PM Modi visited this 1,000-year-old UNESCO Hindu temple in Indonesia: Why every Indian traveller should add it to their bucket list
ETimes | July 8, 2026 9:41 PM CST
Global attention has once again turned to one of Southeast Asia's greatest Hindu monuments. Today marks one of the historic moments as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Indonesia's iconic Prambanan Temple and jointly launched an India-supported conservation initiative alongside Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. This is a moment which is far more than a restoration project. The decision celebrates over a thousand years of shared civilisational ties between India and Indonesia.
More about this UNESCO heritage site in Indonesia
Prambanan Temple is just outside Yogyakarta on Indonesia's Java island. It is the largest Hindu temple complex in the country and among the finest examples of Hindu architecture anywhere in the world! The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Every year, the temple welcomes millions of visitors.
An ancient Hindu kingdom
Not many must be aware of the fact that Prambanan, aka Candi Prambanan or Candi Rara Jonggrang, was built around the 9th century during the kingdom of the Sanjaya Dynasty of the ancient Mataram Kingdom.
The temple complex is dedicated to Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the three principal deities of Hinduism. At its peak, the sacred complex consisted of nearly 240 temples.
An architectural marvel
One of the main features of the complex is the 47-metre-tall Shiva Temple. Each temple has companion shrines dedicated to the divine vehicles of the gods—Hamsa, Garuda and Nandi.
Why was it abandoned?
The temple was abandoned around the 10th century.
As per historians, it happened due to the relocation of the Mataram Kingdom's capital from Central Java to East Java. Volcanic activity from nearby Mount Merapi must also be one of the reasons. One of the biggest setbacks came after a major earthquake in the 16th century, followed centuries later by another devastating earthquake in Yogyakarta in 2006 that damaged several structures.
The supernatural legend of Roro Jonggrang
Legend has it that there was a pretty princess named Roro Jonggrang. She agreed to marry Prince Bandung Bondowoso only if he could build 1,000 temples in one night. Using supernatural powers, the prince almost completed the task.
The princess didn’t want to marry him so she tricked villagers into creating the illusion of sunrise. The spirits abandoned the construction process after building 999 temples, thinking of sunrise. This left the prince angry and he cursed Roro Jonggrang to turn into stone. And she became the 1000th statue in the complex.
Locals believe the statue of Goddess Durga represents the cursed princess in the stone form.
Ramayana carved in stone
Another most interesting feature of the temple are the elaborate bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayana. Walking clockwise around the Shiva and Brahma temples will let you follow the epic almost like reading a giant stone comic strip. Absolutely fascinating!
How to reach Prambanan
Prambanan is located around 17 km from Yogyakarta.
By Air: Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) is well connected with Jakarta, Bali and Singapore.
By Train: Yogyakarta has excellent rail connectivity with Jakarta and Surabaya.
By Road: The temple complex is about a 30–40 minute drive from central Yogyakarta. Taxis and organised sightseeing tours are easily available.
For Indian travellers, Prambanan is much more than another UNESCO monument. It is living proof that Indian culture, and architecture travelled far beyond and flourished in Southeast Asia thousand years ago.
More about this UNESCO heritage site in Indonesia
Prambanan Temple is just outside Yogyakarta on Indonesia's Java island. It is the largest Hindu temple complex in the country and among the finest examples of Hindu architecture anywhere in the world! The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Every year, the temple welcomes millions of visitors.
An ancient Hindu kingdom
Not many must be aware of the fact that Prambanan, aka Candi Prambanan or Candi Rara Jonggrang, was built around the 9th century during the kingdom of the Sanjaya Dynasty of the ancient Mataram Kingdom.
The temple complex is dedicated to Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the three principal deities of Hinduism. At its peak, the sacred complex consisted of nearly 240 temples.
An architectural marvel
One of the main features of the complex is the 47-metre-tall Shiva Temple. Each temple has companion shrines dedicated to the divine vehicles of the gods—Hamsa, Garuda and Nandi.
Why was it abandoned?
The temple was abandoned around the 10th century.
As per historians, it happened due to the relocation of the Mataram Kingdom's capital from Central Java to East Java. Volcanic activity from nearby Mount Merapi must also be one of the reasons. One of the biggest setbacks came after a major earthquake in the 16th century, followed centuries later by another devastating earthquake in Yogyakarta in 2006 that damaged several structures.
The supernatural legend of Roro Jonggrang
Legend has it that there was a pretty princess named Roro Jonggrang. She agreed to marry Prince Bandung Bondowoso only if he could build 1,000 temples in one night. Using supernatural powers, the prince almost completed the task.
The princess didn’t want to marry him so she tricked villagers into creating the illusion of sunrise. The spirits abandoned the construction process after building 999 temples, thinking of sunrise. This left the prince angry and he cursed Roro Jonggrang to turn into stone. And she became the 1000th statue in the complex.
Locals believe the statue of Goddess Durga represents the cursed princess in the stone form.
Ramayana carved in stone
Another most interesting feature of the temple are the elaborate bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayana. Walking clockwise around the Shiva and Brahma temples will let you follow the epic almost like reading a giant stone comic strip. Absolutely fascinating!
How to reach Prambanan
Prambanan is located around 17 km from Yogyakarta.
By Air: Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) is well connected with Jakarta, Bali and Singapore.
By Train: Yogyakarta has excellent rail connectivity with Jakarta and Surabaya.
By Road: The temple complex is about a 30–40 minute drive from central Yogyakarta. Taxis and organised sightseeing tours are easily available.
For Indian travellers, Prambanan is much more than another UNESCO monument. It is living proof that Indian culture, and architecture travelled far beyond and flourished in Southeast Asia thousand years ago.
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