Gedong Songo

Central Java

The Gedong Songo ("Nine Temples," a misnomer) group nestles among the terraced hillsides and sulfur springs of Central Java, surrounded by active volcanoes and accessed by a modern path; they are Shaiva, face west, and mostly date from 730 - 780 AD. Five groups of temples have been restored and are visitable today (following pages). The restoration took place in two phases: the 1920s-1930s, and then the 1970s-1980s.

This photo looks northwest. One of the temples is barely visible at the top center of the terrace, while a string of red and blue agricultural sheds punctuates the landscape at the upper right.