Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Mystical Dieng's Temples

I visited Dieng plateau in the highlands of Central Java, Indonesia back in May 2010 as my very first visit. The plateau actually sits at the floor of ancient giant caldera of mount Prahu. You could find at least 8 craters, high geothermal potential, and volcanic gas emission which sometime is deadly. Let's leave alone those volcanic stuffs.

It has 6 lakes including Telaga Warna. If you happen to be there, don't forget to observe sunrise. Mount Sikunir is one of the most popular spot to observe sunrise. I have a post on observing sunrise in Dieng in this link, here.

Dieng also is a home to some oldest Hindu temples in Indonesia. There are 4 group of temples in Dieng:
  1. Arjuna temple complex, consist of Temple Arjuna, Temple Semar, Temple Srikandi, Temple Sembadra, and Temple Puntadewa
  2. Temple Gatutkaca
  3. Temple Dwarawati
  4. Temple Bima

I visited Arjuna complex and Temple Bima only, due to time shortage. I took some pictures of those temples.

Tips: weather in Dieng may change very quick. Morning time is the best time for taking pictures before dark clouds coming at you at noon time.

Temple Bima

The entrance to Temple Bima

Temple Bima - rear view

Temple Bima

Arjuna Complex


The name sign of temple Arjuna complex

Temple Arjuna (left) facing temple Semar (right)

Temple Arjuna
  
Temple Semar

One of reliefs

Temple Srikandi (left), Temple Sembadra (middle), Temple Puntadewa (right)

A view of Temple Srikandi and Sembadra, from the inside of Temple Semar

No comments:

Post a Comment