Prambanan Temple is a mystical cultural site with a rich enigmatic history which tourists should acknowledge to have a complete latch on the genuine appeal of the place. This magnificent heritage is for culture enthusiasts who mean their trips something more than that of just colorful selfies.
This is the most magnificent of Central Java’s temples rather to be more precise, a complex of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located about 15 kilometers from Yogyakarta, the top of the main shrine is visible from a great distance and rises high above the scattered ruins of the former temples. King Balitung Maha Sambu built the temple in the middle of the ninth century. Its walls are embellished with bas-reliefs portraying the epic, Ramayana.
It is the biggest and most beautiful Hindu monument in Indonesia. Out of its eight shrines, three main ones are dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The main temple of Shiva rises to a height of 130 feet and holds the magnificent statue of Shiva’s consort, Durga. With a sum of 240 temples in the complex; the the most elevated one is the Shiva Temple which is 47 meters high.
In the year 1991, the temple compound was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural value.Prambanan Temple Compounds symbolizes not only an architectural and cultural treasure, but also a standing evidence of past religious peaceful cohabitation.
The temple has been provided with two open air theatres and an archaeological park. The First open-air theatre was built on the southern side of the temple in 1960 and the second was built on the western side of the temple after 28 years, in 1988 and during full moon evenings in the month from May to October, the Ramayana ballet is performed right here in between May – October of each year. Being one of the most majestic temples in the South-East Asia, Prambanan with its enchanting beauty pulls a decent number of foreign tourists from all over the world each year.
Besides being a world heritage site, Prambanan Temple also hosts vital socio – cultural programmes like in last November it hosted a promotional programme to launch and maintain smoke-free tourism campaign for a healthy and protetcted tourism.
Tourist information:
Prambanan Temple can be accessed just by one-hour local bus or rented car drive from downtown Yogyakarta. The complex is open from 6AM to 6PM daily, and if the magnificent sunset and Ramayana Ballet are among your attractions you are advisable schedule your visit in the afternoon particularly.
For foreign tourists The tickets cost $25 and for locals it’s around $4. It is better to visit the place with your non-revealing clothes, though a sarungis is provided by the temple management at the entrance of the temple. You can hire a local guides even with fees at around $15.
