Kalasan Temple

Dating back to the 8th century, the Kalasan Temple is an extraordinary Buddhist structure that still stands today. The polygonal structure is built on a rectangular base and contains many rooms featuring ecclesiastical statues and images. Wander through the chambers of this significant temple and imagine events here more than 1,000 years ago.

Gaze up at the octagonal roof with carved Buddha images and bas-reliefs. Note how the partially ruined building is covered in mossy growths. Capture photos of the immense structure against a blue sky and the green line of a forest. An inscription found near the temple suggests Rakai Panangkaran, the king of the Shailendra dynasty, constructed it in A.D. 778.

The structure has sides measuring around 150 feet (45 meters) and its summit is 110 feet (34 meters) high. Notice the ornaments of climbing plants that rise from pots. Admire the ornate décor of the interior, with sculptures of Bodhisattva and Gana throughout the temple.

Enter the smallest of the rooms and note the lotus pedestals that show it once contained statues of Bodhisattvas. Visit another small room with a sculpture of a lion standing atop the back of an elephant. Enjoy the rock carvings and flower motifs that line the walls. The temple’s roof is made up of many domes, some of which are damaged.

There is a fee to enter the complex and to leave your car in the parking lot. Note that the name of the temple refers to the surrounding area of Kalasan. The structure’s true name is the Tara Temple.

The Kalasan Temple is in the Prambanan Valley in the eastern outskirts of Yogyakarta, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the city center. Book a guide to take you from your hotel in the city to the complex. Visit nearby attractions, such as the Ratu Boko spiritual complex and the Prambanan Temple.