Kedulan Temple

Kedulan Temple is an underground shrine complex in Sleman with a central sanctuary and three smaller buildings arranged in a square pattern beneath ground level. The site sits approximately 6 meters (20 feet) below the surface and features stone chambers containing religious statuary.

This 9th-century structure lay buried beneath volcanic ash from Mount Merapi for over a thousand years before construction workers unearthed it in 2009 at Universitas Islam Indonesia. The unexpected discovery allowed archaeologists to examine a rare example of a well-preserved medieval shrine.

The temple displays Hindu devotional elements through its stone deity statues and architectural details that reflect the spiritual beliefs of those who built it. Visitors can see how these carvings reveal the religious practices that shaped this place centuries ago.

Access to the site is restricted with protective barriers, so visitors must register at the north entrance security checkpoint before entering. Plan to move slowly through the underground layout to properly observe the stone chambers and their contents.

The site received its Sanskrit name Pustakasala, meaning library, because it was discovered during construction of a university library building. This chance discovery linked ancient religious history with modern academic progress in an unexpected way.