Candi Sari

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Origins

Located to the West of Prambanan on the North of the main road between Yogya and Klaten/Surakarta. Coming from Yogya, it is after Candi Sambisari [also on the North], and immediately after Candi Kalasan located on the South side of this same road.

Mahayana Buddhist, built around 835. Culturally closely linked to Kalasan, which is located slightly further West on the South side of the same road

Description of architecture

Candi Sari is a two-storey building, and looks like a stone version of a wooden model that is often depicted on temple walls (eg. Borobudur). Each level has three cella. The second storey was reached by a wooden staircase and the first step in stone is still there Two aligned rows of three stupa crown the roof. Here Candi Sari differs from Plaosan, one of the only other two-storey candi found on Central Java.

Description of reliefs

Of interest are the horse reliefs, that resemble those seen on a drum from Sumatra that must have been imported at the time of the Dong-Son civilisation. 

Rediscovery and restoration

The temple was in poor condition at the start of the 20th C, and first preparations for restoration were made in 1918. In 1924 the first preventive maintenance was done. Under De Haan and Van Coolwijk full scale restoration was undertaken between 1929-30. This work focussed on consolidation - preserving what was there - and limited reconstruction of the crown.

Mounted: 6-Jan-06กก

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