The temple is located in the village Bahal Bahal, District Alternating Padang, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, which is about three hours drive from Padangsidempuan. This temple is a temple complex (in local terms is called Biaro) is the largest in the province of North Sumatra, because of its area surrounding the temple complex of Bahal I, Bahal Bahal II and III.

The temple is located in the village Bahal Bahal, District Alternating Padang, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra, which is about three hours drive from Padangsidempuan. This temple is a temple complex (in local terms is called Biaro) is the largest in the province of North Sumatra, because of its area surrounding the temple complex of Bahal I, Bahal Bahal II and III.

Bahal Temple is only part of the temples Padanglawas which means that temples are located in the vast desert that covers, among others: Pulo Temple, Temple Barumun, Singkilon Temple, Temple Sipamutung, Aloban Temple, Temple Rondaman Dolok, Bara Temple, Temple Magaledang , Temple and Temple Nagasaribu Sitopayan. Possibilities, rice fields and villages around the temples was a very broad meadow. Of the many temples Padanglawas only Bahal Temple finished dienovasi, temple and temple Sipamutung Pulo is in the process of renovation, while others are still in the form of the temple ruins.

It is unknown whether Bahal Temple is a Hindu temple or Buddhist temple. Tracing the roof Bahal Temple I, which is similar to the shape of the roof of the temple Mahligai in Muara Takus (Riau) allegedly Bahal Temple is a Buddhist temple. However, looking at the stone statues found at the site, such as the statue’s head makara, Ganesha statues, giant, etc., Is expected this temple is a Hindu temple or Tantric Buddhism. Bahal temple functions in the past, is also not yet known with certainty, although residents around called it “Biaro” which means monastery.

Bahal temple complex consists of three temples, each separated by a distance of about 500 meters. A few kilometers from the temple complex there are also other temples, the temple complex of Pulo or Barumun being restored.

Bahal temple is often referred to as the Temple Portibi, in accordance with the designation for the area where the temple is located. In some ways, there are similarities between Bahal Temple I, II and III. The whole building is in the third temple complex made of brick, except the statue-statue made of hard stone. Each temple complex is surrounded by a fence and approximately 1 m thick which is also made of red brick. On the east side there is a gate which juts out and is flanked on either side by a wall of about 60 cm tall. In each of the main building there is a temple complex located in the middle of the page with the proper entrance facing the gate.

Bahal I
Location Bahal Temple I easily found because the temple directly visible from the road that can be passed four-wheeled vehicles. In addition, at the entrance to the temple area Bahal I have built a gate and a guard post located not far from the gate.

Faced with a guard post there is a building that functioned as a museum. In the museum are stored the parts Bahal Temple that can not be restored to its original position, including intact statues and pieces of statues.

Bahal Temple 1 was built in the courtyard area of ​​approximately 3000 m2 which is surrounded by a fence from a red stone structure height of 60 cm. The fence wall is thick, which is about 1 m, so that people can walk freely around the temple. In the mid-east side, the walls yard wide, forming a floor that juts about 7 m to the outer courtyard of the temple. Approximately 70 cm high walls flanking the left and right sides of the floor up to the limit of stairs at the far left and right sides of the gate.
The main building Bahal I temple is situated in the middle of the courtyard, facing the gate. Among the main building and the gate there is a foundation or a stage shaped square base measuring approximately 7 x 7 m2. Stairs up to the stage that was made from the red rocks are on the east side, facing the stairs up to the main building, and on the west side of the stage, facing the ladder to get down from the gate.

In the southern part of the page, parallel to the aforementioned foundation, lined two foundations measuring 3 m2 and 2.5 m2. Not whether the information obtained over the three foundations of the building was there or not. Third function is also unknown.

The main building Bahal Temple I is the largest compared to the main building Bahal Temple II and II. The main building consists of arrangement placemat, legs, body and roof of the temple. Placemat berdenah temple square base of approximately 7 m2 with a height of about 180 cm.
At the foot of the temple on a coaster stands 75 cm tall, with a square ground-plan area of ​​6 m2. Vast difference coaster and foot of the temple formed around the foot of the temple hall. In the middle of the east side, right in front of the stairs going up to the foot of the surface of the temple, the temple placemat juts out along around 4 m with a width of about 2 m. At the end of the ‘road’ is present staircase flanked by a pair of makara head at the base.
Makara is the animal that exists only in myth, half-fish half-crocodile tangible. The mouth of the stone statue of the makara head wide open. In the open mouth there is a creature similar to a kinara-Kinari, the human-headed bird, as found in Shiva temples in Java.
Although both are made of stone, makara statues flanking ornate staircase has a different pattern to that found in temples in Java in general. The back of the animal’s head is decorated with sculptures lined circle, which is not found in the makara temples in Java.

Along the north and south walls ‘road’ towards the saucer-shaped people are carved in a variety of positions. Although many parts of the sculpture has been damaged, still visible form of the man who looked like he was dancing. Along the east side or the front of a giant saucer-shaped sculptures are sitting.
On the north and south walls of the temple there are sculptured legs, while along the west wall (rear) are carved more subtle but is no longer clear shape.
Body temple form a quadrangular building with a square pedestal area of ​​5 m2. Difference extensive body of the temple to temple foot surfaces form a corridor width of about 1 m. To reach the entrance to the space inside the temple there are stairs as high as about 60 cm from the surface of the foot of the temple. In the body of the temple are empty room measuring approximately 3 m2 surrounded by thick walls of about 1 m. The width of the entrance threshold of about 120 x 250 cm. There are sculptures that decorate the door frame.
Bahal I temple roof shape is unique, does not resemble a tiered pyramid like temples in East Java, but also do not like stupa like roof Muara Takus. Bahal I temple roof forms a cylinder with a height of approximately 2.5 m, such as cakes laid out on a square saucer. Sculptured garlands encircling the edge of the roof.
Still on the page Bahal Temple I, on the northern corner halamn behind the main building there measuring about 2.5 m2 foundation with debris on it. Not obtained information about the original form as well as the ruins of the original function.

