17 Notable Architectures to Explore in Indonesia

Ceto is a fifteenth-century Javanese-Hindu temple that is located on the western slope of Mount Lawu on the border between Central and East Java provinces.

Gedong Songo was erected out of volcanic stone and the two complexes represent the oldest Hindu structures in Java. The temples of Gedong Songo reflect a similar architectural structure to those on the Dieng Plateau, though they have less variation in form than them. Gedong Songo displays more emphasis on plinth and cornice moldings.

The Great Mosque of Central Java is a mosque in the city of Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. The architectural style of the mosque is believed as a mix of Javanese and Greece styles. Also, the mosque has a unique giant hydraulic umbrella that can open and close automatically.

It is the largest mosque in West Sumatra and the second largest mosque in Sumatra. It is located in Padang Utara Subdistrict, Padang, West Sumatra. The main building consists of three floors. The main prayer hall is located on the second floor. The mosque is able to accommodate 20,000 people.

Pagaruyung Palace is the palace of the former Pagaruyung Kingdom. The original Pagaruyung palace was built entirely from timber masonry, however, the current building frame was built using modern concrete structure.

Jam Gadang is located in central Bukittinggi, a city in the Minangkabau Highlands of West Sumatra. The structure was built in 1926, during the Dutch colonial era, as a gift from Queen Wilhelmina to the city's controller. It was designed by architects Yazid Abidin and Sutan Gigi Ameh.

Janjang Koto Gadang is located in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Janjang Koto Gadang is one of the new destinations in Indonesia which is similar to China Grea Wall. Janjang Koto Gadang connects Bukittinggi and Agam district with a length of approximately 1 km.

Kalasan, also known as Candi Kalibening, is an 8th-century Buddhist temple in Java, Indonesia. It is located 13 km east of Yogyakarta on the way to Prambanan temple, on the south side of the main road Jalan Solo between Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Administratively, it is located in the Kalasan District of Sleman Regency. It is one of the architectural wonder and a famous tourist attraction in Indonesia.

Lawang Sewu was built by the Dutch between the years 1904 and 1907 and functioned as the head office for The Dutch East Indies Railway Company until 1942. The colonial-era building is famous as a haunted house and filming location, though the Semarang city government has attempted to rebrand it.

Located a little over 3 km from Borobudur, it is home to an exquisitely carved 3-meter high statue of Buddha. Mendut Buddhist temple Built around early ninth century AD, Mendut is the oldest of the three temples including Pawon and Borobudur. The Karangtengah inscription, the temple was built and finished during the reign of King Indra of the Sailendra dynasty.

The Adityawarman Museum (State Museum of West Sumatra) houses historic and cultural objects found in the province of West Sumatra, especially those related to the culture and history of Minangkabau and Mentawai. The most notable collection in the Adityawarman Museum are relics from the time of the 11th-century Malay-Buddhist kingdom of Dharmasraya.

Balla Lompoa Museum is a reconstruction of the royal palace of Gowa, which was established during the reign of the 31st King of Gowa in 1936. The historical objects are displayed based on the general function of each room in the museum building.

Pawon is a Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia. The temple was built during the Sailendra dynasty. Pawon literally means "kitchen" in the Javanese language, which is derived from the root word awu or dust.

Plaosan temple was built in the mid 9th century by Sri Kahulunnan or Pramodhawardhani, the daughter of Samaratungga, descendant of Sailendra Dynasty. The temple is an ancient building compound comprising of two building complexes, Plaosan Lor Temple complex and Plaosan Kidul Temple complex.

Ratu Boko or Ratu Boko Palace is an archaeological site in Java. Ratu Boko is located on a plateau, about three kilometres south of Lara Jonggrang Prambanan temple complex in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The original name of this site is still unclear, however the local inhabitants named this site after King Boko, the legendary king mentioned in Loro Jonggrang folklore. In Javanese, Ratu Baka means "Stork King".

The monument marks the division between the northern and southern hemispheres. Twice a year, the shadowless sunlight occurs here, as the sun reaches its zenith on the Vernal Equinox (March 21st-23rd), and the Autumnal Equinox (September 21st-23rd).

Trowulan is an archaeological site in Trowulan Subdistrict, in the Indonesian province of East Java. It includes approximately 100 sq kms and has been theorized to be the site of the eponymous capital city of the Majapahit Empire, When it was the capital of the Majapahit Empire, the city was known as Wilwatikta, which is a name also synonymous with the empire's name. It was razed during the invasion of Girindrawardhana to defeat Kertabhumi in 1478. The Trowulan Museum includes a collection of ar