Tourist Attractions Sukuh Temple | Central Java Indonesia

Tourist Attractions Sukuh Temple | Central Java Indonesia

Sukuh Temple is a Hindu temple complex located in Karanganyar District, former Surakarta, Central Java. This temple is categorized as a Hindu temple because of the discovery of the object of worship phallus and yoni. The temple is classified as controversial because of its less common and because of the many objects that symbolize the phallus and yoni sexuality. Sukuh Temple been proposed to UNESCO to be one of the World Heritage Site since 1995.

In addition to the main temple and the statues of turtles, eagles and reliefs, was found also some animal-shaped sculptures boar (wild boar) and saddled elephant. In the ancient times of knights and nobles were elephant rides.

Then there is the horseshoe berelief building with two human figures in it, on the left and right sides facing each other. Some argue that these reliefs symbolizing the womb of a woman and left of the figure symbolizes evil and right of the figure symbolizes virtue. However this is not so clear.

Then there is a small building in front of the main temple called the temple pewara. At its center, this building was hollow and contained a small statue without a head. The statue is by some reason often given is still sacred offerings.

Sukuh Temple is one of the most interesting temples in Southeast Asia. The temple is filled with erotic ornament. No less unique, the building is similar to the Mayan pyramids in Central America. Unfortunately, this temple has not been widely known.

One more interesting than Sukuh Temple is a different architecture. If the other temples built in the shape that symbolizes Mount Meru, the Sukuh Temple has a very simple with a trapezoidal shape. Built in the XV century, shortly before the collapse of the Majapahit Kingdom, this temple is more like a pyramid of the Mayan tribes from Central America. Can two different ethnic groups from two different continents can make buildings with architectural and design are almost similar? Or indeed any influence in the development of the Mayan Sukuh Temple, in the reign of King UB's this?

Various theories and allegations also appear. One of them mentions that the temple was built during the glory days when Hindus began to fade. As a result, the construction of Sukuh Temple made ​​with the concept back to the prehistoric megalithic culture. Another theory states that the form of this temple is part of the story quest  'tirta amerta' (water of life) Adiparwa contained in the book, which is the first book of the Mahabharata. A truncated pyramid whose top represents the peak of Mount Mandaragiri cut and used for churning the ocean to find  'tirta amerta' that can give eternal life to anyone who drank it.

A variety of mystery and questions still surrounding Sukuh Temple. Not just a walk in the cool mountain slopes while enjoying the ancient architecture of the last temples built in Java. Around looking for traces of stories and pieces of evidence to uncover the mysteries of past history will be one of the tourist experience a challenging and exciting.