Kidal temple, Hindu temple in Malang, Indonesia
Kidal is a Hindu temple in Malang Regency in East Java. The three-tiered stone structure rises on an elevated platform and displays detailed stone carvings and reliefs along its walls and portals.
The structure was built in 1248 during the Singhasari dynasty and honors King Anusapati, who was killed by Panji Tohjaya during power struggles. Its construction marks a time of internal dynastic conflict in East Java.
Stone reliefs at the base narrate the Garudeya mythology, conveying moral messages about liberation from enslavement through Hindu teachings. These carvings show the religious function this structure served in medieval Java.
Rejokidal village sits around 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Malang, and roads to the archaeological site have been improved in recent years. Access follows paved paths that remain passable during changing weather conditions.
The entire structure lies one meter (3 feet) below the surrounding ground level, and restoration work in the 1990s uncovered remnants of ancient boundary walls. This unusual position suggests ground settling or deposits over the centuries.
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