April 03, 2011

Cangkuang Temple (Candi Cangkuang), Garut, West Java



Compared with Hindu temples in Central-Java, Candi Cangkuang is only a simple construction. Yet it is special in that it is one of only three known Hindu temples in West-Java, all discovered recently. The other two are Candi Rancaekek near Bandung and Candi Jiwa near Karawang. It is located in a small island in the middle of a lake called also Cangkuang.


Candi Cangkuang, located at Cangkuang village, was discovered accidentally in 1966, when archeologists were searching for the grave of one Embah Dalem Arif Muhammad (see tip Kampung Pulo). What was found consisted only of the foundation and a heap op rubble. Restauration was completed in 1976.


The Hindu temple stands on a small hill, facing the lake - away from the grave of the muslim Embah Dalem Arif Mohammed. The site is surrounded by several species of trees which may be of interest to botanists.


How to get here :

- From Bandung, take the toll road to Cileunyi, take follow the street signs to Garut. From Garut take the road north to Leles.
- or From Cipanas turn east at the corner near hotel Cipaganti, and when you reach the Garut-Leles road turn north.
- At Leles town square, find a sign to Candi Cangkuang pointing East. It is 3 km along this road to the site.
You may drive on until the parking and cross the lake by raft to reach the temple (Rp 3.000 p.p./person, or charter around Rp. 50.000,-). However, the temple is not really situated on an island, it is just a peninsula. So you may also park near the lotus pond some 200 m before the parking, and take the path along the pond to the right. At the end of the earthen path you reach a concrete paved path. Follow this left through Kampung Pulo to the temple. The kampung and the temple are adjacent.

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