Mendut Temple in Mungkid Sub-District, Central Java Province

Located near to the border between Magelang and Yogyakarta City, Mendut Temple has been attracting tourists over time. It gives an interesting history to visitors and becomes a great place to conduct photography and sightseeing. Also, it has a strategic location that makes many tourists drop by before continuing their trip. This Buddhist temple, as the name suggests, is located in Mendut Village and it belongs to Mungkid Sub-District. Tourists only need to get to Mayor Kusen Street where the temple is located. For the information, it is also located near to the famous Borobudur Temple, which has the distance only 3 km.

The Nuance
Mendut Temple resides on 3.7 meters above the sea level. As for the nuance, it is indeed peaceful and comfy. The clean and neat environment makes it more comfortable to explore! It has a rectangular shape and several levels. Not to mention the temple features bunches of small stupa. In terms of age, it is older than Borobudur and Pawon Temple! The next noticeable feature is the wall relief that tells about several stories, especially animals and Brahmana. Once getting near to the temple, tourists would smell incenses as well. Three big statues also welcome them inside the chamber. They are Bodhisatva Vajrapani, Avalokitesvara, and Cakyamuni.

Exploring Mendut Temple
The most common reason for visiting Mendut Temple is definitely to see majestic statues directly. Tourists also take photos of those statues during the visit. For first-timers, it is recommended to hire a local guide too! This service may tell them about the history of the temple, after all. It is said the temple was built during the reign of King Indra. It was during Syailendra Dynasty.

After exploring the temple and hearing the history, tourists can also enjoy the serene nuance of the site. Thanks to the presence of lotus pond. The atmosphere becomes soother due to such beautiful ornament. Plus, the presence of lots of trees and plants that surround the site gives a shady ambiance to the location. The best thing is the temple feels so serene especially during regular days. If tourists come during a special religious event, though, they may feel the merriment due to an increasing number of visitors.

The next recommended thing to do in Mendut Temple is to visit the souvenir kiosks that reside in that area. That means tourists can buy some good items as a gift before going home. As an alternative, they must visit the temple in the evening when chanting ritual is done. At the time, some soothing music and songs would entertain visitors too! The good thing is everyone is allowed to join the ceremony regardless of the religion.

Nearby Attractions

• De Borobudur Rafting / Elo River
• Ayam Church
• Paren Island

How to Get There
For those coming outside the region, it is recommended to take an airplane in order to reach Yogyakarta City. From Jakarta City, in this case, a flight from Soekarno – Hatta International Airport to Adisucipto International Airport would take around 1 hour and 10 minutes. It can be faster or slower depending on the weather, though. After arriving at the destination, tourists must find a good transportation service and take Magelang – Yogyakarta Street. Their destination is indeed Mungkid Sub-District where the temple resides. The distance is 41.4 km, so the trip may take around 51 minutes.

Where to Stay

• The Joglo Family Homestay
• De Borobudur Hotel
• Amata Resort