Culture & History4 min read·
Candi Gebang: The Small Stairless Temple in Ngemplak
Candi Gebang in Wedomartani, Sleman was found in 1936 through a Ganesha statue. Here is its restoration history, its missing stairs, and visitor info.
Candi Gebang sits in Dusun Gebang, Wedomartani Village, Ngemplak District, Sleman Regency, just northwest of the Gebang Permai housing complex. It’s set amid rice fields at roughly 179 meters above sea level.
The route is easy to remember: from the Jalan Affandi intersection, head east to Pasar Condongcatur, then north for about a kilometer — the sign sits on the right side of the road just past a bridge. Most people actually know the name from the street and housing complex rather than the temple itself.
A Small Temple with an Unusual Detail
Candi Gebang is genuinely small. Its footprint measures roughly 5.25 by 5.25 meters, standing about 7.75 to 8 meters tall, on a plot of around 2,260 square meters that makes it look even smaller against the surrounding rice paddies.
The strangest detail sits right at the entrance. The doorway on the east side hangs noticeably high above ground level, yet no stone staircase has ever been found leading up to it. Archaeologists suspect the original steps were made of something perishable, like wood or bamboo, and simply rotted away without a trace.
Other details help place its age. The Kala head above the doorway lacks a lower jaw — a hallmark of an older classical style. The building’s overall proportions run stout, with a notably tall base, and its statues are carved in a naturalistic style. A lingga-shaped ornament crowns the top.
Discovered Through a Ganesha Statue in 1936, and Visiting Info
The discovery story starts in November 1936, when local residents gathering stone for construction material unearthed a Ganesha statue. The Dutch East Indies Archaeological Service followed up with research and excavation, revealing that the statue was part of a collapsed temple structure buried under Merapi’s lahar sediment.
What survived at that point was just part of the roof, a small section of the body, and part of the base. Restoration ran from 1937 to 1939 under Prof. Dr. Ir. V.R. van Romondt, with much of the structure’s body requiring replacement stone.
The temple is Hindu, specifically Shaivite, confirmed by a Ganesha statue in the west niche, a Nandiswara statue by the entrance, and two yoni. A Mahakala statue that would have paired with the Nandiswara has been missing since the temple was first found. Based on its architectural features, the temple is believed to date to an early period, roughly 730 to 800 AD, during the Sanjaya dynasty.
Candi Gebang holds regency-level heritage status under Sleman Regent’s Decree No. 14.7/Kep.KDH/A/2017. Since it isn’t a large commercial tourist attraction, it’s worth confirming visiting hours and any fees with the site caretaker before you arrive.
Exploring Nearby Sites in Eastern Sleman
- Embung Tambakboyo - about 2 km - A 7.8-hectare reservoir with a 1.5-km jogging track, busiest in the early morning and evening.
- Candi Sambisari - about 5 km - Another Hindu temple buried by Merapi’s ash, now sitting 6.5 meters below ground level.
- Monumen Jogja Kembali - about 6 km - A cone-shaped monument with dioramas of the 1949 independence struggle and a night-time Rainbow Garden.
Final Thoughts
Candi Gebang is a small site holding some genuinely big questions — from a staircase that was never found to a Mahakala statue that vanished without a trace. For anyone drawn to the older classical style of Javanese temple architecture, a short visit here offers a far clearer example than the larger, heavily restored temples nearby.
FAQ: About Candi Gebang
How was Candi Gebang discovered?
In November 1936, local residents found a Ganesha statue while gathering stone for construction. Follow-up excavation by the Archaeological Service revealed it was part of a temple that had collapsed and been buried under Merapi’s lahar sediment.
Why doesn’t Candi Gebang have a staircase?
No stone staircase has ever been found at its entrance, despite the doorway sitting notably high above ground. Archaeologists believe the original steps were made of wood or bamboo that rotted away over time.
When was Candi Gebang built?
There’s no written record confirming an exact date. Based on its architectural features — a tall base and a Kala head without a lower jaw — it’s believed to date to an early period, roughly 730 to 800 AD.