Architecture sights in Indonesia
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Pura Ulun Danu Bratan
This very important Hindu-Buddhist temple was founded in the 17th century. It is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters, and is actually built on small islands, which means it is completely surrounded by the lake. Both pilgrimages and ceremonies are held here to ensure that there is a supply of water for farmers all over Bali.
The temple is truly beautiful, with classical Hindu thatch-roofed meru (multiroofed shrines) reflected in the water and silhouetted against the often cloudy mountain backdrop - one of the most common photographic images of Bali.
A large banyan tree shades the entrance; walk through manicured gardens and past an impressive Buddhist stupa t…
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Taman Sari
Just to the west of the kraton is the Taman Sari, which once served as a splendid pleasure park of palaces, pools and waterways for the sultan and his entourage. The Portuguese architect of this elaborate retreat, built between 1758 and 1765, was from Batavia - the story goes that the sultan had him executed in order to keep his hidden pleasure rooms secret.
The complex was damaged first by Diponegoro's Java War, and an earthquake in 1865 helped finish the job. While much of what you see today lies in ruins, the bathing pools have been restored. From the tower overlooking the pools, the sultan was able to dally with his wives and witness the goings-on below.
The entrance t…
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Pura Meru
Pura Meru, is the largest temple in Lombok. Built in 1720 by Balinese prince Anak Agung Made Karang of the Singosari kingdom in an attempt to unite Lombok, it's dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
The outer courtyard has a hall housing the wooden drums that are beaten to call believers to ceremonies (the June full moon is the most important of these). The inner court has one large and 33 small shrines, as well as three meru (multi-roofed shrines), which are in a line: the central meru, with 11 tiers, is Shiva's house; the meru to the north, with nine tiers, is Vishnu's; and the seven-tiered meru to the south is Brahma's. The meru are also said to r…
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Gereja Sion
Near the Kota train station, the Gereja Sion dates from 1695 and is the oldest remaining church in Jakarta. Also known as Gereja Portugis (Portuguese Church), it was built just outside the old city walls for the so-called 'black Portuguese' - the Eurasians and natives captured from Portuguese trading ports in India and Malaya and brought to Batavia as slaves.
The exterior of the church is very plain, but inside there are copper chandeliers, a baroque pulpit and the original organ. Although more than 2000 people were buried in the graveyard during 1790 alone, very few tombs remain.
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Saham Longhouse
The traditional Dayak dwelling closest to Pontianak, Saham Longhouse (rumah betang) in Pahauman is one of KalBar's oldest - more than 200 years - and longest -180m.
Visit by bus from Batu Layang toward Ngabang or executive buses toward Sanggau. Get dropped at the Pahauman turn, then catch a local taxi or ojek). There are also Kijangs from Pontianak.
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Mahkamah Agung
To the east of Lapangan Banteng is the Mahkamah Agung, built in 1848, and next door is the Ministry of Finance Building, formerly the Witte Huis (White House). This grand government complex was built by Daendels in 1809 as the administrative centre for the Dutch government.
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Kienteng Ban Hian Kong
The 19th-century Kienteng Ban Hian Kong is the oldest Buddhist temple in eastern Indonesia and has been beautifully restored. The temple hosts a spectacular festival in February (dates vary according to the lunar calendar).
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Mesjid Istiqlal
Facing the Catholic Cathedral is Jakarta's principal place of Muslim worship, the modernistic Mesjid Istiqlal, which was constructed under Soekarno and is reputedly the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.
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Mesjid Agung
On the western side of the alun-alun, Mesjid Agung, featuring classical Javanese architecture, is the largest and most sacred mosque in Solo.
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Francis Xavier Cathedral
The recently rebuilt Francis Xavier Cathedral has silver-strut steeples which glimmer mysteriously when seen from Jl Sirimau (take Kayu Putih bemos).
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Emanuel Church
Just west of Gedung Pancasila along Jl Pejambon is the Emanuel Church, another classic building dating from 1893.
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Masjid Raya al-Fatah
The town's biggest mosque, Masjid Raya al-Fatah is a modern concrete affair with UFO-shaped dome.
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Catholic Cathedral
The Catholic Cathedral has twin spires and was built in 1901 to replace an earlier church.
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Mesjid Jami
Next door to Masjid Raya al-Fatah, the fanciful Mesjid Jami is much more photogenic.
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Mesjid Raya Darussalam
The striking main mosque, Mesjid Raya Darussalam has missile like minarets.
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Dayak Longhouse
The replica Dayak Longhouse has genuine totems and carved log steps.
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Mesjid Istiqlal
Facing the Catholic Cathedral is Jakarta's principal place of Muslim worship, the modernistic Mesjid Istiqlal, which was constructed under Soekarno and is reputedly the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.
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