Pangandaran Beach

Pangandaran is a small town and a subdistrict in southern Ciamis regency, West Java, Indonesia. It is located on the southern coast of Java. Pangandaran is a popular tourist destination, having a beach which is considered to be one of the finest in Java and which offers excellent surfing.

A kite-flying festival is held on the beach in July and August. It is reported that the locals used to fly kites in the evenings to catch bats,[1] and may still do so. There is a local belief that wearing any green garment in this area will anger Loro Kidul, the Javanese guardian spirit or goddess of the southern sea, and will bring misfortune.

The Penanjung Pangandaran nature reserve is nearby on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow neck of land. About eighty percent of the nature reserve is secondary rainforest. The flora of the nature reserve includes the Rafflesia.

The reserves lie on the south-west Javan coast, on the Pangandaran Peninsula, within the administrative province of Jawa Barat (west Java). Access from Bandung, some 223km to the north-west, is via Garut, Tasikmalaya and Banjar. The boundary of Pananjung Pangandaran Nature Reserve comprises the majority of the peninsula and follows the coast along the low tide level. The recreation park lies adjacent to the nature reserve at the neck of the isthmus connecting the peninsula to the mainland. Approximately 7°43'S, 108°40'E

Pananjung Pangandaran comprises a small limestone and volcanic peninsula, connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. The coastline is generally rugged, with precipitous cliffs and steep narrow gullies skirting a wooded plateau. In the north, the landscape attenuates to gently sloping sandy coves and beaches. Drainage is radial via several rivers which fall steeply to the sea at the coast.

A tsunami hit the area on 17 July 2006. An undersea earthquake measured at 7.7 on the Richter scale triggered a three metre high tidal wave. Extensive damage was caused and hundreds of people were reported to be dead or missing.

Candi Pawon (Pawon Temple)

Pawon Temple is one and half kilometers westward from Mendut Temple and eastward from Borobudur Temple, it is also a Buddhist temple. When appreciating in detail, its sculpture is the beginning of Borobudur sculpture.
Pawon Temple is not a grave but as a place to keep King Indra's weapon namely Vajranala. This temple was built with volcanic stones. Architecturally it is a blend of old Javanese Hindu and Indian art. Pawon temple is exactly in the central point of the straight line stretched from Borobudur to Mendut Temple.
Perhaps it was built for kubera. It is on a wide rather terrace with steps. All parts are decorated with stupa(s) on dagoba(s) and its outside walls with symbolic pictures.

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Candi Mendut (Mendut Temple)

Candi Mendut (Mendut Temple) is 3 kilometers eastward from Borobudur Temple. It is a Buddhist temple, built in 824 A.D. by King Indera of Cailendra dynasty.
There are three big statues inside, they are:

1. Cakyamuni sitting in cross legged pose with dharma cakra mudra (= turning the wheel of dharma hand pose)
2. Awalokiteswara, a bodhi satwa as human being helper.
   Awalokiteswara is a statue with Amitabha on her crown, Vajrapani. She is holding a red lotus and put on her palm.
3. Maitreya, a savior of human beings in the future.

There are stories for children on its walls.
Candi Mendut (Mendut Temple) is frequently used to celebrate the Waisak day every May full moon and the pilgrims from Indonesia and all parts of the world come to this ceremony.
It is older than Candi Borobudur. Its architecture is square, and having an entrance on its steps. Its roof is also square and terraced. There are stupas (= bell-shaped structures) on it.

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