Selomangleng Caves

INDONESIA, East Java, Kediri

These cave are located west of Kediri, on a stone hill in the Klotok Mountain range. The site is believed to have been a place of secluded practice for the Buddhist crown princess Sanggramawijaya during the reign of King Airlangga (reigned circa 1019–1049) of Kahuripan.
The cave complex faces east, with four caves arrayed from south to north. Caves 2 and 3 have entrances to the outside, with inner passageways leading to Caves 1 and 4. The main cave at the site is Cave 2, an L-shaped cave consisting of a front chamber and a rear chamber. The front chamber is the main chamber and measures approximately 4 m wide, 2.1 m high, and 3 m deep. An altar is set before the back (west) wall; behind it is a shallow niche framed with a cloud pattern containing a 1 m high figure. Stone benches are located in front of the altar, while images in relief cover the remainder of the wall. The north wall is also covered with images in relief, while the south wall contains six steps leading to Cave 1. Cave 1 measures 1.9 m in height, 1.9 m in width, and 2.2 m in depth. The upper section of the back wall is carved with a seated heavenly being rendered simply in bas-relief. The carving appears to be unfinished.
Cave 3 is 2.4 m wide and 4.3 m deep. An inscribed stone bed is carved into the back wall, likely used for daily activities of those living in the caves. Cut into the north wall of the cave is an opening leading to Cave 4. The square central altar in front of the north wall of Cave 4 is 80 cm in height and 60 cm in length and width. Carved on the altar is a mandorla encircled with a flame pattern, suggesting that this platform may have originally held a standing statue.