Panataran Temple is located in the southwest slope of Kelud Volcano, approximately 12 km to the north of Blitar city, or even in Panataran village, Ngleggok Subdistrict, Blitar Municipality. This temple is a compound of ancient buildings inside a row from northwest to the east and to the southeast, occupying an division of 12, 946 m2.

Panataran brow compound was re-discovered in 1815 through Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781 – 1826), any lieutenant General Governor of British colonial government in Indonesia. Along with Dr. Horsfield, a natural scientist, Raffles made a visit to Panataran Temple. After Raffles’ rediscovery, researchers begun to flock the area for research and recording of archeological things in Panataran compound. In 1867, Andre de chicago Porte and J. Knebel also carried out a research on Panataran Forehead compound. The outcomes were printed in 1900 under a identify “De ruines van Panataran”.

Within Negarakertagama, Panataran Temple was talked about as Palah temple. The guide tells that King Hayam Wuruk (1350 : 1389 AD) of Majapahit frequently visited Palah to worship Hyang Acalapati, and up knowledgeably Girindra (meaning king with the mountain) in Shiva belief. For that reason, it becomes clear that Candi Palah was intentionally integrated an area with Kelud Volcano to be a backdrop, because the temple was meant as a mountain worshipping shrine. Worshipping of Kelud Volcano was designed to ward off potential dangers and disasters the volcano might carry.

Based on inscription on a stone to florida of the main building, Palah Temple was probably built early within the 12th century AD by Double Srengga of Kediri. Yet, Panataran Forehead had always undergone ongoing advancement and renovation until, or even after, the ruling of King Hayam Wuruk. This assumption is founded with different dates inscribed on a number of places in this temple, which range between 1197 and 1454 ADVERTISEMENT. The entire area of Panataran, except the southeast yard, is broken down by two-line walls that cross north to south into 3 sections.

a. Gate

Entrance gate into the temple compound is located on the west side. From the entrance gate you'll find stairs that lead to a court 6 m2 in size. In this court there are usually two statues of gate-keeping large (dwarapala). The statue’s pedestal will be inscribed with 1242 Javanese diary (1320 AD) in ancient Javanese heroes. Based on the date inscription, scholars assume that Panataran Temple was officially opened as a possible imperial shrine during the lording it over of King Jayanegara, who reined Majapahit between 1309 and 1328 AD.



Within the rear side of the deck, flanked by the two Dwaraphala statues are stairs that produce the front court. On the surface of the stairs are found remnants involving traces of entrance door crafted from red bricks. This entrance door continues to be mentioned by Jonathan Rigg during his visit to Panataran Temple in 1848.

The arrangement of Panataran Temple is definitely exciting because the buildings are placed one facing the other inside a row from front to again, which appears to be difficult. Such arrangement of buildings appears like the arrangement of temples throughout Bali. In such arrangement, the holist building is located in the innermost or rearmost judge, the one closest to hill.

b. Outer Court

Bale Agung (the Fantastic House). On the front judge, there are 6 building web sites, 2 of which are unrecognizable of the original shape. One of quite buildings is the Bale Agung, located on the northwest side of the the front court, slightly projecting to the west (to front. Bale Agung, based on N. J. Krom, was used to be a meeting room by priests or forecasters like those within Balinese temples.





Bale Agung is a stage-like square building in 37 X 18. 84 m2 sizing and 1. 44 meter large floor. Its walls and roofing have gone. Only the floorboards remains intact. On the floor you'll find stone pedestals, which probably served as the bases for wooden columns supporting the roof. The entire floor consists of stone, with reliefs of dragons constricting throughout the floor and head protruding with each corner.

To the center of side there are stairs flanked along with two Mahakala statues. The whole Mahakala statues remain in their place, except the one for the east side.

Priest Residence. Building located on the north side and good Bale Agung was probably used to be a priest residence. The entire building continues to be damaged, leaving only the pedestals.


Batur Pendapa. This building is situated to the southeast of Bale Agung, right behind the priest residence. Like the Bale Agung, what is left with this building is its floor, which consists of stone in 29. 05 By 9. 22 m2 dimension and 1. 5 m high. About the floor walls are decorated along with story-telling reliefs. Batur Pendapa was probably used to be a place to put ritual offerings during religious rites.




