Muara Takus Temple

This temple complex located in the village of Muara Takus, District Koto Kampar. Located about 135 km from the city of Pekanbaru off the main road to Bukittinggi, and about 2.5 km from the center of the village of Muara Takus not far from the edge of Kampar Kanan river.

The complex is standing in the midst of Sumatra’s rain forests surrounded by a wall of 74 x 74 meters which is surrounded again by a dirt wall 1.5 x 1.5 km

Within this complex are four temples:

• Candi Sulung
• Candi Bungsu
• Candi Mahligai
• Candi Palangka

And six other buildings, namely:

• The first building: a heap of soil with two holes, thought of being a place for cremation.
• Second building: The rectangular building of which the foundation was made of sand, building had an unknown function.
• Third building: A rectangular buidling with a size of 3 mx 2.4 m which is located outside the wall perimeter.
• Fourth building: Foundation of dirt where in the middle there is a big stone. Unknown function.
• Fifth and sixth building: The building is only a foundation.

What makes Muara Takus unique can be seen when you step in the the front yard of the complex. The Muara Takus looks the same as the Buddhist stupas in Myanmar, stupas in Vietnam, stupas in Sri Langka and the ancient stupas in India. In the temple complex, there are historical relics of the Sriwijaya kingdom. It is still a mystery when these Buddhist remains were actually built, estimates are they have been constructed either in the 2nd, 4th 7th or 9th century.