Prambanan Temple

Prambanan Temple is one of the historical heritage sites that still exists today. This
temple has an amazing shape so that it can attract the interest of many people. The
ornaments engraved on this temple are also one of the attractions of this site. Many
visitors come to see the unique ornaments here.

This temple is the largest of Hindu temple in Indonesia as well as one of the most
beautiful temples in Southeast Asia. According to the Siwagrha inscription, this temple
began to be built during the reign of Rakai Pikatan (Mid-9th century) of the Ancient
Mataram Kingdom. However, for reasons that are still mysterious, the center of the
kingdom moved to East Java in the late 10th century. This magnificent temple was
abandoned and partially buried by the eruption of Mount Merapi. Gradually, the area
around Prambanan Temple is slowly becoming dense forest. It was hundreds of years
later that the ruins of this temple were rediscovered. At that time the history of this
temple was not known, so the legend of Roro Jonggrang was created which was told from
generation to generation and serious efforts to restore the temple in the 1930s.

There are 3 of the 8 main temples called the Trimurti Temple or the Three Forms. Was
dedicated to the 3 highest Hindu deities: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Keeper, and
Shiva the Destroyer. Shiva Temple as the main temple is the largest and the tallest
building in the Roro Jonggrang temple complex, measuring 47 m high and 34 m wide.
There are several rooms, namely the eastern room which is connected to the main room
where a 3 m high statue of Shiva Mahadeva (the embodiment of Shiva as the supreme
lord) resides. The other 2 temples are dedicated to Vishnu, which is located on the north
side and the other is dedicated to Brahma, which is located on the south side. These 2
temples face east and there is only one room, which is dedicated to these lords. The
Brahma Temple keep the Brahma statue and the Vishnu Temple keep the Vishnu statue
which is almost 3 m high.

Prambanan Temple is decorated with reliefs that tell story of Ramayana and Krishnayana.
The Ramayana relief depicts how Shinta, Rama’s wife, was kidnapped by Ravana and the
commander of the wanara (monkey) nation, Hanuman, came to Alengka to help Rama
look for Shinta. The reliefs of this Ramayana story are carved on the inner wall of the
fence along the gallery aisle that surrounds the main temple. This eternally carved love
story of Rama and Shinta is also staged in the form of a ballet every Tuesday night,
Thursday night, and Saturday night. The Prambanan Ramayana Baller holds the Guinness
World Records as the Ramayana dance performance that involves the most dancers as
well as the longest ballet and regularly performs the Ramayana dance from 1961 to 2012.

The majesty of this temple makes Prambanan Temple one of the Hindu temples that
attracts many tourists. This temple included in a very famous historical heritage site in
Indonesia.