YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA, July 10, 2026 (The Indian Express): Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, marked the start of India’s effort to help restore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Prambanan Temple Compounds, which include Prambanan, Sewu, Bubrah and Lumbung temples. Built during the ninth century under the Sanjaya dynasty, Prambanan was commissioned by King Rakai Pikatan after his marriage to the Buddhist princess Pramodhawardhani. The temple symbolized the revival of Shaivite Hinduism while also reflecting religious harmony through its blend of Hindu and Buddhist architectural elements. It served as a major pilgrimage center until the Mataram Kingdom shifted its capital to East Java around 929–930 CE, after which the complex was abandoned and gradually buried by vegetation and volcanic debris.

Prambanan’s rediscovery remains debated, with possible early references by the 15th-century poet Mpu Tanakung and later documentation by Dutch and British colonial figures, including Thomas Stamford Raffles. Restoration efforts began in the early 20th century but were delayed by World War II and Indonesia’s independence struggle. The reconstruction of the main temple, started in 1918, was completed in 1953 and inaugurated by Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno. India’s new restoration initiative highlights the temple’s enduring historical, cultural, and spiritual significance while strengthening cultural ties between India and Indonesia.

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