Gedong Songo Temple

Gedongsongo Temple at the foot of Mount Kendalisada which is located near Mount Ungaran and built in the 8th century AD. Gedongsongo name given by locals to the temple complex. Gedongsongo derived from the Javanese, "Gedong" means house or building, "Songo" means nine. So the meaning of the word Gedongsongo is nine (groups of) buildings.

 Gedongsongo temple complex built from the bottom row up to the top of the hills at Mount Ungaran. This shows the character of a very specific Gedongsongo Temple is a blend of two religions that are local and global.

Mount is the altar of the ancestral spirits. This belief is a pre-Hindu traditions of local communities. While the mountain is also the residence of the gods according to Hindu tradition, who was growing globally affect nearly half the world. Local traditions are usually reduced role by global traditions, was both able to stand equal in Gedongsongo.

To go to Gedong I, we have to walk 200 meters through a path that rises. You can use a horse transport service for day trips around attractions Gedongsongo Temple.

In Gedongsongo Temple Complex, the foot of the temple can be recognized through a profile that consists of hand bells and a straight seam. On the outside of the body of the temple there are niches that once contained statues Parswadewata, but now mostly in empty condition, so the first temple which contains the linga-yoni and recesses in the chamber. Niche of the outside of the body decorated with floral motifs and sometimes there is an ornament of Scorpion.

Parswadewata in Java is interpreted as offerings to ancestral spirits who have been united with Shiva and the temple symbolized by the Linga-Yoni who escorted god accompaniment namely: Durga (the wife of Shiva), Ganesha (son of Shiva), and Agastya (a sage who has the spiritual ability equivalent to god).

The roof of a three-story temple is decorated with miniature temples and antefix either plain or decorated. Plan of the temple is almost entirely a square but there is also a temple with a rectangular floor plan, temple size is highly variable, its width ranges from 4.5 m -9.5 m, length 4.8 m - 9m with a different height from 3m - 8.9 m.

Gedong I

Located at an altitude of 1208 meters above sea level, there is a temple, facing west, inside the chamber can still be found yoni but lingganya gone.

Gedong II

Located at an altitude of 1274 meters above sea level, there are two buildings namely Main Temple (facing west) and there is an ancillary temples dihadapnya (facing east) which has collapsed.

Gedong III

Located at an altitude of 1297 masl, consists of three buildings of the temple faces west, enclose the temple in the north, and ancillary temple in front of the main temple. Statue at the main temple niches can still be found in the recesses of the north that is Durga, Agastya in the recesses of the south, Ganesha in the east niche, and Mahakala and Nandiswara there on either side of the temple door. Ancillary temples has a shape similar to Candi Semar at Dieng Temple Complex, which is rectangular.

Gedong IV

Located at an altitude of 1295 masl, consists of 12 buildings divided into three sub-groups. The first subgroup consists of the Temple Master and eight ancillary temples; second subgroup consists of an ancillary temples, and the third subgroup consists of two ancillary temples. Mother Temple of the outside of buildings there except empty niches on the south side niches there are statues of Agastya.

Gedong V

Located at an altitude of 1308 meters above sea level, there are two pages that are not as high, on the first page there is a Master temple ruins of the temple is flanked by two ancillary. While on the second page there are two of the ruins of the temple Perwara

On the sidelines between Gedong III with IV Gedong there is a mountain kepunden as hot springs. The tourists can take a bath and warm bath disebuah kepunden built near them. The smell of sulfur is strong enough and the cloud of smoke was pretty thick when close to the hot springs.

According to the story surrounding people, supposedly the source of hot water is guarded by a creature named Nyai Gayatri, ghost of a woman from the island resort. Nyai Gayatri is one of the ladies of King Sima. After death, spirits inhabit Gayatri Nyai this spring. Nyai Gayatri is someone who likes helping others. Until died too, Nyai Gayatri still like to help. One way is to help cure diseases for people who bathe in these springs.