The sprawling archipelago of Indonesia has more than 17,000 islands, 300 ethnicities, and countless idyllic landscapes, making it ever-intriguing to explore.
From majestic mountains to glorious temples, there are beautiful places in the country, one of them is Dieng Plateau.
Perched at 2,000m (6,562ft) above sea level, Dieng Plateau is one of the coolest destinations in Indonesia and not just weather-wise. Other than the sweeping mountain view of jungles and distant villages, this highland also has a multi-colored lake, a hot spring, and ancient Hindu temples.
Once a year, tourists flock to the spot for a much-anticipated festival that includes traditional rituals, performances, and jazz above the clouds.
This plateau is particularly famous among the archaeological world as the place where the oldest Hindu Temples in Java were discovered. The name ‘Dieng’ comes from Di-Hyang (above of the Gods), and it is thought that this was once the site of a temple-city of priests.
Today, this site is a must-visit for archaeological enthusiasts and those that want to explore Central java beyond the regular Yogyakarta and Solo.
To appreciate Dieng, it’s best to stay in Dieng village, although Wonosobo has better facilities and more popular as the main gateway. Alternately, many Yogyakarta travel companies also offer tours to Dieng.
It has been said that there were originally stood over 400 temples, built between the 8th and 9th century but now only 8 remains.
Clustered together on the central plain is the Arjuna Complex consists of Shiva temples, which like other Dieng temples, have been named after the heroes of the wayang stories of the Mahabharata Epic – Arjuna, Puntadewa, Srikandi, Sembrada, and Semar.
These temples are linked by raised walkways because most of this land is waterlogged, but you can see the remains of ancient underground tunnels which once drained the flatlands.
Located further south are the Candi Gatutkaca, Candi Bima, Candi Dwarawati.
