Have you ever wondered if there are any ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia? As a multicultural country, the country contains many Indonesian Hinduism that lives in different regions which are different from the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia.
Most Hinduism in Indonesia is influenced by the oldest kingdom of Indonesia, which exist many centuries ago. Those oldest kingdoms that brought Hinduism to their faith are followed by their descendant up until now, proven by so many ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia.
If you are wondering where to find some ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia, here we have some of them on the list below. Let’s check them out!
1. Prambanan Temple
The Prambanan temple is one of the most popular ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia, located between the Prambanan district of Central Java and Yogyakarta. It becomes the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia that contains around 240 temples, including the popular temple of Loro Jonggrang.
The Prambanan temple represents the Ramayana story of Loro Jonggrang, described on the relief walls of the temple. This kind of Hindu temple used to function as a prayer place for Hinduism regularly, and that still exists.
2. Sambisari Temple
Sambisari temple is one of the most popular ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia, located in Kalasan of Sleman regency at Yogyakarta. This kind of ancient Hindu temple has a main Lingga Yoni temple, which is surrounded by eight Lingga, the ancient servant that commonly exists in most Hinduism temples.
Sambisari temple is built in Hinduism to make pray for Shiva as one of their great deities. The temple construction completes with other deities as well, such as Kalla’s head, Durga, Ganesha, Agastya, Mahakala, and Nandisvara.
3. Ijo Temple
Ijo temple is one of the most famous ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia located not too far from the Prambanan temple. This kind of temple is found a bit higher compare to the Prambanan temple, which makes it has the most epic scenery up from the hills.
Ijo temple is a kind of ancient Hindu temple that was built between the 10th to 11th centuries during the oldest kingdom of Mataram Hindu in Yogyakarta.
Similar to the Sambisari temple, the Ijo temple was also built to worship Shiva as one of the most sacred gods in the Hinduism faith. The temple also contains some Lingga and Yoni that spread in almost every corner of the temple.
4. Ulun Danu Batur Temple
Ulun Danu Batur temple or what local Balinese call it Pura Ulun Danu Batur, is one of the most popular ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia, located around Lake Batur of Batur village in Bali. This kind of ancient temple was built to worship Vishnu, one of their great gods and the goddess of Dewi Danu, which represents the local deities of Lake Batur.
Pura Ulun Danu Batur was built for the first time in around the 17th century. The construction of the temple spread over a wider area that contains about 285 shrines, which the main temple call as Pura Penataran Agung Batur that built with five main courtyards surrounding the main temple.
5. Besakih Temple
Besakih temple or what local people call Pura Besakih is one of the most popular ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia located in Bali, specifically under the feet of Mount Agung. This kind of ancient Hindu temple becomes the most sacred temple in Bali so you need to put concerned about etiquette while visiting temples in Bali.
Besakih temple constructions resemble the Megalithic temples built in a pyramid shape, complete with some steps from the bottom into the perch. This kind of ancient Hindu temple was built around the 15th century during the Gelgel Dynasty. It becomes the most influential dynasty in the oldest Balinese kingdom era.
6. Ulun Danu Bratan temple
Ulun Danu Bratan temple or it is popular as Pura Ulun Bratan is one of the most popular ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia located in Bali. This kind of ancient Hindu temple was built for worshiping Shiva one of the greatest god in the Hinduism faith.
Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is popular with a floating temple in Bali which looks float when the water in the Bratan river rises. The temple contains some areas that look similar to the common Hinduism temples in Bali that functions for Bali’s traditional festivals and celebrations.
7. Uluwatu Temple
Uluwatu temple is one of the most popular ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia, located in Uluwatu of Badung in Bali. Local Balinese commonly know the temple as Pura Luhur Uluwatu or Pura Segara because it is located on the sea cliff.
Uluwatu temple was built to worship the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa as a part of Sad Kahyangan, which looks similar to some temples in Ubud. The temple was also built to worship Rudra, one of the parts of the Shiva deities. The construction was built steadily over the top of the cliff facing the ocean, which makes it the most magnificent scenery around.
8. Tanah Lot Temple
Tanah Lot temple or local commonly known it Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most popular ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia located in Tabanan, Bali. This kind of ancient Hindu temple was built over the top of the rock on the coastline as Bali’s most popular tourist destination.
Balinese believe that the Tanah Lot temple is protected by a giant snake of Balinese myth under the rock. The main temple was built for worshipping the Bhatara Segara the god of the sea in the Hinduism faith.
So, there are some of the most popular ancient Hindu temples in Indonesia that you can explore when visiting the country.
