[caption id="attachment_36538" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Wikipedia"][/caption] Up to present, Influence from Hinduism is still rooted deep in tradition of most Indonesian ethnic cultures. Various shapes of Slametan ritual of Javanese, for example, are one of the most common Hindu tradition well preserved in present Indonesia. Especially in Java, Mountaineaous terrain, however, gives a perfect place to for early Hindu communities to preserve their culture and religion. Ancient Javanese Hindu communities mostly live troughout the southern third of East and Central Java as well as Yogyakarta, on the slopes of mountain and hilly area. Tengger people living on Tengger plateau and Mount Bromo-Semeru area is probably the most famous Hindu community on the island. In Central Java, there is a Hindu community living around an ancient temple in Karanganyar. They call it Candi Sukuh. Sitting on the altitude of 910 m asl to the slope of Mount Lawu, Sukuh Temple was evidently the last Hindu temple built during Indonesian Hindu age. It is situated not far from the border of East and Central Java on present Mberjo village of Ngargoyoso subdistrict, Karanganyar regency, Central Java. Sukuh was first discovered by a British Resident for the area in 1815 when Java was under Sir Thomas Raffles. Its discovery attracted archaeologist from all over the world. In 1842, Van der Vlis, a Dutch archaeologist, made the first scientific study on Sukuh Temple. His report was published on a book entitled Prove Eener Beschrijten op Soekoeh en Tjeto. Sukuh Temple was built slightly before of the fall of Majapahit from the flourish of newer, Islam belief throughout Java and Indonesia. Archaeologists argued that Sukuh temple is the youngest Hindu Temple in Indonesia built around fifteenth century at the end of Majapahit era. [caption id="attachment_36539" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Candi.pnri.go.id"][/caption] Sukuh is the only temple in Indonesia bearing the main structure of simple pyramid. It is a pyramid with cutaway peak and stairways similar to those of Mexican Inca. Compared to other temples from the same era, the structure is odd for its simplicity in terms of technology the culture reached at that time. Research on the discovered evidence revealed that the structure represents fertility, wealth, and natural balance. Motive on the backward material selection of andesite instead of progressive bricks, however, still remains unknown. According to archaeological study, the complex of Sukuh temple is divided into three segments based on the height of each precinct. The uppermost precinct, the third level from outside situated on the center of the complex is the most prominent part of the complex. It is the cutaway pyramid with 15x15 meter base. To its left wing lies two mythological eagle statue called Garuda. The statues are parts of the mythology telling the story of the quest of tirta amerta, The Water of Life. On the pyramid's left wall were engraved some reliefs of Kidung Sudamala myth. The story was divided into five sequences, all bearing decent and artistic relief. The location is only 36 km or about an hour driving from Solo or 20 km from the downtown of Karanganyar. Bus serving the route Solo-Tawangmangu is available in Tirtonadi Bus Station every half an hour. After entering the first gate, visitor will have to walk for another 2 kilometers to enter the temple complex. The path is full of steep grades with refreshing landscape of mountain slopes and green valley of paddy field, vegetable farm, clove plantation, and pine forest alongside it. A perfect destination for an adventurous holiday.
