Blitar Things to Do Tips by RoyJava

PANATARAN Hindu Temples

See the largest and most imposing complex of ruins in East-Java, situated on the South Western slope of Kelud Volcano, about 12 km from Blitar. It is the beautiful Panataran/Penataran Temple, a huge complex famous for Singosari Kingdom rituals and ceremonies around 1197 (building took about 250 years!). The Majapahit Kingdom was related with this kingdom.

Around the base of the first level platform, which would once have been a meeting place, the comic-strip carvings tell the story of a test between the fat meat-eating Bubukshah and the thin vegetarian Gagang Aking. Temple reliefs show the transformation from 3-dimensional to 2-dimensional representations ... figures tend to take second place to the phantastic decorations.

If you do love archaeology and history the Panataran Hindu Temples you cannot miss!

Address: Desa Panataran, Panataran, East-Java

Directions: From Blitar head for Nglegok village, and Desa Panataran

Website: http://%bhttp://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c3af/1285cc/4/

MAKAM BUNG KARNO

Actually the Sukarno Mausoleum lies in Bendogerit near Sentul, a few km outside Blitar on the road to Panataran. The very first President of Indonesia, coming from originally Javanese people, is looked on by them as the "Father of his country". As leader of Indonesia from 1949 to 1965, he had been worshipped by the Javanese (almost a God), but with Soehartos regime he was no more less than a figurehead.

Sukarno was given a state funeral but, even at family requests to bury him at hometown of Bogor, West-Java, the hero of Indonesian independence was buried in an unmarked grave next to his mother in Blitar. It was only in 1978 that the lavish million-dollar monument was built over the grave and opened to Indonesian pelgrims. The site is also called "Makam Proklomator", or "the Grave of Indonesian's Independence".

Maybe in future the grave will be moved to West-Java (Batutulis, Bogor West Java), according to Megawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of Indonesia's first president ...
... (to be continued)

Address: Sukarno's Grave, Bendogerit, East-Java

Directions: Way to the Panataran complex, Bendogerit near Sentul

Website: http://%bhttp://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c3af/12a6f9/