CANDI TIKUS

Candi Tikus is an ancient relic located in Dukuh Dinuk, Temon Village, Trowulan Subdistrict, Mojokerto Regency, East Java.location This temple is located in Trowulan complex, about 13 km southeast of Mojokerto city. From the Mojokerto-Jombang highway, at Trowulan intersection, turn eastward, passing Segaran Pond and Bajangratu Temple located on the left side of the road. Rat Temple is also located on the left side of the road, about 600 m from Bajangratu Temple. Rat temple which was originally buried in the ground was rediscovered in 1914. Site excavation was done based on Mojokerto regent report, R.A.A. Kromojoyo Adinegoro, about the discovery of miniature temples in a public cemetery. A thorough restoration was carried out from 1984 to 1985. The name 'Rat' is only a term used by local people. It is said, at the time found, where the temple is located is a nest of mice. No source of written information has been made clear about when, for what, and by whom Rat Temple was built. However, with the miniature of the tower is estimated this temple was built between the 13th century until the 14th M, because the miniature tower is a characteristic of architecture at that time. The Rat Temple-like form of a petirtaan invites debate among historians and archaeologists about its function. Some experts argue that this temple is petirtaan, bathing the king's family, but some experts think that the building is a shelter and distribution of water for the purposes of Trowulan residents. However, the tower in the form of Meru cause allegations that the building of this temple also serves as a place of worship. Rat Temple building resembles a petirtaan or bathhouse, which is a pond with several buildings in it. Almost all buildings are rectangular with size 29.5 m x 28.25 m is made of red brick. Interestingly, it is located approximately 3.5 m lower than the surrounding soil surface. On the top surface there is a wide corridor about 75 cm surrounding the building. On the inside, down about 1 m, there is a broader hall around the edge of the pool. The entrance to the temple is located on the north side, a staircase of 3.5 m width leading to the bottom of the pond. On the left and right foot of the stairs there is a rectangular pool measuring 3.5 m x 2 m with a depth of 1.5 m. On the outer walls each pond is lined with three padded shaped showers (lotus) made of andesite stone. Just facing the stairs, rather into the south side, there is a rectangular building with a size of 7.65 m x 7.65 m. On top of this building there is a 'tower' as high as about 2 m with a roof-shaped meru with flat tops. The tower located in the center of this building is surrounded by 8 smaller type of smaller tower. Around the walls of the foot of the building lined 17 showers (jaladwara) in the form of lotus flowers and makara. Another interesting thing is the existence of two different types of bricks used in the construction of this temple. The foot of the temple consists of a large red brick arrangement that is covered with a smaller red brick arrangement. In addition to the foot of the building, the water shower contained in this temple there are two types, made of brick and made of andesite stone. The difference in building materials used raises the notion that the Rat Temple was built through the stage. In the construction of the foot of the first stage of the temple used a large red brick, while in the second stage used smaller red brick. In other words, the larger red bricks are older than the smaller ones. The red brick shower is thought to be made in the first stage, due to its still rigid shape. The finer stone shower of andesite carvings is estimated to be made in the second stage. However, it is not known exactly when the two stages of development are implemented.