Candi Sari is an impressive 8th-century Buddhist temple with many preserved and reconstructed features. It comprises two stories and an upper layer with well-maintained floors, stairs, doors and windows. Explore this former monastery and imagine the monks making it their home many centuries ago.
Snap photos of the imposing façade, which is split into the base, the body and the upper roof. The temple, which is 56 feet (17 meters) high, has a main portal on its eastern side. Inspect the intricate carving of a deity and an elephant on the door.
Gaze up at the nine stupas, or pointed shrines, that decorate the roof. The exterior of the building is ornate, with sculptures of Buddhist figures and flower motifs. Spot the 36 statues of Boddhisatva and Tara that cover all four sides of the temple.
Enter the structure and explore its three large rooms. Notice the elevated features, where statues once stood. Niches on the walls may have held oil lamps. It is believed monks used the upper level to meditate. Walk around the serene grounds, which are flanked by a dense forest.
Note that the name of the structure is Javanese for “Sleep Temple,” which suggests the monks might have lived here. It was discovered in the early 20th century and reconstructed in the 1920s.
Pay a donation to the guard to enter this complex, which opens daily from morning until late afternoon.
Find Candi Sari in an area with many intriguing archaeological sites about 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) east of central Yogyakarta in the village of Tirtomartani in the area of Kalasan. Take the Trans Jogja bus from the city center to get here. Make sure to visit some of the nearby archaeological ruins, such as the Prambanan complex and the Ratu Boko Palace.