Candi Barong, The Twins on the Hill

This temple overhangs that of Banyunibo, thus you have to follow the same directions: on the Jogjakarta-Solo highway, at the Prambanan intersection, turn right (south) to the direction of Piyungan. After 3km, you will find a signpost indicating the direction of the Banyunibo, Barong, and Ratu Boko temples. Follow the direction to the Cepit hamlet, Bokoharjo village, Prambanan district. The Barong temple is on top of a 200m-high hill.

The site is comprised of two separate terraces. The first terrace is empty, with its sides bordered by stones that are thought to once support a wooden construction. On the second terrace stand the two temples called Barong or “Sari Sosro Gedug”. Uniquely, the two temples are almost identical and both have no entrance. Each side shows similarity in decorative pattern and variations. Each of the temple bodies sits on a base of three steps, and has four niches, one on every side. Every niche, decorated by a makara motif in the form of barong is believed to once house a statue. The temple’s roof is of three ornamented tiers resembling those on the Ijo temple.

Based on the form and types of decorative patterns and the findings of Sri and Laksmi statues, it is believed that this temple is of Hindu origin and was built in the IXth century. These marvelously located temples must have been much revered and were part of a sacred complex of terraces of which they were the crowns.

From afar the Barong temple resembles a twin building because of its similar main temples. There is a serene view of the valley at the south and west of the temple, with blocks of yellow and green rice fields. To the southwest, the dark, tiny Banyunibo temple is visible.

At 50m to the north of the Barong temple lies the Dawangsari site, which is an array of andesite stones sprawled at the plane of the hill. The blocks of rocks are poor in motifs and decorations. It is thought that the site was part of a destroyed stupa. The Dawangsari site seems to be Buddhist, although situated near the Hindu temple of Barong.

The temle is called Barong because of the Barong head ornament on the entrance gate of the complex. According to the locals, remnants of accessories and decorative objects, incuding an inscription on gold plate, were found in the main temples at the beginning of the restoration.

Source: Situs-Situs Marjinal Jogja (Sanctuaires Retrouvés/ Sites Out of Sight) - M. Rizky Sasono, Jean-Pascal Elbaz, Agung 'Leak' Kurniawan (Enrique indonesia, Yogyakarta: 1997).