Dieng Plateau

Dieng Plateau is a high volcanic plateau at about 2,000 meters elevation straddling Wonosobo and Banjarnegara regencies in Central Java, Indonesia. Centered around Kejajar in Wonosobo, it is known for its active craters, colorful volcanic lakes, and the 7th-8th century Hindu Dieng temple complex, the oldest in Java. The cool climate, potato farmland, and geothermal features make it a distinctive natural and archaeological destination.

Visitors can expect a cool highland landscape at around 2,000 meters with volcanic craters emitting sulfur, turquoise and multicolored lakes such as Telaga Warna, and open potato fields. The plateau contains the clustered stone Hindu temples of the Arjuna Complex, viewpoints like Sikunir Hill for sunrise, and geothermal areas such as Sikidang Crater with boardwalks. Facilities are spread across villages, and exploration involves walking between dispersed natural and archaeological sites.

Dieng Plateau hosts the Dieng temple complex, built between the 7th and 8th centuries and regarded as the oldest Hindu temples in Java, associated with early Central Javanese Hindu civilization and the Kalingga period. The temples are dedicated to Shiva and demonstrate early Javanese stone architecture predating Prambanan and Borobudur.

The plateau is a culturally significant highland area for Javanese communities, known for the annual Dieng Culture Festival, traditional dreadlocked children (anak gimbal) ritual, and ongoing Hindu heritage. The temples remain sacred archaeological sites and symbols of early Hindu influence in Java.