Ijo Temple

Ijo Temple the Ancient Heritage with Charming Scenery 

Located in a hill Ijo Temple not only offer ancient heritages artefact, but also offer amazing view from the hill to the area around it. It’s one of the temples that represent life of people on the area in the Hinduism and Buddhism era.   

Surrounding area near Prambanan is believed as the centre of Ancient Mataram Kingdom. This can be seen by the numerous Candi and artefact that found in the area that related to the Ancient Mataram Kingdom. There are such as: Prambanan Temple, Sewu Temple, Plaosan Temple, Kalasan, Temple, Ratu Boko Temple, and many other temples that spread surround the area.

One of temples that located in Prambanan area is Ijo Temple or Candi Ijo as its name called by local people. Ijo temple is located four kilometres south from Ratu Boko Temple. It’s around 10 kilometres from the city of Yogyakarta.  It’s located in Sambirejo Village, Prambanan Sub-district, Sleman Regency Yogyakarta. The temple is named Ijo because it located in a hill named Gumuk Ijo.
From the Pramabanan Temple, Ijo temple can reach by taxi or ojek (motorcycle cab). It needs around 15 minutes to reach the temple complex. Therefore, if you come from Yogyakarta City by private vehicle, just turn right at Prambanan Market junction and go south and follow the road sign that show the direction to Candi Ijo.

Ijo Temple was built during the Ancient Mataram Kingdom era. It was built in 9th century, when Hinduism and Buddhism share influence in the Mataram Kingdom. It can be seen from the culture acculturation between Hinduism, Buddhism, and Ancient Beliefs in the temple complex. The Buddhism influences can be seen in the temple gate, there is kala mangkara and two headed dragon sculpture. The ancient belief can be seen from the levelled terrace that used in temple complex structure, levelled terrace is one of the megalithic traditions in ancient java.  Therefore, the Hinduism influence can be seen from the temple architecture, statue and artefact that found in the temple.

Located in a hill, the road into Ijo temple is quiet uphill. The temple complex is located at 375 metre high from sea level and its top temple has 410 metre high from sea level.  The temple complex is consist 17 structures that divided into 11 terrace. The terrace is formed uphill in the Gumuk Ijo.  The main temple is located in the top of temple complex with three ancillary temples in the front of it. The ancillary temple is symbolized the honour for trimurti Gods in Hinduism, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. In the main temple there is lingga and yoni which symbolized the unity between Shiva and his wife Parvati.

Besides seeing the temple and artefact, Ijo temple complex offer awesome scenery. From the temple complex you can see the scenery under the hill. It shows the green rice field surround the hill area. In the east side there is the view of Klaten Regency area. In the west side there is view of Yogyakarta city, it also has view of Adi Sucipto International Airport, you could see airplanes take off and landing from the temple complex. In the south side you can see the Gunung Kidul Regency with Sewu Mountains in the area. In north side you can see the famous Merapi Mount.