Gatot Kaca Temple

Gatotkaca Temple
On the Dieng plateau has natural resources and tourist spots that invite many tourists. Ranging from green hills, beautiful active craters, beautiful citizen plantations, fresh produce, and historical sites in the form of ancient temples that were once glorious, and that can be seen from several temple locations on this plateau. there is Bima Temple, Pandawa Lima Temple Group, Dwarawati Temple Group and Gatotkaca Temple Group. These temples are a Hindu temple with a Shiva root, which is thought to have been built between the end of the 8th century and the early 9th century, and is thought to be the oldest temple on the island of Java.
Location of the Gatotkaca Temple

The Gatotkaca Temple in the Dieng Plateau, in the Banjarnegara Regency area, Central Java Province. This temple is located on the west side of the Arjuna Temple Complex, connected by a 1.5 meter wide trail that rises approximately 300 m, on the edge of the road towards the Bima Temple, opposite Dieng Kailasa Museum. The Gatotkaca name itself is given by residents by taking the name of the puppet character from the Mahabarata story.

At the beginning the Gatotkaca Group also consisted of 5 temples, namely the Gatotkaca Temple, Setyaki Temple, Nakula Temple, Sadewa Temple, Can in Petruk and Gareng Temple, but currently only the Gatotkaca Temple can still be seen.
The other three temples only remain in ruins. It is estimated that this temple was built during the reign of Queen Sima. Formerly, under the hill where the Gatotkaca Temple was located there was a lake called Telaga Balai Kambang which was now covered by wild grass plants.
 
 
Characteristics of the Gatotkaca Temple
Gatutkaca Temple Building. Batur temples as high as about 1 m are made in two layers with a square plan. In the middle of the south, east and north there are parts that jut out, forming niches like the viewer booth. The entrance is located on the west side decorated with a typical makara, which is in the form of a giant (Kala) without a lower jaw, and equipped with a viewer booth. The stairs in Batur are protected in a viewer room inside the temple room and there are yoni and places to put candles as lights in each corner of the building.
Accommodation

The gatotkaca dieng temple complex is available in many kiosks that sell a variety of food and beverages as well as special Dieng souvenirs, there are also available toilets and prayer rooms located in the parking area and at the location of the museum, parking area for tourists, and several small parks to see the view of the Arjuna temple complex dieng from the top of the museum park, Kailasa Dieng. for admission tickets are free of charge, if visitors come from the south (Bima temple) or pass through the Kaliasa museum, while passing Jalan Setapak from the Pandawa Lima temple group are subject to an entrance ticket of Rp. 15,000