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Indonesia · Cultural

Prambanan Temple Compounds

Indonesia's largest temple compound dedicated to Shiva, whose Ramayana reliefs still come alive in dance today.

About 1 min read

Prambanan Temple Compounds
Photo: Gunawan Kartapranata / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Licence

Discover

Discover

Prambanan stands near Yogyakarta. UNESCO describes it as the largest temple compound in Indonesia dedicated to Shiva. At the centre of its innermost court rise three temples carved with the Ramayana, dedicated to the three great Hindu deities, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, and three temples for the animals that serve them.

History

History

Built more than a thousand years ago in Central Java, around the same era as Buddhist Borobudur, Prambanan shows Hinduism and Buddhism flourishing side by side in one land. The compound has been damaged by earthquakes, including the Yogyakarta earthquake of 2006, and restored many times.

People & Culture

People & Culture

Prambanan's Ramayana reliefs tell the same epic known in Thailand as the Ramakien. For us, it is a fine example of how one epic has been retold by many cultures across Southeast Asia.

Living Heritage

Living Heritage

Near Prambanan, an open-air Ramayana ballet brings the stories on the stone walls back to life. Indonesian Hindus still hold important ceremonies here, making Prambanan both a monument and a place of faith.

Explore Further

Explore Further

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Dear-Asia is not affiliated with UNESCO. Names and World Heritage facts are taken from the official website of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.