Bahal II
Bahal Temple II is located about 100 m from the road and about 300 m from the Temple of the Court I. Bahal Bahal Temple II coextensive with the court Bahal Temple I and also surrounded by brick fence, but the size of the main building is smaller than the main building Bahal Temple I.

As contained in Bahal Temple 1, in the middle of the east side, the walls yard wide, forming the floor which juts about 4 m to the outer courtyard of the temple. Approximately 70 cm high walls flanking the left and right sides of the floor up to the limit of the east side there is a staircase (outside).

The main building Bahal Temple II consisting of the arrangement of a coaster, legs, body and roof of the temple. Placemat berdenah temple square base measuring about 6 m2 and a height of about 1 m. At the foot of the temple on a coaster stands 75 cm tall, with a square ground-plan area of ​​5 m2. Vast difference coaster and foot of the temple formed around the foot of the temple hall.
Body temple that stood on the foot of the temple berdenah square base area of ​​4 m2, so on the surface of the foot of the temple there is also a corridor width of about 1 m.
In the body Bahal Temple II also contained empty room measuring about 3 m2, surrounded by thick walls of about 1 m. The entrance width of approximately 120 x 250 cm facing east without any decoration carved on the frame.
Placemat wall, legs and body also plain unadorned temple carvings. Bahal II temple roof with a pyramid-shaped square top four. The arrangement around the top there is a row of holes of unknown function.

In front of the base of the stairs of the main building there is a pair of makara head with an open mouth. In the mouth there is a creature that is not clear shape. Although both are made of stone, makara head shape is different from the ones available in front of the main building Bahal Temple I.
Among the main building and the gate there is a foundation or a stage shaped square base measuring about 5 m2. Stairs up to the stage that was made from the red rocks found in the north and south.
In the northern corner of the yard behind the main building there is a kind of foundation of the building is collapsed. On the east side there is a kind of foundation of the other foundations that have a ladder to climb on the two sides, namely the north and south. In front of each staircase there is a statue of the position makara head back to the stairs. Near the foundation stone statues scattered few pieces.

Bahal III
Bahal Temple II is located about 100 m from the road, but to reach the location Bahal Temple III of people have to go through the trail, rice fields and housing residents. There are many similarities between the temple Bahal Bahal III and two other temples. Courtyard of the temple which is relatively the same extent also surrounded by a brick fence with the same thickness and height. Gate to enter the yard is also located on the east side. Similarly, the main building Bahal Temple III is located in the middle of the court. Bahal Temple gate III is more akin to the gate Bahal Temple I, because the stairs up to the gate is located at the north and south. Stairs at the gate Bahal Temple II is located in the east.

Among the main building and the gate also has a foundation or a stage shaped square base measuring about 5 m2. Stairs up to the stage that was made from the red rocks found in the north and south.
The size and shape of the main building Bahal Temple III is very similar to the main building Bahal Temple II. The entrance to the room in the temple is also located in the east.

There are no sculptures on the door frame, but along the wall placemat decorated with carved floral motifs similar. There are no carved on all four sides of the wall of the temple. There are no carved on all four sides of the wall of the temple.

Bahal II temple roof with a pyramid-shaped square top four. Similar to the roof Bahal Temple II, but there is a row of holes in the roof of this temple.
There was no headdresses makara in front of the stairs up to the lobby on the surface of the saucer, but there are sculptures that have been less obvious form in the sides of the stairs at the foot of the temple.

In the north of the main building there is a stone statue pieces. That a statue shaped like a placemat with ornate lotus petals around it, similar to those contained in Candi Jago and Candi Singasari in East Java. While other pieces looked like the legs of a statue made in the standing position, because at the bottom there is the form of the foot, complete with his fingers.
Museum Bahal

Bahal Temple Museum is located opposite the checkpoint Bahal Temple I. The museum building is similar to the regular home building. In the museum stored a variety of shapes and types of temples Bahal parts are still unknown original location or, for some reason, can not be returned to its original position.
The museum is also carried out reconstruction and arrangement of pieces of stone and brick to rediscover the form, composition and original location. Pieces of stone found in three sites Bahal Temple is generally a part of a statue or ornament and is not a rubble which is generally made of bricks.

Among the objects are stored and undergo a process of reconstruction in the museum are pieces shaped giant statue in the standing position while carrying mace. In addition, there are also a bunch of bricks that have holes, said to be the footprints of animals. This set of bricks found in 2000 in the courtyard of Bahal Temple I.
Many of which can be seen in this museum. Dear museum is not open regularly to the public. Not always there are officers who can be found. of officers who encountered was not a lot of information that can be obtained.

source : perpusnas.go.id

Review by Tournesia

Reviewer

Tournesia

Review Date

2015-08-14

Reviewed Item

Bahal Temple

Author Rating

4