The Prambanan Temple Compounds are a World Heritage site that includes a group of Hindu temple compounds located on the border between Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia. This site includes the Prambanan, Lumbung, Bubrah, and Sewu temple compounds, all of which are within the Prambanan Archaeological Park.

Locally, these temples are called "candi" in the Indonesian and Javanese languages. The temple compounds are found along the Opak River valley in the Prambanan Plain or Kewu Plain, an area with many archaeological sites. These sites include numerous Hindu temples built between the 8th and 9th centuries CE, which are historically connected to the Mataram kingdom. The variety and complexity of the temple compounds and archaeological sites in this region are similar to those found at the Angkor archaeological site in Cambodia.

History

The temple compounds were built between the 8th and 9th centuries CE and are connected to the historic Mataram kingdom, which ruled Central Java during that time. The Shailendras, the ruling family of the kingdom, were known for building many temples. Some temples in the area, including Kalasan, Sari, and Sewu, are believed to have been built by King Panangkaran, the second monarch of the Shailendra family. Among these temple compounds, Sewu is the oldest, completed in 792 according to the Manjusrigrha inscription. Lumbung and Bubrah were also built around the same time or slightly later. Prambanan, however, was the last major temple in the complex, completed and opened in 856 during the reign of King Pikatan, as recorded in the Shivagrha inscription.

After the capital of the kingdom moved to eastern Java around the 11th century, the temples were no longer cared for. Over time, they fell into disrepair, buried under volcanic debris from Mount Merapi and damaged by earthquakes. The temples collapsed around the 1600s due to a large earthquake.

The temples were in ruins when they were rediscovered in the early 19th century during the British rule of Java. In 1918, the Dutch colonial government began restoring the temple complex. More careful restoration started in 1930, but progress was limited because many stones were missing. During the Dutch East Indies period before World War II, only some smaller shrines in the Prambanan and Sewu complexes were rebuilt.

After World War II, reconstruction continued using the anastylosis method, which means a temple can only be rebuilt if at least 75% of its original stones remain. The main Shiva temple in the Prambanan complex was completed around 1953 and opened by Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno. The Brahma temple was finished in 1987, and the Vishnu temple was completed in 1991, both opened by President Suharto.

In 1991, the temple compounds were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples are located within Prambanan Tourism Park (Indonesian: Taman Wisata Candi Prambanan). The main temple of Sewu was completed in 1993, and the Bubrah restoration was finished in 2017. Since the complex includes hundreds of smaller shrines, most of which are still in ruins, restoration work continues today.

Temple compounds

Prambanan is a Hindu temple compound dedicated to Trimurti, the three main gods in Hinduism. Sewu, Lumbung, and Bubrah temples are Mahayana Buddhist temples. Both Prambanan and Sewu are temple compounds arranged in a mandala layout, surrounded by hundreds of pervara (guardian) temples. Originally, Prambanan had 240 structures, Sewu had 249 structures, and Lumbung had 17 structures. Together, these temples include more than 500 temples. The Prambanan Temple Compounds are not only an important example of ancient architecture and culture but also show how different religions peacefully coexisted in Indonesia’s past.

Prambanan, also known as Rara Jonggrang in the Javanese language, is a large Hindu temple complex built in the 9th century. It is famous for its shrines and statues of Hindu gods and scenes from the Ramayana story carved into stone reliefs. Statues of Hindu deities worshipped at Prambanan include Shiva Mahadeva, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga Mahisasuramardini, Ganesha, Agastya, and Nandi bull.

Sewu, originally called Manjusrigrha, is the largest Buddhist temple complex in Indonesia and the second largest after Borobudur. It has four pairs of large Dvarapala statues, which are guardian figures. Archaeologists believe the original name, Manjusrigrha, means "the house of Manjusri," a major Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism.

Bubrah is a 9th-century Buddhist temple located between Lumbung to the south and Sewu to the north. Experts think it was part of the larger Sewu temple compound mandala.

Candi Lumbung is a 9th-century Buddhist temple compound located within the Prambanan Temple Tourism Park in Central Java, Indonesia. The original name of this temple is unknown, but the local Javanese people call it "Candi Lumbung," which means "rice barn temple" in the Javanese language.

Surrounding temples

Outside of Prambanan Temple Tourism Park, there are many temples and archaeological sites located a few kilometers away. These include:

• Plaosan: A Buddhist temple located a few kilometers east of the Sewu temple compound. The temple is believed to date from the 9th century. It is thought to have been built by a Hindu king for his Buddhist queen. The site includes two main temples with carvings of Bodhisattva and Tara. Rows of slender stupas are also present.
• Ratu Boko: A complex with fortified gates, bathing pools, and an elevated walled stone enclosure located on top of a hill.
• Sajiwan: A Buddhist temple decorated with carvings related to education. The base and staircase have carvings of animal stories from the Jatakas.
• Banyunibo: A Buddhist temple with a unique roof design.
• Barong: A Hindu temple complex with a large stepped stone courtyard located on the slope of a hill.
• Ijo: A group of Hindu temples near the top of Ijo hill. The main temple contains a large lingam and yoni.
• Arca Bugisan: Seven statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva, some of which are broken. The statues show different poses and expressions.
• Kalsan: An 8th-century Buddhist temple, the oldest in the area. It was built by King Panangkaran to house the image of Bodhisattvadevi Tara. The temple is decorated with finely carved reliefs.
• Sari: Once a sanctuary for Buddhist monks. Built in the 8th century, it has nine stupas at the top and two rooms below, believed to have been used for meditation.
• Sambisari: A 9th-century Hindu temple discovered in 1966, once buried 6.5 meters under volcanic ash. The main temple contains a lingam and yoni. The surrounding walls display images of Agastya, Durga, and Ganesha.
• Kedulan: Discovered in 1994 by sand diggers, it is 4 meters deep. The square base of the main temple is visible, and secondary temples have not yet been fully excavated.