Candi Kalasan

Central Java


One of the oldest Buddhist temples on the Prambanan Plain, the 8th-century Candi Kalasan stands just off the main highway, 13km east of Yogyakarta en route to Prambanan. It's been partially restored and features some fine detailed carvings on its southern side, where a huge, ornate kala (demonic face) glowers over the doorway.

At one time it was completely covered in coloured, shining stucco, and traces of the hard, stonelike ‘diamond plaster’ that provided a base for paintwork can still be seen. The inner chamber of Kalasan once sheltered a huge bronze image of Buddha or Tara.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Central Java attractions

1. Candi Sari

0.46 MILES

This 8th-century temple has the three-part design of the larger Plaosan temple but is probably slightly older. Some experts believe that its 2nd floor may…

2. Kraton Ratu Boko

1.16 MILES

Kraton Ratu Boko is a partly ruined Hindu palace complex dating from the 9th century. Perched on a hilltop overlooking Prambanan, it is believed to have…

3. Candi Sambisari

1.7 MILES

This Shiva temple, possibly the latest temple at Prambanan to be erected by the Mataram dynasty, was discovered by a farmer in 1966. Excavated from under…

4. Prambanan Temple

1.73 MILES

Comprising the remains of some 244 temples, World Heritage–listed Prambanan is Indonesia's largest Hindu site and one of Southeast Asia's major…

5. Candi Sojiwan

1.78 MILES

The remains of this 9th-century Buddhist temple are 1.5km southeast of Prambaban. Around the temple’s base are carvings from the Jataka (episodes from the…

6. Plaosan Temples

2.6 MILES

Built around the same time as the larger Prambanan temple group, the Plaosan temples combine both Hindu and Buddhist religious symbols in their elaborate…

7. Affandi Museum

5.29 MILES

One of Indonesia’s most celebrated artists, Affandi (1907–90) lived and worked in a wonderfully quirky self-designed riverside studio, about 6km east of…

8. Kota Gede

6.42 MILES

In 1582, Kota Gede was made the first capital of the Mataram kingdom, the founder of which, Panembahan Senopati, is buried in a tomb here. Today, the area…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "indonesia/prambanan/attractions/candi-kalasan/a/poi-sig/1585390/1002221",
      "destination": "Central-Java",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "Indonesia",
      "region": "Central-Java",
      "position": "superzone"
    }