Travel & Living

The Kalasan Temple/ Photo: Novri TNOLHave you heard about the Kalasan Temple? Well, for those of you who are visiting Yogyakarta, take some time to visit this temple! In addition to being the oldest Buddhist temple in Yogyakarta, the temple also manages to preserve various historical aspects, along with Yogyakarta's other temples.

The temple is situated in Kalibening, Tirtomatani Village, at the Sleman Regency, approximately 2 km west of the Prambanan Temple. It was built as an offering to the Goddess of Tara and the monasteries for the priests. Built in 778 AD, the temple serves as the oldest temple in Yogyakarta.

The Kalasan temple was built by the orders of Rakai Panangkaran; as revealed in the ancient inscriptions found not far from the temple. With patterned Pranagari and Sanskrit letters, its symbols mention that the temple was founded by King Tejahpurna Parapkarana (Kariyana Panangkaran), from the Dynasty of Syailendra (or Dynasty of Wangsatikala).

The Kalasan temple is renowned as a beautiful temple with its amazing decorative and finely sculptured stone. Coated ornaments on the outer wall called Bajralepa, a yellow-colored material made from the sap of certain plants is another unique feature of the temple.

The Kalasan Temple also called the Tara Temple, is 34 meters high, and is 45 meters long and wide. The temple consists of three parts, the base, body, and the roof or canopy. The square base of the temple is elevated on a 45 meter stone pedestal.

The Kalasan temple has stupas with a height of about 4.6 meters, totaling 52 stupas all around. Unfortunately, the Kalasan temple today is largely deconstructed. When TNOL visited this temple, the main staircase that connects to the entrance of the temple was completely destroyed. Visitors need to climb over the big rocks to get into the temple. In addition, Some of the side walls of the temple look severely damaged and the temple is no longer showing its original form.

"So far, there has not been any renovation efforts made by the government and the international institution to improve this temple," one of the temple guards said to TNOL.

Likewise with the minimal facilities in this temple, such as limited parking lots, lack of toilet facilities and trash strewn everywhere, this temple is indeed overshadowed by Prambanan and Borobudur. As a result, the number of visitors to this temple is very limited. It is rather unfortunate to let this heritage building be neglected and destroyed by age! (Sbh) [rs]