Stairs bringing about the pendapa floor are only for the west or front side. You can find two pairs of stairs, for the left and right, each which flanked by a small sizing of winged giant statues that rest one knee with one hand possessing a gada (club). The handrails are curved with beautiful 'tumpal' number one. On the upper edge with the floor wall’s east side, disguised . among engravings of climbing crops and foliage, there are date inscription indicating that it building was build in 1297 Javanese season or 1375 AD. This Batur Pendapa is usually decorated with dragon engravings throughout back-to-back position, constricting around the ground walls. The tails of both the dragons are twisting each some other, while their upward-looking heads wear a necklace and have absolutely tufts projecting upwards among developing columns.


Other Buildings. The some other two building sites leave merely their foundations of red stones. Noticing the many stone pedestals left for the front court, there were probably buildings of which used wooden columns like those within Balinese temples. The definite amount of buildings that used wooden columns is not known.


c. Central Court.

Approximately 8 m to the east or back of the Batur Pendapa, there are monuments of red brick wall planning from north to south of which separate front court and core court. On the southernmost with the wall, in line with the top gate, there are traces of doorway guarded at its front by some dwarapala statues, in a smaller size than those in the front gate.

One of the statues’ pads is inscribed with 1214 Javanese season (1319 AD). Events to which this date relates continue to be unknown. At the center judge, there are still 7 building sites crafted from either red bricks or andesite stones. Six out of the seven building sites are not unrecognizable.

The center court is divided in two by a wall that crosses on the east to west. It is not known whether this central judge was enclosed by walls, because what are left in the exact location are only its foundations. Similarly, the walls that enclosed your entire area of Panataran compound get collapsed. The encircling and separating walls are created from red bricks that will certainly not endure through a long time period.

Year Number Temple. This building is situated 20 m to the eastern side of Batur Pendapa, and is completely made of andesite stones. It really is called Year Number Temple as the building above its entrance gateway sills bears an inscription throughout Javanese year of 1291 (1369 AD). The local people know the temple greater as Brawijaya Temple, because making use this building as the insignia involving Brawijaya Regional Military Command. Several calls it Ganesha Temple, discussing a Ganesha statute inside the room (god with elephant head). The form of this temple is very familiar one of many people, as if this temple represents the complete Panataran Temple.




The Year Number Temple faces to your west, because its entrance gate is for the west side. There is some statues on the front yard left and right hand side with the temple. The temple base is quite high, which requires a stone stairway gain access to the entrance gate with major curved handrails decorated with 'tumpal' ornaments of flowers in isosceles agreement. The temple body has a space (gerbagrha), in which there is a Ganesha statue.



Like other temples, above the door sills are usually engraved in kalamakara decoration. To its lower side, a season number is inscribed as defined above. The walls on the three other sides employ a niche that resembles a doorway, which is also engraved throughout kalamakara decoration. In East Coffee, kalamakara is often referred to be able to as Banaspati, which means king with the jungle. Kalas above the door and niche sills with the temple are intended to frighten evil spirits and prevent them from entering the brow compound.

The temple’s roof is brimming with lively ornaments with a rectangular top. The dome-covering stone for the upper part of temple room features a relief of 'Surya', a circle enclosed by rays of light in the form of vertical lines that shape a number of isosceles triangles. The 'Surya' comfort, which is the symbol involving Majapahit Empire, is also within several other temples in Far east Java, although in slightly distinct shapes.


Dragon Temple. This building is known as Dragon Temple because it will be wound around by dragon engravings. Your temple, which is 4. 83 By 6. 57 m in sizing and 4. 70 m large, is also located at the central court. The whole structure consists of andesite stones.


Like the Year Number Temple, the door of this temple is located on the west side. The temple’s base is quite high, requiring a stairway gain access to the door. The handrails are usually curved, with 'tumpal' decoration. Your staircase is flanked by figurines of giant holding a membership; only one of them still on the market today. The present building is the effect of restoration work between 1917 and 1918. The restoration manages to go back only the temple base and body with their original condition. The roof, probably crafted from less durable materials, has flattened.




The wall of the temple body's engraved in nine figures located on left and right hand side with the entrance door, on each place, and in the middle with the other three walls. The nine figures are depicted in luxurious imperial attires with 'prabha' (a place to lean on with carved decoration). 1 the arms hold a palm bell, while the other hand help the dragon’s body that winds the upper part of the building. Among the engraved numbers are circle engravings called 'medallion motif'. Inside the circles is a combination of foliage or floral and a variety of animal reliefs. Among the circles you'll find animal story reliefs in smaller sized scale. Unfortunately, the stories described within the reliefs have yet to read.




