Gedong Songo is a complex of nine Hindu temples on top of green, forested hill tops located at the foot of Mount Ungaran, above the city of Semarang in Indonesia.

The complex is formally known as Candi (temple) Gedong Songo, which in English roughly means Nine Big Temples. Nine is an important number in the Hindu culture. The temples were built between 730 and 780 B.C., during the 9th-century Sailendra Dynasty, making them the oldest Hindu temples on Java. The temples were discovered in 1804 and are considered excellent examples of the early classic style of Javanese architecture.

The main temple is dedicated to Shiva, and here you can still see the statues of Nandishwara and Mahākāla, the Hindu gods and guardians of the gate. Within the temple grounds, you will also find several hot sulfur springs that are open to bathers for a fee.

The base of Gedong Songo is at an altitude of 4,000 feet (1200m) above sea level and is located in the Ambarawa district. There are currently five temples that are preserved and available to visit.

It’s a reasonable, but slightly strenuous walk to visit all five temples. But, there is also an option to visit by horseback. The views are very good at each of the temples, getting increasingly better as you climb higher.

The total walk up and back to visit all five temples is just less than two miles (3.2km) and involves about 600 ft (180km) of climbing. The walk and climb are both worth it, as the views get better the higher you climb.

The horseback option is also very interesting. It is an easier way to cover the distance, and horseback may make the visit more picturesque since the visitor isn’t working as hard. The horses are each owned and escorted by a local guide, so the conversation and experience with the guide is also interesting.