The Plateau is home to eight petite Hindu temples from the Kalingga era on record.[3]:79,90 Their construction dates are somewhat obscure, speculated to be sometime between the middle of the 7th century and the late 8th century AD; they are the earliest known erect stone edifices in Java.[4] Initially, it was believed there were 400 temples, yet only eight have survived. It’s currently thought that the temples were christened after the legendary figures in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.[5]

Michell comments on the eeriness of Dieng’s altitude at nearly 2,093 meters above sea level, combined with its noxious fumes and yellow-tinted lakes, contributing to its significance as a sublime site for spiritual homage. These temples serve as modest altars in memory of the deific ancestors, with Shiva as their divine focus.[6] The Hindu sanctuaries represent diminutive models of the universe, inspired by designs outlined in Indian sacred scriptures. However, Schoppert contends that the architectural themes may not have strong ties with India.