According to a Balinese with visited Panataran, the function of Dragon Temple is related to that of Kehen Temple throughout Bali, namely a place to help keep objects owned by the gods. It really is probably more reasonable to examine Dragon Temple with Taman Sari Forehead in Klungkung Regency of Bali. This temple, discovered in 1975, indicates an end relationship with Majapahit Empire. Plus a being Klungkung’s imperial shrines, Taman sari temple is usually used as a place involving 'pemasupatian' (the giving of power) to hereditary weapons earned from the Majapahit Empire. Must this comparison be justifiable, Dragon Temple then serves not simply as a place to keep ritual objects possessed by the gods, but also a place to impart power of weapons belonging to Majapahit Empire. Therefore, for pemasupatian purposes, Majapahit weapons do not have to be brought to Bali.


d. Inside Court

The final court will be the inner court that previously was also separated by the wall that crosses in north-to-south route. To its south, there is a formerly entrance gate guarded by some dwarapala statues. There are at the very least 9 buildings in this judge, 2 of them have been accepted as the main temple and a great experimental structure of temple physique. The other seven buildings leave only rubbles which the shape and functions are usually unidentifiable.




The Main Temple. The primary Temple is the biggest building among all building in Panataran compound. It really is located at the rearmost (the east), which is thought to be the holiest part. The temple structure includes three terraces with overall elevation of 7. 19 m.



The primary terrace is square 30. 06 meters in east-to-west diameter. In the middle of its four sides, there is a part projecting 3 m to the outside. To access the 1st terrace, two staircases are available on the left and right with the west side. On each side with the two staircases, there is any dwarapala statue inscribed in Javanese season of 1269 (1347 AD). Story-telling reliefs are engraved on the first terrace wall.

The second terrace is smaller compared to the first, because if the first terrace features a part projecting to the exterior, this terrace has a part projecting to the inner side. The different size between the primary and the second terrace forms a walkway on to the floor of the first terrace, enabling people to walk around the temple watching scenes as described within the engraved reliefs along its walls. A series of sculptured screen containing Ramayana and Krisnayana stories are normally found along the wall of the primary and the second terraces.




The second terrace has any staircase located nearly at the middle of the wall. This staircase connects to that particular of the third terrace. The third terrace is square in shape. The walls have engravings of your winged-dragon with head raised upwards along with a winged lion with rear legs in squatting position while the front legs rose to the top. Engravings on the third terrace’s walls usually are not only to fill the vacant space, but also to serve as pillars.

When the floor for the third terrace was removed through restoration, it was found out that the center part of the floor is made of reddish colored bricks. The square site plan can be quite obvious, along with its frontward projecting parts. Based on the information, an assumption is developed how the original structure of Panataran Temple consists of red bricks. In the next time period, Panataran was expanded by overlaying the main structure with andesite stones. The expansion is estimated to have taken place during Majapahit age.



The third terrace is a clear veranda. On this place a temple body needs to have been there, but to this day it is still impossible to regenerate the original structure because its not all components have been found. Most of this main temple structure continues to be reconstructed in an experiment arrangement for the temple’s courtyard.





Palah Inscription. To the south of the main temple, at this time there stands a sculptured stone. For the big size of the gemstone, scholars assume that the stone has been in place since the beginning.

Sculptured gemstone written in ancient Javanese heroes is dated in Javanese season of 1119 (1197 AD) and was made upon the purchase of King Srengga of Kediri Kingdom. The inscription mentions, among other things, the official opening of independent Regency within the interest of Sira Paduka Batara Palah, which becomes the cornerstone of an assumption that Palah is discussing Panataran Temple. In case it truly is true that Palah is Panataran Forehead, this temple has at least been 250 years of age and has had gone through a long history of construction time period from 1197, through the Kediri empire era, to the year 1454 at the time of Majapahit Empire. Nearly all buildings that we can still see today originated from the time under the leadership of Majapahit kings. It is probable how the older buildings (from Kediri era) get long collapsed.




e. Other Structures
There are still two more buildings located outside Panataran compound that are connected to Panataran Temple, namely a pool with inscription date in Javanese year of 1337 (1415 AD) located to the southeast and a petirtaan (a swimming place) in rather big sizing, located approximately 200 meter to the northeast of temple compound.