Cycling Through Forgotten Hindu Temples
This morning we will take you to The Southern part of Yogjakarta where there are many hidden sacred temples that are not known by many tourists. We will drive you to visit Ijo Temple, the name of Ijo was driven from the name of the hill, Gumuk Ijo. The temple is located on top of the hill about 410 meter elevation. It offers beautiful scenery overlooking rice paddies and village. Ijo temple consist of a large main temple facing west and three Perwara Temple, was meant Trimurti, the three highest gods in Hinduism, Brahma, Visnu and Shiva. Cycling downhill through villages where we have a chance to stop and enjoy scenery and interaction with villagers.
On the way we will visit traditional Tofu factory, Tofu and Tempeh are made from soya beans and it is important food for Javanese which are of their main source of proteins. The cycling will then continue to visit Plaosan temple. This temple was constructed by Rakai Pikatan for his wife, Pramudyawardani. Plaosan complex is divided into 2 groups, namely the North Plaosan and the South Plaosan Temple. Both of the temples have square terrace that is encircled by wall, a pillbox for meditation at the west part and dome on other side. The cycling will then finished in home hosted lunch in Kali Opak located behind Perambanan Temple.
After lunch we will then visit Perambanan Temple before we drive back to Borobudur. Prambanan Temple is undoubtedly a magnificent piece of architecture and the sculptures and reliefs on the main Shiva temple are amongst the best examples of Hindu art to be found. The main temple complex consisted of 8 main and 8 minor temples on a central courtyard, surrounded by 244 small temples in the outer compound. Unlike many temple complexes, Prambanan was not constructed in a symmetrical manner. The largest of the temples, dedicated to Shiva, rises majestically to 47m and is lavishly carved. The best time to visit the temple is at sunset, when you can climb one of the eastern temples and watch as the sun sets in between the three largest temples to the west. On a clear day the temple will appear as a silhouette against the backdrop of a sky of bright reds, pale blues and wisps of white clouds.