Barong Temple in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region

In Prambanan Sub-District of Sleman Regency, tourists can find many attractive temples! The most famous one is indeed Prambanan Temple itself. Located in Sambirejo Village, tourists can also find Barong Temple, though. The location is on Batur Agug Hill, so it offers both rejuvenating air and beautiful panorama as well. In terms of name, “Barong” means a lion-like ornament. As the name suggests, the prime feature in the temple is none other than the ornament. Due to the uniqueness and history, many people are interested to visit the temple (even those who come outside the region).

The Nuance
As mentioned before, the temple is located on a highland so it offers a nice ambiance. The nuance feels peaceful as well due to a low number of visitors. It is because tourists need to conduct short trekking to reach the temple. As for the appearance, the temple has 3 levels of terraces and 2 temples. These temples have a similar size and they don’t come either with doors or windows. Barong ornament or carving becomes the prime feature of these temples, without a doubt.

Exploring Barong Temple
Tourists can do many things to do in Barong Temple. The most common one is photography. The temple looks different than others, after all, especially due to the presence of Barong carving. Visitors can simply take photos of the structures or take selfies in front of it! The next common thing to do is exploration. The site has several levels to explore, so tourists can explore all parts of it thoroughly. Each of the levels even comes with a distinct beauty! The highest one is considered the most sacred, so it becomes the best spot to reach during the exploration.

In terms of function, people in the past used the temple to worship Gods. The first temple is meant for worshipping Vishnu while the second temple is meant for worshipping Sri. In the second level, tourists may find a unique structure that looks similar to a “pendopo” or hall. This construction even has a wooden roof! Usually, tourists take advantage of it for resting and relaxation before exploring other parts of the site. In the first level, there is no structure at all, though.

Another thing that tourists would do in Barong Temple is to learn the history! In this case, it is recommended to come with a local guide. It is said the temple was built either during the 9th or 10th century. The original name was Suragedug Temple! In the past, Hindu people used the temple to worship their Gods, indeed. These days, it turns into a new vacation spot instead. No wonder, more people are interested to visit it when coming to Sleman Regency.

Nearby Attractions

• Ratu Boko Temple
• Prambanan Temple
• Ijo Temple
• Taman Tebing Breksi

How to Get There
The first destination is Yogyakarta City and the best way to get there is by airplane, especially for outsiders. From Jakarta City, for example, tourists should take an airplane at Soekarno – Hatta International Airport and head to Adisucipto Airport. This flight usually takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes, actually. After arriving at Yogyakarta, tourists should take Padjajaran Street and head to Sleman Regency right away. The distance is 9.9 km, so this trip would take only about 16 minutes. From Sleman, the next destination is Sambirejo Village at Prambanan Sub-District, where Barong Temple. The best route to take is Sitimulyo Segoroyo Street and the distance is 29.8 km. Well, this trip usually takes 57 minutes.

Where to Stay

• Sumberwatu Heritage
• Henny Homestay
• Jlatren Homestay
• Maqmil Homestay