Candi Mendut

Central Java, Indonesia

The Buddhist temple of Candi Mendut is located about 3km (2 mi) east of Borobudur, and dates from the same period (c. 800 AD, reign of Sailendra Indra). Unusually, the entrance faces northwest. Like most ancient temples in Java, it was found in ruined condition by the Dutch, and later restored by anastylosis. The top of the roof is missing; it could not be recovered, due to the removal of its (presumably) scattered stones by unknown causes (human reuse? flooding?) in earlier times.

The temple's original dimensions were approximately 24m wide by 30m long (base), and perhaps also 30m (height). Its human scale can be judged by the small figures at the top of the stairs in this photo.