Candi Sukuh Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Candi Sukuh is located about 910 meters above sea level at the western slope of Lawu Mountain in Central Java.
Build around 1437 its style and shape differs completely from other Javanese temples build in the same era, but because of lack of written testimony the exact whereabouts are not clear at all.
Because of a number of Hindu inspired stone relief’s and statues related to fertility and the Lingam / Yoni cult it is sometimes also titled as the „Erotic Temple“.
Candi Sukuh makes a nice day trip from Solo, and when already there consider to also visit Candi Cetoh which is nearby.
The temple itself, which is from the time when Java was still predominantly Hindu, has more a pyramid; Maya like look then something you would expect in Java. The relief’s are very impressing, rich in symbolism, Hindu and Javanese mythology. Take your time to look at them, you will see a Ganesh in a dancing position (the elephant headed Ganesh being venerated as the remover of obstacles), several pictures of Garuda, a female womb with figures in it (like before birth).
There are also 3 big flat stone turtles, their heads facing to the west, which probably where used as sacrifice and offering platforms. In Hindu mythology, the tortoise symbolizes the base or support of the world and is also an avatar of Vishnu.
When the temple was “rediscovered” in 1815, during the times of Thomas Raffles, it was in a very bad condition with many of the statues thrown down and most of the figures decapitated. This vandalism was probably a result of Java being conquered by the Islam religion during the 16th century.
The view from the temple over the landscape is very nice and the temperature, being over 900 meters above sea level, is pleasant and cool.
Cache container is a petaling, please bring your own pen
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
ernpu qrrc vafvqr gur ubyybj gerr hagvy lbh sryy gur raq bs n jver
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