Kalasan Temple
Candi Kalasan
A Buddhist temple built in 778 CE, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the Yogyakarta region, known for its finely carved kala face ornaments and reliefs. It lies on the way to Prambanan.
According to the Kalasan inscription of 778, Kalasan Temple was built by the Sailendra dynasty to honour the bodhisattva Tara, and it is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Central Java. The temple has a cruciform plan, with a niche on each side. The kala (monster) face above the south doorway is finely carved, and the outer walls were once covered with a white coating known as vajralepa, or “diamond plaster,” parts of which can still be seen today. It is not large, but it preserves the style of early Javanese Buddhist architecture. It sits beside the main road from Yogyakarta to Prambanan, about 3 km from Prambanan, and it can be visited for about 30 minutes on the way there. Admission is very cheap, and there are few facilities nearby.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Ratu Boko
- Ramayana Ballet Prambanan
- Prambanan
- Sambisari Temple
- Sewu Temple
- Tebing Breksi
- Plaosan Temple
- Ijo Temple