Candi Tikus

Candi Tikus is a 14th-century Majapahit ritual bathing temple (petirtaan) located in Temon Village, Trowulan District, Mojokerto Regency, East Java. Rediscovered in 1914 and restored to its current form, the red-brick complex is sunken below ground level with a central tower and lotus-shaped ponds. It is notable as the best-preserved royal purification bath of the Majapahit Kingdom and a key archaeological site within the former capital area of Trowulan.

Visitors can expect a sunken, rectangular red-brick bathing complex accessed by descending steps below ground level. The site features a central tower shrine surrounded by lotus-shaped basins and water channels, with miniature temple replicas and ornate brickwork. The setting is open and park-like with lawns, pathways and information boards. Visitors can walk around the upper perimeter and view the bathing pools from above and at pool level, with opportunities for photography and guided historical explanation.

Candi Tikus was built in the 14th century during the Majapahit Kingdom and served as a royal ritual bathing place for purification ceremonies. Buried under soil, it was rediscovered in 1914 by villagers and excavated and restored between 1914 and 1980s. The structure demonstrates Majapahit brick architecture and hydraulic engineering and is part of the Trowulan archaeological area believed to be the capital of the Majapahit Empire.

The site represents Hindu-Buddhist purification traditions of the Majapahit era, where water was considered sacred for ritual cleansing before religious ceremonies. It remains an important cultural heritage site illustrating Javanese classical architecture, religious practices and royal court life, and is protected as a cultural heritage property in Indonesia.