Candi Cangkuang

Candi Cangkuang is an 8th-century Hindu temple located on a small island in Situ Cangkuang lake in Cangkuang Village, Leles, Garut Regency, West Java. It is the only restored Hindu temple discovered in West Java and is dedicated to Shiva. Reached by traditional bamboo raft, the site includes the temple, an archaeological museum, and the adjacent traditional Kampung Pulo settlement.

Visitors can expect a short bamboo raft crossing across Situ Cangkuang lake to a small island containing the restored stone temple, its walled courtyard and a small archaeological museum displaying statues and artifacts. The island also hosts Kampung Pulo, a traditional Sundanese village with a limited number of preserved houses. The setting is a calm lake surrounded by rice fields and hills with walking paths around the temple compound.

Candi Cangkuang dates to the 8th century and is associated with the Galuh Kingdom period. The ruins were first reported in 1966 and archaeological excavation and restoration were carried out in 1967-1968 and 1976. The temple is built of andesite stone, measures approximately 4.7 x 4.7 meters, and enshrines a statue of Shiva. It is the first Hindu temple discovered and restored in West Java.

The temple represents early Hindu heritage in West Java and is located beside Kampung Pulo, a traditional Sundanese adat village that maintains customary architecture and traditions. The village is known for preserving six traditional houses and a mosque, reflecting the local cultural continuity around the lake and temple site. The complex is managed as a cultural heritage site.