Lumbung Temple (Candi Lumbung) Tours

More than 500 temples adorn Prambanan Archaeological Park near Yogyakarta. Lumbung Temple (Candi Lumbung), a Buddhist temple complex, comprises one larger 9th-century temple with 16 surrounding smaller temples. It forms part of a group with Bubrah Temple and the substantial Sewu Temple complex.

The Basics
A significant fee gains you entry to Lumbung Temple, along with other attractions in Prambanan Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most travelers visit from nearby Yogyakarta, but you can also join tours from Solo (Surakarta).

It’s a good idea to have a guide when visiting a site as large and complex as the Prambanan park, but do note that not all tours stop at Lumbung Temple. Look for a tour that includes the other main Buddhist temples: the Sewu Temple complex and Bubrah Temple (Candi Bubrah). Shorter tours often only cover the best-known Hindu Prambanan temple compound with its 240-odd temples, including Brahma Temple, Vishnu Temple, and Shiva Mahadeva Temple.

Things to Know Before You Go

• History buffs who want to go deeper into the Prambanan park will appreciate the Lumbung Temple complex.
• Women travelers should opt for an outfit that covers shoulders, upper arms, and legs. Jeans and a T-shirt are fine.
• The Prambanan site is flat and generally wheelchair-accessible, but the temples themselves have steps.

How to Get There
Candi Lumbung is located within the Prambanan archaeological site, about 12 miles (18 kilometers) east of downtown Yogyakarta. It’s a few hundred yards north of the main Prambanan Temple compound, before Bubrah Temple and the Sewu Temple complex. Trans Jogja buses run directly from the airport to Prambanan, or catch bus 1A from Jalan Malioboro in Yogyakarta.

When to Get There
Open from early morning until late afternoon seven days a week, Prambanan is an extremely popular tourist attraction, also among Javanese. Most of the crowds stick to the main temples, however, and if you avoid visiting on weekends or over the Lebaran (Eid Al-Fitr) holiday, you can enjoy Lumbung Temple in relative solitude.

How to Make the Most of a Prambanan Visit
Prambanan admission tickets are expensive by Indonesian standards, so it pays to make the most of your visit to the archaeological park, including Lumbung Temple. If temples begin to pall, enjoy a selection of dance performances or educational films. Alternatively, pose for shots on a selfie swing, dine at a range of eateries, or ride bicycles, including tandems.