Tour Guide, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Sukuh Temple
This temple is located in western part of Lawu mountainside, about 910 m above the sea level. It was built on an area of 5,500 sq.m (approx) during the 15th or 16th century during Hindu Majapahit Kingdom era. The main building sits on 910 height above sea level and is almost similar to the pyramid in Mexico.
The main gate is decorated with a giant head which symbolizes reliefs of "Candra Sengkala." It represents the year of the temple founding. Beside the reliefs of Candra Sengkala, there is also a small temple with erotic reliefs. Actually it is a symbol of true life teaching and a series of relief that tells about Garudeya and Sudhamala story with liberation as its theme. This temple used to be a worship place and a place to have a religious ceremony religion but now days it is only use a meditation place. Sukuh temple located in Berjo village, Ngargoyoso district, we can go there by pedestrian public transportation from Karangpandan to Ngargoyoso (Sukuh Temple).
Cetho Temple
The temple is Located in Gumeng village, Jenawi district in the western part of Lawu mountainside. It stands on the hill with beautiful view and surrounded by tea plantation. This temple has its own speciality it is different with any other temple exixted in Central Java. In order to get to this temple, we must go to a high through tea plantation and forest. Cetho Temple is one of Hindu heritage which was build in the end era of Majapahit governance (15th century). The first scientific report was made by Van de Vlies in 1842. There is also A.J. Bernet Kempres who conducted research about this temple.
The first restoration was done for the first time in 1928 by department of archeology owned by Dutch government. Based on the condition when the ruins were found, the temple was built on relatively the same year as Sukuh Temple. Location of this temple is in Ceto village, Gumeng village, Jenawi District, Karanganyar Regency, 1400 m above sea level. Nowadays the temple complex is used by local Hindus people as worship place and it is also popular as meditation place for people who believe in Javanese religion/ Kejawen.
Regency: Karanganyar
Admission Fee : IDR 2.500 for Indonesian, and IDR 10.000 for foreigner