Located on the island of Java, Prambanan is Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple complex and the second-largest in Southeast Asia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday visited the historic Prambanan Temple complex in Indonesia alongside President Prabowo Subianto, offering prayers at the nearly 1,000-year-old Hindu shrine dedicated to the Trimurti — Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. As the two leaders travelled by helicopter from Yogyakarta to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, PM Modi shared an aerial view of the temple complex on X, writing: “The majestic Prambanan Temple!”The visit comes a day after India and Indonesia agreed to launch a joint conservation and restoration project for the temple complex, strengthening cultural ties under India’s Act East policy. During bilateral talks on Tuesday, PM Modi and Prabowo exchanged a Letter of Intent for the preservation initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the India-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.Located on the island of Java, Prambanan is Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple complex and the second-largest in Southeast Asia after Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. Spread across nearly 40 hectares, the site originally consisted of around 240 temples and remains one of Indonesia’s most important cultural landmarks, reflecting centuries-old links between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.Built in the 9th century during the Hindu Mataram Kingdom, the temple complex is believed to have been commissioned by King Rakai Pikatan and completed by his successor Lokapala. At its centre stand three towering temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, with the 47-metre Shiva Temple serving as the complex’s tallest and most prominent structure.The temple walls are adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes from the Ramayana and other Hindu epics, showcasing the cultural and religious exchanges that flourished across Southeast Asia through ancient maritime trade routes.Prambanan was abandoned in the 10th century, with historians linking its decline to political changes in Java and volcanic activity from nearby Mount Merapi. Many structures were later damaged by earthquakes before restoration efforts began under Dutch colonial rule in the 19th century. Large-scale archaeological reconstruction between 1913 and 1953 restored the main temples.Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, Prambanan is now one of Indonesia’s leading cultural attractions. The new India-backed restoration project is expected to further strengthen the longstanding civilisational ties between New Delhi and Jakarta while helping preserve one of Asia’s most significant Hindu monuments.
