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Coordinates: 12420N 994350E

Bahal temple
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Candi Bahal, also known as Biaro Bahal (biaro,

derived from vihara, a monastery) or Candi Portibi
(Batak portibi, derived from prithivi, "earth") are a
group of Vajrayana Buddhist candis complex located in
Bahal village, Padang Bolak, Portibi, Padang Lawas
Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located about 3
hours journey with car from Padangsidempuan or
400 km from Medan. The complex includes three
candis: Candi Bahal I, Candi Bahal II, and Candi Bahal
III.[1] The temple site is linked to Pannai Kingdom circa
11th to 13th century CE.

Candi Bahal I, in Padang Lawas, North Sumatra.

Contents
1 History
2 Temple Complex
3 See also
4 References
4.1 Notes
4.2 Works cited

History
Candi Bahal are one of a group of temples discovered in Padang Lawas.[2]
Padang Lawas (Minangkabau "broad plain") is a grassy flat plain located
between the Barisan Mountains and the highlands of northern Sumatra.[3]
The plain is kept free of tall vegetation by the prevailing dry winds sweeping
through the gap between the two highlands.[1] There were no major
settlements in Padang Lawas, but the area provided a strategic route for
people moving between the east and west coast of Sumatra. The flow of
people in the area might provide the reason for the establishment of 11th and
13th century shrines found in the area. At least 25 brick shrines have been
discovered in the plain of Padang Lawas, including Candi Pulo, Candi
Barumun, Candi Singkilon, Candi Sipamutung, Candi Aloban, Candi
Rondaman Dolok, Candi Bara, Candi Magaledang, Candi Sitopayan and
Candi Nagasaribu.[2] No kingdoms were associated with these temples, at
least according to inscriptions discovered in the site, however the religion is
Buddha Amitabha bronze
identical to that practiced by Adityawarman.[1] Candi Bahal are the only
statue found at Si Pamatung
temples that has been fully restored, the other were still in ruins.[2]
in Barumun Tengah district
Construction of the temples of Padang Lawas were estimated to be between
the 11th to 13th century CE.[2] They were possibly linked with Pannai Kingdom, one of the trading ports on
the coast of Strait of Malacca under Srivijayan mandala.

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Restoration of Candi Bahal I occurred in 1977-1978 and 1982-1983. Candi Bahal II has been restored
between 1991-1992.[4]

Temple Complex
The three temples of Bahal are separated by a distance of about 500 meter. The complex of the temple is
known locally as biaro (from vihara or monastery), possibly indicating a clue to its original use. The names
of three of the Bahal temples indicate connections with Nepal and Sri Lanka. Bahal is a term still used in
Nepal to refer the two-storied temples of the Vajrayana, a major sect which influenced Buddhism in
Indonesia.[1] Rampant lions carved flanking the temple of Biaro Bahal I was similar to carvings at
Polonaruva, the 11th-century capital of Sri Lanka. The complex is the largest in North Sumatra. All three
temples of Bahal were constructed of red bricks, while the sculptures were constructed of sand stones. Each
temple are surrounded with a perimeter red brick wall about 1 meter thick and 1 meter tall. A gate on the
eastern wall provide entrance gateway into the temple; the gate is extended outward with 60 cm tall walls in
both sides. The main temple of each complexes is located in the center.[5]

The architecture of this temple is similar to Jabung temple located in Probolinggo, East Java.

Despite its rich archaeological value, unlike the popular temples of Java, the Padang Lawas temples are
mostly neglected and in the state of ruins, partly due to its isolated location.[6] There are some attempts to
promote the temples as a tourism attraction, however because of its remote location and poor infrastructure,
promotion and tourism activity is limited.[6]

See also
Jabung, a Majapahit Buddhist temple with architecture style similar to Bahal temple
Muara Takus, a Buddhist stupa in Riau
Muaro Jambi Temple Compounds, a temple complex in Jambi

References
Notes

1. Miksic 1996, p. 105. 4. I.G.N. Anom & Tjepi Kusman 5. I.G.N. Anom & Tjepi Kusman
2. Kepustakaan Candi 2015. 1991, p. 39. 1991, p. 38.
3. Miksic 1996, p. 104. 6. Kompas-Ekonomi/Oase 2009.

Works cited

"Candi Bahal". Kepustakaan Candi (in Indonesian). Perpustakaan Nasional Republik Indonesia. 2014. Archived
from the original on 2015-11-29. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
"Candi di Padang Lawas Kurang Terawat". Kompas-Ekonomi/Oase (in Indonesian). 17 April 2009. Retrieved
22 July 2015.
I.G.N. Anom; Tjepi Kusman (1991). Soekatno Tw.; Samidi, eds. Album Peninggalan Sejarah dan Purbakala
[Album of Historical and Archeological Heritage] (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Direktorat Jenderal Kebudayaan.
ISBN 9789798250002.
Miksic, John (1996). Miksic, John, ed. Sumatran Kingdoms After Sriwijaya. Indonesian Heritage. 1. Singapore:
Didier millet. ISBN 9813018267.

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Categories: Buddhist temples in Indonesia Archaeological sites in Indonesia

Cultural Properties of Indonesia in North Sumatra Srivijaya

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