Jam Gadang

The structure was build in 1926 during the Dutch colonial era, as a gift from the Queen to city's controleur. It was designed by architects Yazin and Sutan Gigi Ameh. Originally a rooster figure was placed on the apex, but it was changed into a Jinja-like ornament during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia. Following Indonesian independence, it was reshaped to its present form resembling traditional Minangkabau roofs.

The clock's diameter is 80 centimeters, the base's dimension is 13 metres in length and 4 metres wide, and it stands 26 metres tall.

Jam Gadang (“Jam” mean Clock, and “Gadang” mean “Massive” in the Minangkabau language) is a clock tower situated in the heart of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. How phenomenal of Jam Gadang for domestic and foreign tourists, making it is as a landmark of Bukittinggi and also be one of West Sumatra icons.


Jam Gadang built without iron supports and mortar, but with a mixture of lime, egg whites, and white sand. The clock’s diameter is 80 centimeters, the base’s dimension is 13 metres in length and 4 meters wide, and it stands 26 meters tall.

The clocktower has undergone several changes in the form at the top. During the Dutch colonial period, the heyday of Jam Gadang installed with rooster statue. However, when the Dutch were defeated and change by Japanese colonialists, the top replaced with pagoda. Furthermore when Indonesian independence period, the top of Jam Gadang replaced with traditional Bagonjong roof – Minangkabau traditional house.

Construction of Jam Gadang spend cost of 3,000 Guilder. One unique feature of Jam Gadang is that it uses the “IIII” for the number 4 instead of its traditional Roman Number “IV”.

Read More

Pura Besakih

Pura Besakih, on the slopes of Mount Agung, is one of the largest and most sacred Hindu temples on the island of Bali. Primarily Muslim today, Indonesia had rival Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms for several centuries.

Pura (Temple) Besakih is the biggest Hindu temple in Bali which the local people call Pura Besakih. It owns beautiful view from the top of temple area where we can see the wide nature panorama until to the ocean so that way this temple is many visited by tourists from all over the world. Besakih Temple is located in Besakih countryside, Rendang sub district, Karangasem regency, east part of the island. It is located in southwest side bevel of mount Agung, the biggest mounts in Bali. It is because pursuant to Agung Mount confidence is holiest and highest mount in Bali Island.

Pura Besakih, Mother Temple, Karangasem BaliThe Besakih's name is come from the word of Basuki, the old language from Sanskrit Wasuki, and then it become the Ancient Java Language. In this Sanskrit, the Basuki means congratulation. In mythology of Samudramanthana has mentioned that Basuki is a dragon that twines the Mount Mandara. The omission has come from tradition megalithic which had been indicated that it had to be sanctified place.

It seems, the Besakih is coming from very old era which is far before the existence of Hinduism influence. Hereinafter, an Ancient Bali king of Sri Kesari Warmadewa found the Merajan Selonding Temple in this temple complex area. He also commands to build the Blanjong Monument that is located in Sanur Village. The Besakih Temple complex is built pursuant to cosmos balance. It is based on the nature conception which is disseminating the fundamental temple complex that is arranged to pursuant of the way direction. So, this building can deputize nature as symbolic of the world balance existence.


As we familiarize, that the point direction way like East, South, West, North, and middle as center point and each direction is named by Mandala. In Hindu philosophy, Panca Dewata is manifestation of Siwa God. Like Penataran Agung Temple as center, we find in its courtyard conception show the solidarity conception between the original Indonesia culture namely tradition megalithic in form of Punden Berundak-undak with the Hinduism concept. The ancient omissions which is existing in Besakih Temple complex can be classified into 2 types those are omission pertained by megalithic tradition and classic era. Besakih Temple beside as the altar for Hindu people in Bali, it is also as tourist destination which is a lot of visited by tourists.

Besakih Temple is located in the plateau area which is covered by the cool atmosphere and Mount Agung as a back drop. From the top of temple building, we can see the beautiful panorama of nature from the temple area to the ocean. It is situated in cool area with the light breeze and unique temple buildings spread out in the temple complex will create the peaceful atmosphere. It is ideally for the people who did the meditation and now, the Besakih Temple is opened for tourist and it is the great place to visit in Bali.

