Prambanan Temple Compounds
Group of Hindu and Buddhist temple compounds in Central Java.
On the border between Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia, lies a group of Hindu temple compounds known collectively as the Prambanan Temple Compounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This designation includes the Prambanan, Lumbung, Bubrah, and Sewu temple compounds, all found within the Prambanan Archaeological Park. Locally, these structures are called *candi* in both Indonesian and Javanese. They sit along the Opak River valley in the Prambanan Plain, also called the Kewu Plain, an area rich in archaeological sites dotted with Hindu temples from the 8th and 9th centuries CE, historically tied to the Mataram kingdom. The variety and refinement of these compounds and sites are often compared to Cambodia’s Angkor.
**History**
The temple compounds were built between the 8th and 9th centuries CE, linked to the Mataram kingdom that ruled Central Java at the time. The Shailendra dynasty, the kingdom’s ruling family, were known as avid temple builders. Some temples in the area—including Kalasan, Sari, and Sewu—are credited to their second monarch, King Panangkaran. Among these, Sewu is the oldest, completed in 792 according to the Manjusrigrha inscription. Lumbung and Bubrah date from around the same period or slightly later. Prambanan was the latest addition, finished and inaugurated in 856 during the reign of King Pikatan, as recorded in the Shivagrha inscription.
After the kingdom’s capital moved to eastern Java around the 11th century, the temples were neglected. Over centuries, they fell into disrepair, buried under volcanic debris from Mount Merapi and shaken by earthquakes. A massive earthquake around the 1600s caused the temples to collapse. They lay in ruins when rediscovered in the early 19th century during the British Java period. In 1918, the Dutch colonial government began reconstruction, with a proper restoration effort in 1930 yielding modest results due to lost stones. Only a few smaller *pervara* shrines at Prambanan and Sewu were rebuilt during the Dutch East Indies period before the Pacific War.
After World War II, reconstruction continued using the anastylosis method, which requires at least 75 percent of the original stones to be present for rebuilding. The main Shiva temple in the Prambanan complex was completed around 1953 and inaugurated by Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Bokoharjo Village, Prambanan District, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta; and Bugisan Village, Prambanan District, Klaten Regency, Central Java
- Built
- Circa 8th to 9th century CE
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
After World War II, reconstruction efforts continued using the anastylosis method, requiring at least 75 percent of original stones. The main Shiva temple in Prambanan was completed around 1953 and inaugurated by Indonesia's first president, Sukarno. Brahma temple was finished in 1987, and Vishnu temple in 1991, both inaugurated by Suharto. In 1991, the compounds gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Sewu main temple was completed in 1993, and Bubrah restoration was completed in 2017. Restoration efforts continue to this day, as hundreds of pervara temples remain in ruins.
Reader's Guide
Prambanan Temple Compounds represent a significant architectural and cultural treasure, illustrating the religious harmony and peaceful cohabitation between faiths in Indonesia's past. Prambanan is a Hindu temple compound dedicated to the Trimurti, while Sewu, Lumbung, and Bubrah are Mahayana Buddhist temples. Both Prambanan and Sewu are arranged in a mandala layout, surrounded by hundreds of pervara temples. Originally, Prambanan consisted of 240 structures, Sewu of 249, and Lumbung of 17. The compounds include notable statues of the Hindu pantheon and Ramayana bas reliefs at Prambanan, and Sewu is the largest Buddhist temple complex in Indonesia, second only to Borobudur. The surrounding area contains numerous other temples and archaeological sites, such as Plaosan, Ratu Boko, and Kalasan, further enriching the historical landscape. The ongoing restoration efforts highlight the enduring importance of these sites as a link to the region's ancient past.
Did You Know?
- Sewu is the oldest temple compound in the group, completed in 792 CE according to the Manjusrigrha inscription.
- Prambanan temple is locally known in Javanese as Rara Jonggrang.
- The temple compounds are located along the Opak River valley within the Prambanan Plain, also known as the Kewu Plain.
- Bubrah temple was designed as part of the greater Sewu temple compound mandala.
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