Cangkuang temple located in the middle of a Situ (Lake) experienced in Kampung Pulo, Cangkuang region, Leles Subdistrict, Garut, West Java. Place 600 meters high above sea level which surrounded by mountains, namely Mt Haruman, Kadaleman Sand, Sand Bluebird, Guntur, Malang, Mandalawangi, and Kaledong.
Hindu heritage temple in the 8th century, is situated in the middle of the lake so it looks unique. This temple is also the first discovered and is the only Hindu temple in the land of Sunda. Communities around the temple called Candi Cangkuang. The name is taken from the grove Cangkuang (Pandanus furcatus), which thrives in the temple area in ancient times.
Cangkuang temple was first discovered in December 1966 by Uka Tjandrasasmita (Writing Team History of West Java) based on the report Vorderman (1893) about the remains of a statue of Siva and ancestral graves in the area of Muhammad Arif Cangkuang.
Besides the temple, the research team also found a number of artifacts at the site of the temple from four days of culture, the Neolithic, megalithic, Hinduism, and Islam. In Pelita II of 1974 to 1977, reconstruction of the temple can be completed. Cangkuang temple building form is very simple, which is made of andesite stone without any relief. 8.5 meters high temple (m) foot building with an area of 4.5 mx 4.5 m. This temple has a booth with the door facing east.
Inside the temple there is a statue of Shiva as high as 62 cm. Although his condition is still not good but it can abort a growing public opinion all along that in West Java, there is no temple. And most people know the city of Garut, West Java, limited production of snacks “lunkhead”. Cangkuang temple located in the middle of a situ (lake) experienced in Kampung Pulo, Cangkuang region, Leles Subdistrict, Garut, West Java.
This place is a valley with an altitude of 600 meters above sea level surrounded by mountains, namely Mt Haruman, Kadaleman Sand, Sand Bluebird, Guntur, Malang, Mandalawangi, and Kaledong. From Garut city center, this place is about 17 km. Not far from the square (center field), from the Bandung to Tasikmalaya, on the street is a green board also reads directions Cangkuang temple, complete with arrows mark the direction.
Together with my friend, Mono, immediately turned the car to the left. At the mouth of the street there is the usual line drawn buggy horse, we had to slow the vehicle because the road was too wide right. Exciting journey, in the left and right as far as the eye could see was treated to a green landscape of rice in the rice fields.
But do not fall asleep, remain cautious because the asphalt road that sometimes perforated. Approximately already covered 13 km, we see the fork in the road, then according to our directions are not entirely lead. “Excuse me, sir, if you want to Temple Cangkuang straight or right,” I said to a father who was caring for his rice field.
The father of one, kindly indicate the direction of our destination. So, no need to worry either way because the people there very friendly and will show the direction of our goals. We also had stopped at a small field where a little high and we can see Cangkuang temple complex in the middle of the lake from above.
After that, we continue the journey while searching for a place that allows for parking of vehicles. Approximately 2 km we found rather large area and we Leave while on the local population. Then, go back on foot along the lake.
In the surrounding areas of the lake, we saw the houses distinctive and locals who were fishing with nets or lines. After about walk the 1 km, we’ll see a bamboo house, no other place Cangkuang Temple tour manager, and window lease payments plus the raft went to cross the lake.
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
