Magelang. It is easy accessible by any vehicle either two or four wheeled-ones. This temple is nearby the most popular Borobudur temple, one of Seven Wonders of the World. As usual, for tourists, especially foreign ones, a visit to Mendut temple is scheduled in the same package with that to Borobudur and Pawon temples. Exclusively for Mahayana Buddhist, these three temples are closely interrelated. To be noted, when it is full moon, at the date of 15 according to Javanese calendar (usually on May), in Tri Suci Waicak day, this location is usually used as the place of ritual process by Buddha people. And this ritual process becomes a great attraction for either local or foreign tourists.




Discovery and RestorationIn 1986, Mendut temple structures, save its roof, were found to be hidden in marshy area. Then it was again discovered, cleaned and dug in 1897, its base and body were restored but not yet satisfactory. The next restoration done by Th. Van Erp in 1908, in time of Borobudur restoration. In this year part of its roof was rearranged, and in 1925, some small stupas could be placed again on the tops.

Foundation of the TempleHistorians estimated that Mendut temple was founded in the ninth century by the Syailendra dynasty. This estimation was on the ground of Karang Tengah script written in 824 AD. Mentioned on the script that Indra, the king, built a sacred building named Venuvara, which is called Mendut Temple.

Structure of the Mendut Temple

Temple ReliefsThe temple stands on high enough basement, making it looks more attractive and strong. The ladder and entrance face to northwest, meaning that this temple faces to that direction. It is absolutely the characteristic of Mendut temple for the most temples in Central Java generally face to the east. Above the basement there is a tunnel surrounding the body of the temple. The top has three floors and decorated with 48 small stupas. Looking at the construction, the top of Mendut temple seems to be covered with a huge roof. The height of the temple is approximately 2.4 meters. The Mendut temple has outstanding attraction rarely found in other temples in Java or even in Indonesia. The existence of relatively three large enough statues inside the temple has its special high beauty either physically or artistically. As far as Buddhist is concerned, those three statues reflect sacred light. Each of the three was made of a slab of stone, indicating how extraordinary artistic craft of our ancestor. Their details are as follow:




Dyani Buddha Cakyamuni
This statue looks to west in sitting position, its two legs nudged down, touching teratai base and the position of Dharmacakramudra hand symbolizes being busy turning around the life cycles.

Arcabodhisattva Avalokitesvara/Lokesvara
This statue is located next to Buddha Cakyamuni, facing to south. It is in sitting position, its left leg bent inward and other one sticks straightly downward. The position of Varamudra hand symbolizes being busy teaching the tenets, and is shown wearing notability dresses, namely crown, jewellery on its ear, hand, neck, and shoulder.

Bodhisattvarajrapani
It is located on the right hand of Cakyamuni statue, looking to south. Likewise cakyamuni, this statue wears nobility dress. He is also in sitting position, his right hand bent down and his left one touches his tight. As for his left leg, it sticks straight downward. The decoration of relief scattered on the surfaces of outer wall of its basement and temple body makes the Mendut temple much more attractive, its motives and the themes of its decoration are derived from Buddha myths and symbols, especially Jataka myth. There are synopsis actions of Jatayu curved on panels of outer side of the ladder and the bottom of the temple. One of the panels on right hand side of the outside ladder reflects stories about turtles that were in danger, being secured by two birds by biting both ends of the wood and then brought them to a garden. There is also Jataka myth that telling about a monkey cheats a crocodile. On this relief is shown a monkey sitting on the back of a crocodile.

 










Other attractive reliefs on the body of the temple are:
Kuvera/Yaksa/Panthika/Arawika Relief
This relief is found on right hand side of the entrance leading to the inside part of the temple, reflecting a man figure surrounded by children. Under his chair there are urns filled with money. The money filled-urn is one of attributes of Kuvera goodness. In Buddha anthology, he is formerly a men-eater monster who repented and changed to be children protector after seeing Buddha.

