Pawon Temple

Pawon Temple is a Buddhist temple situated at the midway point between the Borobudur and Mendut temples, approximately 40 kilometers from the city of Yogyakarta. It features a square-shaped, tiered roof adorned with small stupas and ratnas, which is hidden among the houses that surround it.
This slender temple structure sits on a rectangular platform and features a chamber inside with vents. Architecturally, Pawon Temple is similar to the temples Borobudur and Mendut, with its mix of classic Javanese Hindu and Indian art symbols. Notably, there are reliefs of the Kalpataru tree (the tree of life), as well as of mythical birds and human figures, on the temple’s outer walls.

Practical Info

Pawon Temple, along with the Borobudur and Mendut temples, can be reached in approximately one hour from Yogyakarta city center. If not hiring a car or traveling as part of an organized tour, you can use the Trans-Jogya bus service, which runs from central Yogyakarta to Jombor bus terminal. From here you can catch another bus to Pawon Temple. Visitors are able to hire a horse and cart to travel between the three temples.