Want to have Mendut Temple and its 3-meter Buddha all to yourself? Experience a unique spiritual journey at this Buddhist monastery in Indonesia.
What if I told you that you can meditate in complete solitude inside Candi Mendut by candlelight, surrounded by flowers and offerings, and visit an authentic Buddhist monastery where chants echo forever for less than €5?
In Indonesia, magic really happens. 😉
Practical details for visiting Mendut
- Motorbike distance: 2.6 km (5.2 km round trip).
- Motorbike travel time: 5 min (10 min round trip).
- Total visit duration: 1-2 hours (approximately).
- Start: Lotus 2 Homestay.
- End: Lotus 2 Homestay.
- Price: 50,000 IDR/person (€4 at the exchange rate at the time)
- Date of realization (photographs): September, 2012.
Night visit to Mendut
An unusual 3-meter Buddha
As night was falling, a couple of local guides (Niu was one of them) took us by motorbike to Mendut Temple.
By that time it was already closed to the public, but the security guard had an agreement with these guys and opened the temple just for us.
After admiring it from the outside, the best part came:
We walked up the stairs and there it was: the 3-meter Buddha who doesn't sit in the lotus position, like all the ones I had seen so far, but with his feet resting on the floor, surrounded by offerings, flowers, and lit candles.
We sat down to meditate for a few minutes in front of him. However, my lack of experience meant I ended up opening my eyes to absorb as much as possible of the magical atmosphere filling the room.
Meditation with Buddhist monks
Next, the guides took us to Mendut Buddhist Monastery, very close to the Temple.
And there, always following Niu's directions, we sat down to meditate in a hall where a monk was reciting his mantra aloud.
Our guide told us that this mantra never stopped being recited. At some point, another monk would join him in the chant. Once their voices blended as one, the first monk would step away to rest. And so it went on, day after day, an endless mantra.
Afterwards, we took a stroll around the monastery, admiring its statues and lotus flowers unfurling their beauty (that's where I learned they only bloom at night).
An unexpected traditional celebration
At the end of the visit, Niu recommended stopping halfway between the temple and our hotel.
A sacred celebration in the middle of the street was getting underway, completely open to everyone, and he told us it was well worth staying to watch.
So, since it hadn't started yet, we grabbed the chance to have dinner: Mie and Nasi Goreng (fried noodles and rice with vegetables) at Pawon Joglo Kopi Ndeso restaurant right across from the event (delicious, just like all the Indonesian food we tried during our trip).
When we finished, the party had already started:
- Several people were singing an endless song reminiscent of a mantra, but much more musical and accompanied by instruments.
- Dancers with a horse model between their legs danced to the rhythm of the chants, moving just like real horses.
While watching the scene, we ran into a friend of Jack (the owner of our stay, Lotus 2 Homestay), and he told us that both the dancers and the singers had entered a state of trance.
- That's why some dancers were crying while continuing to dance without stopping.
- That's why the song went on endlessly.
- That's why we would have to leave before it all came to an end.
So, as hard as it was to leave that spectacle behind (and because we had an early start the next morning to catch the sunrise at Borobudur), we walked back to the hotel in great company. 🙂
Why do activities with Lotus 2 Homestay
When we visited the Borobudur temple during our trip through Indonesia, we hit the jackpot with our choice of accommodation: Lotus 2 Homestay.
We picked it because of the reviews and its proximity to the temple (500 m).
But we never imagined they would earn a place of honor in our memories from that trip.
How did they do it?
By being genuine. They gave us the chance to see the real Java, learn about its customs, and mingle with the locals.
Jack and his guys (Niu spent the most time with us during those 2 days) made us feel right at home and gave us the chance to live real experiences off the beaten track:
- Look for a hidden temple tucked between rice paddies.
- Watching the sunrise over Borobudur from a nearby hill.
- Enjoy the best Nasi Goreng (fried rice with vegetables) of my life in the most unexpected place.
- And as you just read, visit Mendut Monastery at dusk.
On top of that, Jack sorted out our airport transfer and gave us the chance to see Prambanan temple (thank goodness, because I would never have forgiven myself for leaving without seeing it).
And more tours we didn't have time to do... 🙁
Tip: Even if you're not staying at Lotus 2 Homestay, drop by if you want to step off the beaten track and discover another side of Indonesia.
You won't regret it. 🙂
Useful links
- Accommodation at Lotus 2 Homestay.
- Flights to Indonesia: Trabber, eDreams, and Momondo.
- 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance when booking from here.
Road tripping through Indonesia? Then you'll love these:
- 3-week road trip through Indonesia: Java and Borneo.
- Prambanan, Indonesia's largest Hindu temple.
- Experience a sunrise from Borobudur temple.
- Selogriyo: a Hindu temple tucked among rice paddies.
- 4-day klotok boat trip through Borneo: encounter wild orangutans.
- How to organize your visit to Bromo and Ijen: 4 options.
- 3-day, 2-night itinerary through Bromo and Ijen.
- Pulau Derawan: how to get there and spend 7 days on the island.
Map
Tell me, have you ever experienced something like this off the beaten path in Indonesia?