Penataran Agung Kilisuci Temple in Kediri Regency, East Java Province

Kediri Regency consists of many types of vacation spots, including natural attractions, historical places, recreational areas, and religious sites. When it comes to pilgrimage and religious tourism, the region has a popular temple called Penataran Agung Kalisuci. The location is in Mojoroto Sub-District. To be exact, it resides in Pojok Village. The location is near to Airlangga Museum and Selomangleng Cave! No wonder, the number of visitors is high due to this strategic location. In terms of function, as the name suggests, the temple is meant for worshipping Dewi Kilisuci. As for tourist activities, people usually want to learn history and take photos there.

The Nuance
Unlike those grand temples in Bali Island, this one is considered smaller and simpler. The location is in a rural area, so it offers a peaceful nuance. Moreover, the temple resides on the feet of hills, so it also comes with nice panoramas. According to the locals, the total area is around 6,500 meters per square. Once entering the temple, tourists may find some Hindu ornaments and the famous wooden Kentongan. Also, the temple features a garden and some types of plants as well as small trees.

Exploring Penataran Agung Kilisuci Temple
The first allure in Penataran Agung Kilisuci Temple is definitely the history. It is said Dewi Kilisuci (the first-born kid of King Airlangga) decided to hermitage instead of becoming the ruler of the kingdom. She isolated herself in Selomangleng Cave, which is located about 200 meters from the temple complex. Due to her noble intention, the locals were moved and wanted to remember her always. No wonder, the temple was named after her. For further information about this story, tourists should ask the locals or guide later.

What is more? Aside from learning the history of Penataran Agung Kilisuci Temple, people usually want to appreciate the architecture during the visit. After all, an exploration is allowed as long as visitors don’t cause disturbances on the site. That means littering is quite prohibited, too! Now, let’s start exploring the temple. After passing the side yard or Nista Mandala, tourists may find a big banyan tree that has a hall located in the midst of it. Several cabinets, gongs, and a bulletin board reside in that spot as well.

The next area to explore is called Madya Mandala or the middle part of the complex. In this area, a young banyan tree grows beautifully. Tourists may also find the Paduraksa Gate that connects the middle area and a prime part of the temple. Not to mention Dewi Kilisuci Statue can be found there, so tourists can take photos of it during the visit.

Nearby Attractions

• Kebun Bunga Matahari Kediri
• SLG Garden
• Maria Lourdes Cave

How to Get There
The first destination is Kediri Regency and this trip takes about 2 hours from Surabaya City (the capital of East Java Province). For the information, the distance is 120 km and the best route to take is Surabaya – Mojokerto Highway. Also, tourists must take Mojokerto – Kertosono Highway afterward. After arriving at Kediri, tourists can simply take Pamenang Street and head to Penataran Agung Kilisuci Temple right away. The distance is 31.5 km, so this trip would take around 56 minutes.

Where to Stay

• Coconut Hotel
• Bukit Daun Hotel
• Airy Hotel