Panataran Temple

Panataran Temple is located on the north Blitar is the only one of the largest complex of enshrinement in the region of East Java. Under the Antiquities Department report out 1914-1915 numbers 2045 and Verbeek record number 563, is kekunaan building consisting of several clusters, so-called Complex enshrinement. Temple building site is located in the southwestern slopes of Mount Kelud at an altitude of 450 meters asl (above sea level), the village is also named Panataran, District Nglegok, Blitar. Only about 12 kilometers from the city of Blitar or approximately half an hour away by motor vehicle. With the relatively smooth roads and wide enough to in front of the temple complex.

Stone Inscription

Panataran temple discovered in 1815, but until the year 1850 has not been known. The inventor was Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826), Lieutenant Governor-General of the ruling British colonial government in the State of Indonesia. Raffles, together with an expert Dr.Horsfield Natural Sciences paid a visit to the Temple Panataran, and kunjunganya results recorded in a book entitled "History of Java", published in two volumes. Raffles traces this later followed by other researchers, namely: J. Crawfurd a resident assistant in Yogyakarta, then Van Meeteren Brouwer (1828), Junghun (1884), Jonathan Rigg (1848) and NWHoepermans who in 1886 held in inventory Panataran enshrinement complex.

Entering the Temple area, in the main door we are greeted two statues guard the door or called Blitar Dwaraphala that among the community known as "MBA Bodo". What's interesting is not because the statues guard the big statue, but because her face is scary (Daemonis). Sculptured figures listed on the statue pedestal is written in Old Javanese letters: the year 1242 Saka or if used as AD (78 years plus) to the year 1320 AD. Based on the sculptured figures contained in the second statue pedestal, that the sacred building Palah (another name for the Temple Panataran) inaugurated a temple of the state (state-temple) Jayanegara new era of Majapahit king who ruled in 1309-1328 BC.
In the east there are the remains of statues gate made of red brick. Other important buildings around the gate there is a rectangular shaped building called the Bale Agung. Then the old building where the only pastor-extolled extolled order only. A rectangular building in the smaller size of the Bale Agung is the Hall Terrace or shelf hall which dates to the form of small temples called Temple Number Year, where the buildings are made of andesite stone.

Temple Upgrading
 
To the south of the temple was still standing erect a stone stele or inscribed stone. These inscriptions using Old Javanese letters many Saka 1119 or AD 1197 issued by the King of the Kingdom Srengga Kediri. It contained, among others, mentioned the inauguration of a fief to the interests of His Majesty Batara Palah Sira (Temple Panataran). So Panataran Temple complex construction process takes at least 250 years, which began construction in 1197 at the time of the kingdom of Kadiri until the year 1454 in the era of the Majapahit Kingdom.

The next temple is the Temple of the Dragon is made entirely of stone with a size of 4.83 meters wide, 6.57 meters long and 4.70 meters high. The temple is called Naga because dragon wrapped around the body temple and the features or figures like the king as much as nine pieces. Among the largest temple is the main temple, which is located at the very back is the part that is considered sacred. The main temple building consists of three tiered terrace with a total height 7.19 meters. On each side of the stairs up to the first terrace there is a statue Dwaraphala, on a pedestal there are statues of figures year 1269 Saka or 1347 AD.
At the very back of the temple contained the sacred pond, which is supposedly the story is a pool that is used as a place of worship rituals. The remains of past elegance are still visible from the building of this mini pond. A pond measuring about 2 x 5 meters this looks clean and well organized. Takes about less than 1 hour to browse the entire area Panataran Temple. Because the location is not too far from the city of Blitar and still one lane with a place of pilgrimage tourism Tomb of Bung Karno, then if by chance you come to Blitar not hurt to spend time visiting the Temple Panataran as one manifestation of respect for the history