Candi Kidal

Candi Kidal is a 13th-century Hindu temple located in Rejokidal village, Tumpang District, Malang Regency, East Java. Built around 1248 as a memorial shrine for King Anusapati, the second ruler of the Singhasari Kingdom, it is one of the oldest temples in East Java. The east-facing temple is notable for its slender proportions, well-preserved Garuda reliefs narrating the Garudeya story, and its significance in the development of East Javanese temple architecture.

Visitors can expect a compact, well-preserved East Javanese temple set in a quiet village courtyard surrounded by trees and lawns. The temple stands on a raised base facing east, with a single main structure decorated with intricate stone reliefs depicting the Garudeya story. Visitors can walk around the temple base, observe detailed carvings of Garuda, view the small inner chamber, and explore the open grounds with information boards explaining the site's history and architecture.

Candi Kidal was built around 1248 as a funerary temple (candi pendharmaan) to enshrine King Anusapati, the second king of the Singhasari Kingdom who ruled from 1227 to 1248. It is considered one of the earliest examples of East Javanese temple architecture, marking the transition from Central Javanese style. The temple's reliefs illustrate the Garudeya story from Hindu mythology, symbolizing liberation and devotion.

The temple is an important Hindu cultural heritage site in East Java and a protected cultural property of Indonesia. Its Garuda reliefs are culturally significant as an early artistic depiction of Garuda, which later became the national symbol of Indonesia. The site reflects the Hindu-Buddhist heritage of the Singhasari period and remains a place for cultural education and historical appreciation.