Hariti Relief
On the right side of the entrance of temple room, there is Hariti relief. Hariti is shown in sitting position with a child on her lap. Likewise Kuvera, she was formerly a man-eater monster who repented and changed to be children protector as soon as she met Buddha. Furthermore, she is known as fertility goodness.

Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and Dewi Tara Relief
This one is on the body wall on south side of Avalokitesvara relief, curved on a part of central panel, sitting on Padmasana and on the either sides of him sat his princess Dewi Tara. Beneath Padmasana is a pond filled with teratai. In Buddha mythology, this relief describes story telling about the birth of Dewi Tara. A part of those reliefs, there are others describing Bodhisattva, that is on east side of the wall, Dewi Tara on north side and some other relief in the forms of flora.
   

Gedongsongo Temple




 Gedong Songo temple, is a Hindu temple located in the highlands at the foot of the mountain Ungaran Semarang. For hundreds of years the temple was standing on a hilly plateau region of the hill. This area is included in the district Bandungan, one area that is termed as the top city of Semarang. 


This temple consists of nine main temple building. To reach this location is not far, just one hour journey from Semarang city without traffic jams and only forty-five minutes from the town of Salatiga. Managed by local government, this area is quite nice and well maintained.

 
Many facilities that support and draw there. You can try to ride a horse, just spend less than 25 thousand rupiah you are entitled to get around in around the temple which the way up and down with the horse. You do not have to worry if you come in Gedong Songo Temple, not far from the temple Bandungan precisely at the hotel you can rest at the hotel who were there.







Overnight rates are relatively varied, from fifty thousand rupiah at the motel until the five-star hotels
Thus, what is far away if your holiday in our country a lot of interest


 

Ulun Danu Temple



While I know funny kind of signs aka “Don’t pee in the elevator – Fine 2.000$!” from Singapore; I wasn’t aware that other countries are worried about their citizen’s hygienic toilet behaviors as well.





It came a bit as a surprise to see a similar sign at Bali’s beautiful Water Temple – Pura Ulun Danu – near the small town of Bedugul at Lake Bratan (“Holy Mountain Lake”). Bedugul is most famous for it’s Strawberry Fields, which provide a fresh, red harvest almost all-year-round due to the higher and cooler climate…




The Temple close to the Lake’s Water is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the Goddess for all Lakes and Rivers.
Pura Ulun Danu has a 11-storey ‘Meru’ (or Pagoda) and besides Dewi Danu – other Gods like Shiva and his wife Parvati are worshiped here as well.

Plaosan Temple

The temple at Plaosan, in Klaten area of Central Java, not far from Sewu Temple, was unique, so far as our knowledge goes today. In the first place, Plaosan was built by a Syailendra princess, and so a Buddhist, and her husband, Rakai Pikatan, a Hindu ruler of Mataram. Thus Plaosan is one of the several examples that have been found of religious tolerance. The structure of the compounds was also unique. There were two of them, lying north and south of each other, the northern one with two main temples, each is its own walled court with a portal between them, the southern compound with only one large temple. Each group was surrounded by rows of small shrines and stupas, linking them together. There was still another court in the northern compound. This Buddhist sanctuary has suffered considerable damage since it was first built in the 9th century. Some entrance gate ways have been found and they marked by stone guardians. Other temple that visitor can visit near the Prambanan group temple are: temple of Sawijen, Kalasan.

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.
 

Sari Temple

Continuing the adventure temple during the pending visit to the Temple Kalasan some time ago, this time I visited the temple, accompanied by Dipto Sari, the temple is located about 500 meters in the north-east of the temple Kalasan.

Not only Sari Temple, we had the opportunity to review (on, the language) Kedulan temple complex that is a temple that was found recently and are in the process of excavation

Bill, with my trip? Find out and hold my adventure this time. Lots, the language domestic Traveling host the event ..
TEMPLE Kalasan not like, Sari temple is located in a rather, that is not visible from the main street of Jogja-Solo. To reach there is not difficult, in addition to a mosque that is similar buildings in the Kremlin and Russian Restaurant Ayam Bakar Kalasan "Mbok Berek," there is a small alley to the north. Follow the road and we shall arrive at the temple complex Sari