Candi Gedong Songo - Agastya, a legendary missionary of God Shiva

Candi Gedong Songo (Nine buildings) is a group of small  Hindu Javanese Temples from 7th century. These Silent, Peaceful, and Mysterious Temples are magnificent example of Cultural Heritage of Hindu's Temples in Indonesia. Candi Gedong Songo  is  located in the Candi village, Bandungan district, Semarang regency, Central Java, Indonesia , on the slopes of Mount Ungaran. These temples  were  first discovered by Mr. Raffles in 1804.

Gedong Songo is one of the most beautifully sited Temple Complexes in Central Java. Gedong  Songo ('Nine Buildings') belongs to the earliest antiquities of Java .  These Temple creates  a splendid view from the higher parts of the mountains . At 900 meters elevation, this is perhaps the most breathtaking archaeological site in Java. The location was chosen with great care for its magnificent views over north-central Java, encompassing Mount Ungaran (2050 meters), Lake Rawapening, Mount Merbabu (3142 meters), and hazy Mount Merapi (2914 meters).

These ancient  Candi (Temples) were originally  built between 730 and 780 A.D. by  Hindu "Sanjaya Dynastic line"  which controlled Central Java during the 8th and 9th Centuries. The Sanjaya  Dynasty were most likely also responsible for building the Sanctuaries of  Dieng ,  more famous Mountain Complex to the west . Gedong Songo predate Borobudur and Prambanan Temples.

Gedong Songo  is not the original name  of these Temples and also does not imply at the number of structures. The number Nine has a special meaning in the Javanese culture and has  a strong attachment to the numbers. The Temples are located at the same distance from each other (100 meters, 200 meters) on a naturally formed terrace edge of a mountain.

Larger Shiva Temple, Gedong Songo III

The South Niche is occupied by Maharishi Agastya, a Legendary missionary of Lord Shiva in India who eventually been regarded as an Avatar of the god himself. The "Potbellied and Bearded Guru" has been shown here  on a "Lotus Throne". His arms and the attributes  are broken , but a clear outline of Shiva's trident is visible at the statue's  left side.

Starting only 30 meters from the parking lot, a 2427-meter-long walking path connects all five complexes of Gedong Songo. The steep trail track  , through well-tended gardens of papaya, bananas, potatoes, tobacco, cabbages, beans, grapes, tomatoes, and corn ,  takes you  to the  high mountains and volcanoes , looming in the far distance with cloud-scudding Temples above.