Kalasan Temple

Kalasan is a Buddhist temple in Sleman on Java, built from dark volcanic stone with a square base and central main chamber. The outer walls are decorated with reliefs of bodhisattvas and celestial beings, while the entrance niches are flanked by stone guardian figures.

An inscription from the year 778 documents the foundation by the Sailendra rulers as a sanctuary for the Buddhist goddess Tara. Later expansions and restorations took place in the 20th century after the building had been neglected for centuries.

The name comes from Sanskrit and means "place of purification", reflecting the spiritual function of the building. Today pilgrims and visitors come here to walk between the stone columns and experience the quiet surroundings.

The temple sits directly on the main road between Yogyakarta and Solo, so you can easily spot it from the roadside. The best light for photography comes in the morning when the sun illuminates the stone reliefs from the side.

The original white stucco layer that once covered the entire exterior surface has now almost completely disappeared, leaving only traces in sheltered corners. This layer once gave the building a completely different appearance and made it glow brightly in the sunlight.

Location: Sleman

GPS coordinates: -7.76731,110.47234

Latest update: December 20, 2025 01:33