Kalasan Temple, Buddhist Temple Site in Yogyakarta
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Kalasan Temple or named Kalibening Temple is a Buddhist temple priceless historical site of Wangsa Syailendra. It is located 2 kilometres away from Prambanan Temple. Exactly in Kalibening Village, Tirtamani, Sleman, Yogyakarta. It is in the sideway of Yogyakarta-Solo road. The distinctive feature of this temple is that the surface is covered with vajralepa, some kind of ceiling-plaster carved on soft stone or batu halus. This kind of thing also exists on a temple nearby called Sari Temple. Both of the temples are Buddhist and according to a Kalasan Epigraphy founded not far from there, the construction is to honor a goddess by the name of Tara.
Because it is very near Prambanan Temple, it can be the alternative if you want to explore the temples around this famous temple. As to the way to reach it, you can go there by renting a car or by bus if you are in a group. Because of its antiquity, you can perform a historical tour there.
The temple is squared-shape and the roof is octagonal and is topped with a stupa (dome enclosing an image of Buddha). The temple itself is ornamented with beautiful carvings and consists of Buddha’s statues or arca. In addition, there is also an image of Gana or a distended-stomach midget whose task was to carry goods on his shoulder. It is said that the carvings on the temple are very neat and enchanting that it must be constructed by highly competent people at that time.
In the lower part of the temple, you can see or curvilinear motif like the tail of a shrimp commonly found on old temples like this. Around it, there are ornate called jambangan which add the beauty of Kalasan Temple. There is also a hollow decorated with an image of god holding a lotus. On every portal of the temple, you will see a head of Kala (some kind of fowl) with a flower bud on its comb. As said before, the best spot for this temple is in the south. There, the condition of the building is still well-preserved. There is a big Banaspati, a perpendicular row adorned with spiral plants and makara. If you want to see the glimpse of Kalasan Temple’s beauty, it is the right area for you.
