Gedung Songo Central Java's refreshing trendsetter<\/p>\n
Jock Paul, Contributor, Semarang, Central Jakarta<\/p>\n
Though the structures are not as famous as their younger Javanese
\nsuccessors, the Hindu temples of Gedung Songo offer a mind-
\nclearing and picturesque walk through the mountains of Central
\nJava.<\/p>\n
In fact the scenery, temples, clear mountain air and
\noutstanding views of this area in Central Java create a setting
\nthat Borobodur, Prambanan or any of Java's more celebrated
\ntemples struggle to match.<\/p>\n
The beauty of visiting Gedung (known locally as \"Gedong\")
\nSongo lies in being able to slowly meander up and down the
\nhillside, appreciating each temple individually, at just the pace
\nyou want.<\/p>\n
The six temples interact with visitors, and with each other,
\nas each offers a new perspective on the rest. They are more or
\nless evenly spaced out, about 100 meters to 200 meters apart, on
\nindividual plateaus and ridges that project horizontally out of
\nthe sloping hillside.<\/p>\n
The structures, among Java's oldest Hindu temples, are direct
\nsuccessors to the temples in the Dieng Plateau. The temples show
\ngreat unity and were built between 750 and 775 AD, except for the
\nfirst one you come to as you walk up the path, which may have
\nbeen built 30 years later.<\/p>\n
The name is not the original, nor is it a literal meaning, but
\ngiven because songo (nine in Javanese) is associated with good
\nfortune in Java.<\/p>\n
Gedung Songo highlights how, in Hinduism, the location of the
\ntemples is as important as the structures themselves. Standing on
\nany of the plateaus and looking out toward west central Java
\nlends a feeling of power, or control over the landscape below.
\nThe site, chosen to flatter the gods and be close to the gods,
\nexudes tranquility.<\/p>\n
The mountainside site also ensures cool, clean air that makes
\nwalking the kilometer of path that weaves up and down the
\nhillside a pleasure rather than a struggle.<\/p>\n
This site is best appreciated if you have at least a few hours
\nto meander around, laze about and take in the views.<\/p>\n
In the distance beyond the villages and rice fields, a line of
\nvolcanoes can be seen along the horizon, Mt. Lawu in the east,
\nand Mt. Sumbing, Mt. Sundoro and Dieng in the west.<\/p>\n
The temples are numbered one through six, and most are in
\nquite good and original shape. The youngest temple, number one,
\nis the first you come to and stands alone. The footpath that
\nleads from the first to the second temple preserves part of the
\noriginal pavement of the eighth century.<\/p>\n
The largest group of structures is clustered around temple
\nthree.<\/p>\n
The main temple here is dedicated to Siva, the one to the
\nnorth Visnu and the one to the south Brahma. Inside, the statues
\nof Nandiswara on the north and Mahakala on the south are still in
\nplace.<\/p>\n
It is this temple that demonstrates that Javanese Hindu
\niconography had reached its mature form at this time: Ganesh is
\nplaced on the wall opposite the door, Durga on the north and
\nAgastya on the south.<\/p>\n
This pattern is the earliest example of the distribution that
\nwas standard throughout the rest of the Central Javanese
\nclassical period, and demonstrates that it was here at Gedung
\nSongo that Javanese architects formulated a style that persisted,
\nwith refinements, for centuries, according to Jacques Dumarcay
\nand John Miksic.<\/p>\n
Those keen on ancient architecture will want to pay close
\nattention to the edifice in front of the Siva sanctuary. It shows
\nthat a manual was used to design the building. Because the
\nproportions were designed for a larger structure, the entrance
\nwould have only been one meter high. To avoid this, the architect
\nlowered the base of the opening by cutting through the temple
\nfoot. This details shows, according to Dumarcay, that the
\narchitects wished to conform to Indian texts of architecture.<\/p>\n
Leaving Gedung Songo, it is worth stopping about 10 minutes
\ndown the road in the flower market in Bandungan. Beautiful,
\nlocally grown fresh and dry flowers are on sale here. The market
\noverflows into the main road and cannot be missed: It is worth a
\nstop even if you can't take flowers with you.<\/p>\n
The spot also provides a great view of the valleys of Central
\nJava below. On a rare, cool clear day, the legendary volcano, Mt.
\nMerapi, near Yogyakarta can be seen in the distance.<\/p>",
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