Candi Ceto

Candi Ceto sits on the slopes of Mount Lawu, about 15 kilometers away from Candi Sukuh, or 40 kilometers from Solo. The drive to Ceto is quite nice, as you move through steep hills covered with tea bushes. Unlike Candi Sukuh, which was built around the same time, Ceto looks more like the kinds of Hindu temples you will still see today in Bali. As at Sukuh, sexual images can be seen in some of the decorations of this temple, although they don't dominate here like they do at Sukuh.

Looking down on the front courtyard with its erotic stone decorations

The temple layout consists of a series of terraces that climb the side of the hill. The first enclosure you enter is large and flat, with stone decorations on the ground depicting male and female genitalia, as well as what appear to be zodiac signs. The next two terraces hold shrines to various deities. The highest terrace holds a pyramidal altar that's a bit more refined than the one at Sukuh.

A gate leads from the side of the next-to-last terrace to a trail that will take you to another old Hindu temple, Candi Kethek, as well as a modern altar to the goddess Saraswati.

Admission to the temple is 10,000 Rupiah.

In this section

Candi Kethek

Looking up Candi Kethek from the lowest level Down a short forest trail and across a (hopefully) dry stream from Candi Ceto is another temple from the same area, dubbed Candi Kethek. This temple is much more modest than its neighbor. It's really little more than some terraces built into the hillside with a tiny shrine at the top. Several trees still pierce the terraces. For me, the walk was at least as interesting as the temple.

Puri Taman Saraswati

Statue of the goddess Saraswati Immediately behind Candi Ceto is a modern Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Saraswati. The statue and the park it sits in was a gift from a governor in Bali to the people of the area. Saraswati is primarily revered as the goddess of learning. In Bali, she is very important and has an annual holiday devoted to her.