Kalasan Temple

The Artistic Ancient Java Temple

Located just before Prambanan Temple, Kalasan Temple is a decent place to see the magnificent ancient art, especially on stone carving art. 
The temple is the oldest Buddhist temple from Ancient Mataram Kingdom era. 
There are varies of awesome stone carving on the temple structure that show the great masterpiece of ancient java art.

Ancient Mataram Kingdom is known with varies of temple and artifacts that found around Central Java and Yogyakarta area. The masterpieces of Ancient Mataram Kingdom are such as Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple which has been become world heritage. Temple and artifacts that related to Ancient Mataram Kingdom refers to both dynasties that rule the kingdom. The two dynasties are Sanjaya Dynasty and Syailendra Dynasty which ruled the kingdom for around two centuries.

The oldest Buddhist temples that built during Ancient Mataram Kingdom is Kalasan Temple. Kalasan Temple is built by Rakai Panangkaran the second king of Mataram Kingdom. The temple is built in 8^th century as the worship for Buddhism goddess named Tara. Kalasan Temple construction is show the influence of Buddhism that emerges in the Ancient Mataram Kingdom that previously dominated with Hinduism influence. 

The story of temple construction is written in Kalasan inscription that located not far from the temple. According to Kalasan inscription which dated at 778, the temple construction is a request from Buddhist monk that asks for worship place and also a monastery for Buddhist monk to live. The inscription is also said that Rakai Panangkaran as king of Mataram present Kalasan Village to Buddhist monk. From the Kalasan inscription, it can be assumed that Sari Temple that located not far from the Kalasan Temple is the vihara or monastery that built in the same period with Kalasan Temple.  

Kalasan Temple is located in Tirtomartani Village, Kalasan Sub-district, Sleman Regency, Yogyakrta Special Region. It’s located around 50 metres south from the Yogyakarta-Solo main road. The name of Kalasan Temple is come from the area that temple located, beside that the temple is also known as Tara Temple in the past for the worship to the goddess. Kalasan Temple is located around 13 kilometres east from the Yogyakarta City. The temple is just before the famous Prambanan Temple Complex, and around ten minutes ride from Pramabanan.

Kalasan Temple is a rectangular temple with around 34 metres high from ground. The temple has 45 metres long for each side of the temple. Each of temple side has one niche to the temple main chamber. The temple has magnificent decoration on it. The decoration ornaments are stone carving and sculpture that can be found from the lower part of the temple into the top of the temple. 

There are varies of awesome carving in the temple structure. The example of magnificent carving is Kala carving that located in the entrance of temple. In the temple top there is octagonal shape with Bodhisattva carving on it. There are also some carving of lotus flower, Buddha and Dyani Buddha in the temple structure. The temple decoration is show how the Javanese stone artist in the past has very high skill of stone carving. 

With the history that the temple keeps and artistry sense on its structure, Kalasan Temple is a decent place to visit. With situated in the strategic position between Yogyakarta City and the famous Prambanan Temple, the temple is one of the alternatives for historical tour around Yogyakarta. The temple is one of the temple options to visit before or after your visit to Prambanan Temple.