It is very easy to find this temple in Bali where most of the people have known it in particular the Balinese Hindu. It is about 2 hours away from Bali's International Airport by car to the east part of Bali and right located in Besakih Village, Rendang – Karangasem Regency. You may join the Besakih Temple Tour, the exciting tour package to visit the places of interest on the way to this temple.

Read More

Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Temple is a Buddhist temple, situated in the village of Borobudur Magelang regency, Central Java, was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, Dynasty dynasty descendants. 

The name Borobudur is a combination of words and Budur Bara. Coals from the Sanskrit means temple or monastery. While Budur derived from the word meaning beduhur above, thereby Borobudur means monastery on the hill. While according to other sources, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other sources said that Borobudur means monastery on the heights.
Borobudur Building punden shaped staircase consists of 10 levels, measuring 123 x 123 meters. Height of 42 meters and 34.5 meters before it was renovated after the renovation because the lowest level was used as a drag. This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in the complex. Six lowest level of a square and two upper circular form, and the highest level in the form of Buddhist stupa facing to the west. 

Each level represents the stages of human life. Corresponding schools of Mahayana Buddhism, every person who wants to reach the level of the Buddha should be through every level of life is.

    * Kamadhatu, the base of Borobudur, symbolizing humans are still bound by lust.
    * Rupadhatu, four levels above it, symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but still tied to appearance and shape. At that level, a statue of Buddha placed open.
    * Arupadhatu, three levels above where the Buddhist stupa placed in the holes. It symbolizes man who had been free from lust, appearance, and shape.
    * Arupa, the very top that symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing. 

Each level has reliefs that will be read coherently run clockwise (towards the left of the entrance of the temple). In the reliefs of Borobudur tells of a legendary story, a variety of story content, among others, there are reliefs of the Hindu epic Ramayana, there are also reliefs Jataka stories. In addition, there are relief panels describing the condition of society at that time. For example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of shipping at that time centered on Bergotta (Semarang). 

All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect the Buddha's teachings. A Buddhist from India named Atisha, the 10th century once visited this temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe. Thanks to visiting Borobudur and having the script of Serlingpa Buddhism (one of the King of Sriwijaya), Atisha was able to develop Buddhism. He became head Vikramasila monastery and taught Tibetans of practicing Dharma. Six manuscripts of Serlingpa was condensed into a core doctrine called "The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" or better known by the name Bodhipathapradipa. 

One of the questions still unanswered about Borobudur is how the condition around the temple was built and why the temple was found in the buried. Some say Borobudur originally stood dikelilingii swamp and then buried by the eruption of Merapi. It is based on Calcutta inscription reads 'Amawa' means sea of ​​milk. The word is then interpreted as the lava of Merapi, Borobudur likely buried by cold lava of Merapi. The villages around Borobudur, as there Wanurejo Karanganyar and activities of local crafts. In addition, the peak watu Kendil an ideal place for the panoramic view from the top of Borobudur. May 27, 2006 earthquake and no impact at all on the Borobudur temple so that it can still be visited. 

The history of Borobudur Temple
About three hundred years ago, where this temple is still forested grove by a resident who called the Redi surrounding Borobudur. For the first time, the name Borobudur is known from the work of MPU Prapanca Negarakertagama manuscript in 1365 AD, the mention of a monastery in Budur. Then in the text of the Babad Tanah Jawi (1709-1710) there is news of Mas Fund, a rebel against the King Pakubuwono I, who was caught in the Redi Borobudur and sentenced to death. Then in 1758, sparked the news about a prince from Yogyakarta, namely Prince Monconagoro, who would like to see a statue of a warrior are locked in a cage. 

Buddha statue in the niche Borobudur
In 1814, Thomas Stamford Raffles got the news of his subordinates on a hill covered with stone-carved stone. Based on the news that Raffles sent Cornelius, an admirer of art and history, to clean up that hill. Once cleaned for two months with the help of 200 inhabitants, the temple became clear and the restoration continued in 1825. In 1834, Resident Kedu clean the temple again, and in 1842 the temple stupa reviewed for further research. 

