Temples in Yogyakarta That Will Surely Take Your Breath Away

The Borobudur Temple complex is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most visited temples in Yogyakarta and in Indonesia, it was built in the 8th-Century. A marvel of Buddhist architecture, with multiple platforms stacked on each other, the temple is capped off with a magnificent dome peering down on top of them.

Best Time: May - September

A temple of the 10th century, the Prambanan Temple is the largest temple devoted to Lord Shiva in Indonesia. The temple houses numerous portrayals of the Ramayana with references to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, the three great Hindu deities, along with three temples devoted to the animals that were believed to serve them. This temple in Yogyakarta is one of the largest Hindu temples in the world and is among the regions the most visited attractions.

Candi Ijo, or the Ijo Temple, occupies a spot roughly at a distance of four kilometres from Ratu Boko. Established during the 10th and 11th centuries, the Candi Ijo is close to Yogyakarta in Indonesia. The compound of the temple adorns the serene hamlet of Groyokan, in the Sambirejo Village.

The second-largest temple complex in Indonesia after the Borobudur Temple Complex, The Sewu Temple Complex is built upon Buddhist principles and sensibilities. It is located about 17km away from the main city of Yogyakarta and is among its foremost structures alongwith the Prambanan and Borobudur temples. The construction of the temple complex was started way back in the 8th- Century by the Matram Kings, although it was discovered only in the 1960s.

Dating back from the 8th century, Candi Gebang is a Hindu temple built during the Medang kingdom’s reign. Situated just outside the Wedomartani village, Candi Gebang has displays that depict Ganesha and other Hindu depictions. The 7.5-metre high temple was discovered in 1936 and rebuilt in 1938 after it was covered in ash after Mount Merapi erupted.

Situated a short jaunt away from Borobudur, the Mendut temple is another 9th-century Buddhist temple. Along with Borobudur and the Pawon temples, the Mendut temples are all laid out in a straight line. It was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1991, the Mendut temple comes alive especially during the time of the annual procession.

Built during the 9th-century the Sambisari temple and was discovered in 1966 after being excavated. The temple was blanketed under ash after Mount Merapi erupted during the year 1987. 

Plaosan Temple or Plaosan Complex is situated less than a kilometre away from the sprawling Hindu temple complex of Prambanan. Like most other temples in the area, Plaosan temple was also constructed during the 9th-century. The Plaosan complex comprises of two Buddhist temples but is not related to the Hindu temple complex. 

Situated within the Prambanan Temple, Candi Lumbung is often compared to the nearby Candi Sewu, albeit smaller in stature. In fact, the Candi Lumbung Temple is actually older than Prambanan temple itself. The temple is located in the Kewu Plain, an area littered with 9th century Buddhist and Hindu temple compounds. The temple compounds were erected in the 8th century and offers people the up

Candi Kedulan is located within close proximity of Sambisari Temple and is also situated in the Sleman regency of Yogyakarta. As a result of the Merapi eruptions, significant portions of the temple was buried under the rubble that the still-active volcano threw into the air. 

Cutting a memorably distinctive silhouette against the landscape that is populated mostly by 8th and 9th century Hindu and Buddhist temples, the Vihara Buddha Prabha temple's bright red and golden decor is a welcome departure from the grey of the other ancient temples. The temple was also built in 1900, and its modern sensibilities and architectural styles are a nod to its relative contemporariness. 

The Barong Temple is a 9th-century temple located in the Slemen regency in Yogyakarta. Unlike most other Hindu or Buddhist temples in the area, the Barong temple's style of architecture comprises of a three-tier terraced roof.