CANDI CETHO, Exotic Temple on The Side of Mount Lawu
Category : Jogja Beyond

Standing at 1,400 meters above sea level, on the western slopes of Mount Lawu, Surakarta (solo), Central Jawa, there stands a exotic temple. These are the archeological remains of the Kingdom of Majapahit and the temple is believed to have supranatural powers within its exotic shape.

Built in the 15th century, Candi Cetho (Temple) is a Hindu fertility temple on the slopes of the mount Lawu. Located in the hamlet of Cetho Village Karangayar District. In Java language, Cetho means clear or pure.

Archeologists say when the temple was found by one of their Dutch predecessors in 1842, there were about 14 levels (courtyards). But, in the 1970s the temple was restored by people entrusted with the task by President Soeharto and their work was based on mystical concepts and so now there are only 9 terraces.

Cetho Temple is an ancient heritage of last Hindus period in Indonesia. The building shape on each terrace is unique. Spatial alteration meaning of the temples is manifested by the difference on the building shape and ceremonial religious activities.

The air is cool up here at 1,400 metres and there is a spectacular panorama. It is even more beautiful in the evening when Karanganyar and Surakarta are bathed in colourful lights.

The Temple complex is used by local residents who are hindus as a place of worship and popular as a sanctuary for those in the original religion of java / javanese beliefs (kejawen).


CANDI CETHO
Location.
Cetho, Gumeng, Jenawi, Karanganyar, Central Java, Indonesia.
Note.
It needs 3,5 hours to get there from Yogyakarta

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