The name of Borobudur
Regarding the name of Borobudur, many archaeologists who interpret them, including Prof. Dr. Borobudur Poerbotjoroko explains that the word comes from two words Bhoro and Budur. Bhoro derived from Sanskrit which means bihara or dormitory, while the word Budur refer to a word derived from the Balinese beduhur which means above. This opinion is corroborated by prof. Dr. WF. Stutterheim who argue that Borobudur means Bihara on top of a hill. 

Prof. JG. De Casparis basing on Middle Reef inscription that mentions the year of establishment of this building, which Sangkala Year: Sagara kstidhara taste, or Caka year 746 (AD 824), or during the dynasty dynasty that glorifies the god Indra. In the inscription didapatlah Bhumisambharabhudhara name which means a place to worship the ancestors for the spirits of their ancestors. How is it going to be a shift in Borobudur? This happens because the pronunciation of the local community. 

Development of Borobudur Temple
Borobudur Temple was made during the Buddhist dynasty dynasty under the leadership of King Samarotthungga. Who created the temple architecture, based on public speech called Gunadharma. Construction of the temple was completed in 847 AD According to the inscription Kulrak (784M) making the temple was assisted by a teacher from Ghandadwipa (Bengalore) named Kumaragacya a highly respected, and a prince from Kashmir named Visvawarman as an advisor who is an expert in the teaching of Tantric Vajrayana Buddhists. Construction of this temple began during the Maha Raja Sri Sanggramadananjaya Dananjaya the title, followed by his son, Samarotthungga, and by his granddaughter, Dyah Ayu Pramodhawardhani. 

Before restoration, the Borobudur Temple in ruins just like the artifacts of the newly discovered temple. Subsequent restoration by Cornelius at the Raffles and Resident Hatmann, after that period is then performed in 1907-1911 by Theodorus van Erp who rebuilt the temple from the ruins of the order form for the time eaten up the form now. Van Erp is actually an expert on building techniques Genie military with the rank of lieutenant, but then attracted to research and learn the ins and outs of Borobudur temple, began his philosophy to the teachings they contain. For that he tried to do a comparative study for several years in India. He also went to Sri Lanka to see the composition of the Sanchi stupa peak in Kandy, until finally van Erp discovered form of Borobudur Temple. As for the foundation of philosophy and religion was found by Stutterheim and NJ. Chrome, which is on the teachings of the Buddha Dharma in the Mahayana-Yogacara and no trend is also mixed with a flow-Tantric Vajrayana. 

Material Borobudur
Borobudur is the second largest temple after Ankor Wat temple in Cambodia. Borobudur Temple building area 15,129 m2, composed of 55,000 m3 of rock, from 2 million pieces of rocks. Average stone size 25 cm x 10 cm x 15 cm. Overall length of cut stone 500 km with a total weight of 1.3 million tons of stone. The walls of Borobudur Temple surrounded by pictures or reliefs which are a series of stories that terususun in the 1460 panel. The length of each panel 2 meters. If the series of reliefs that stretched the length of the approximately 3 km of relief entirely. The number of levels there are ten, 1-6 levels of a square, while the 70-10 round. Arca found throughout the temple buildings totaling 504 units. High temple of the soil surface until the end of the main stupa was 42 meters, 34.5 meters but now lives after being struck by lightning. 

According to the investigation of an anthropologist, ethnologist Austria, Robert von Heine Geldern, ancestor of the Indonesian people are familiar with grammar and culture in the Neolithic period Megalithic originating from South Vietnam and Cambodia. In ancient Megalithic that the ancestors of Indonesia to make the tomb of his ancestors as well as a place of worship tiered pyramid building, getting to the top gets smaller. One was found in Lebak Sibedug Leuwiliang Bogor West Java. Similar buildings are also found in Sukuh near Solo, Borobudur Temple also. 

When viewed from a distance, Borobudur will look like a staircase or a similar arrangement of building the pyramids and a stupa. Unlike the giant pyramids in Egypt and the Pyramids of Teotihuacan in Mexico Borobudur is another version of pyramid building. Borobudur pyramid form kepunden staircase will not be found in the region and any country, including in India. This is one of the advantages of Borobudur temple which is a typical Buddhist architecture in Indonesia.

Read More