About Sewu Temple
Sewu temple, the largest Buddhist temple after Borobudur temple. It is one of the historical relics of Buddhist culture located in Yogyakarta. This temple is adjacent to the Prambanan temple, which is also one of the icons of Yogyakarta. This temple was established around the 8th century AD with the original name Manjusri grha. Because it has been established since the 8th century AD, the age of this temple is older than the Borobudur and Prambanan temples. Although older, this temple still stands strong and well-maintained. The local government is very protective of the many historical sites scattered in the Yogyakarta area.
Location and How to Get There
Sewu Temple is one of the temples located in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, precisely on the Solo-Yogyakarta highway, KM 16. Bugisan, Prambanan District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region. Its strategic location makes it one of the most popular tourist attractions. And because it is not as crowded as the neighboring Prambanan temple, this temple is suitable for those of you who don’t like excessive crowds.
If you want to get to this temple from Yogyakarta, you can use the Trans Jogja shuttle with bus code 1A. The bus will then make its last stop at the Prambanan bus stop, just opposite the temple. From there, you can use online transportation to the Sewu Temple.
Interesting Things about Sewu Temple
- The temple complex is vast. Sewu Temple is very large, as its nickname is the largest Buddhist temple after Borobudur. There are 249 small temple buildings scattered in the Sewu temple area, which is about 1.5 hectares.
- Architecturally, this Temple adopts the combined architecture of central Java and India. This makes this historical site unique and interesting.
- The existence of this temple is evidence of the development of Buddhism in Indonesia. and not only Buddhism. The combination of Indian architecture proves the strong interference of Indian culture on the architecture and fine arts at that time.
Activities You Can Do
Enjoy the sunrise and sunset. Come here in the morning or the afternoon. Enjoy the beauty of the Sewu temple with sunset and sunrise to decorate the sky. Don’t forget to save this moment in your camera.
Cycling. Many residents often cycle in this temple complex. Enjoying the historical scenery while exercising is the best. Especially at the right time, there are sunrise and sunset views that accompany you. If you don’t bring a bicycle, you can rent one here for IDR 20K.
Learn the history and culture of the past. Sewu Temple keeps a historical record of Buddhist civilization in its time. If you are a fan of ancient history, this temple is one of the best resources to learn from.
Watch the “Ramayana Prambanan Ballet“, one of the most popular art performances. You can watch it near the Sewu and Prambanan temple complexes. For tickets, you can find information on online ticketing sites such as Traveloka.
Additional Facilities
Don’t worry about the lack of facilities, this temple is complete in terms of facilities to support comfort for visitors. These facilities are:
- Large parking lot
- Public toilet
- Prayer room
- Entertainment stage
- Lodging rental
Hopefully, your trip to the Sewu temple will be enjoyable and memorable!!! Have a nice vacation!
