Prambanan
★ 4.8🇮🇩 YogyakartaSuggested visit 2-3 hoursBest season May to September, the dry season, with clear skies
World HeritageReligious siteHistoric site
The largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia, its spires and Ramayana reliefs the peak of classical Javanese art.
Overview
Built in the 9th century, Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia and was inscribed with Borobudur and other sites on the World Heritage List in 1991. It comprises more than 240 temples, with three main spires dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, the tallest about 47 metres. The galleries carry reliefs of the Ramayana, and a Ramayana ballet is often performed in the evening.
History
Raised around AD 850 by the Mataram kingdom, abandoned after the political centre shifted east in the 10th century, badly damaged by an earthquake in the 16th and restored from the 20th.
Highlights
- •The Shiva temple and its galleries
- •The Ramayana reliefs
- •The evening Ramayana ballet
- •Combining with Borobudur
Practical tips
- •Sunset gives the best silhouette
- •Climbing is not allowed after the earthquake; heed the barriers
Practical information
- Best time
- May-September
- Tickets
- About USD 25 for foreign visitors
- Opening hours
- 6:00-17:00
- Local food
- Nasi goreng, Yogyakarta court cuisine, Javanese coffee
- Getting around
- About 30 minutes by road from central Yogyakarta, 20 from the airport.
- Visa
- A visa is required, available as an e-visa or on arrival.
Traveller reviews
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