Prambanan Temple, Hindu temple compound in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Prambanan is a Hindu temple compound near Yogyakarta in Indonesia, consisting of 240 structures arranged in concentric squares. Three central towers dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma rise above smaller surrounding shrines, forming together a geometric layout.
Construction of the temple compound began around 850 under the Sanjaya dynasty, during a period when Hinduism gained influence in central Java. Multiple earthquakes damaged the site over the centuries, until restoration efforts started in the early 20th century and continue today.
The compound's name comes from the village where it stands, likely from the Sanskrit Para Brahman, the supreme reality. Local villagers, unaware of its Mataram origins, explained the ruins through the Rara Jonggrang legend of a cursed princess and demons ordered by Bandung Bondowoso. Since the 1960s the Ramayana Ballet has been performed at the site during full moon.
The compound lies about 17 km northeast of Yogyakarta, on the border between the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, with its administrative entrance in Central Java. The Opak River runs north to south along the western side, and the open-air Trimurti stage for the Ramayana Ballet stands on its western bank, used in the dry season while rainy-season shows move indoors.
The central temple structure reaches a height of 47 meters (154 feet) and contains four chambers oriented to the cardinal directions, each housing different deity statues. The eastern chamber holds a statue of Shiva as teacher, while the other chambers represent different aspects of the gods, showing the complex symbolism of the site.
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