Prambanan

Note:  This tour took place at the same time as the previous Borobudur tour but we had no internet facilities for over two weeks, hence the delay. 

Another temple, another World Heritage Site and another wonder, The Prambanan Temples (consisting of the Prambanan, Sewar, Lumbung and Bubrah Temples) lie near the city of Yogyakarta in Central Java. The largest, Prambanan, is described as the tallest and the most beautiful Hindu temple in the world and it certainly is beautiful. The sketch above gives some idea of the magnitude of the original grounds.

Your history lesson for today is:

During the eighth century, the Hindu Mataram Kingdom was the largest kingdom in ancient Java, but they were expelled by the Buddhist Syailendra Dynasty so went to live in the higher lands outside the kingdom's borders.

A century later, Hindu influence was reborn and many temples were built including the construction of the Prambanan Temple complex. Another century passed and the Mataram Kingdom, along with its people, moved to East Java and the temples were left ignored. In the sixteenth century, the temples collapsed during an earthquake but restoration began in the 1930's and is still in progress today.

 


The Sewa Temple, a mere 800 metres away is also very impressive but is still very much in ruins. It consisted of 240 small temples surrounding the main. In between are the Lumbung and Bubrah Temples but, sadly, the Bubrah is too badly damaged to restore.

I could have happily sat for hours in a comfortable chair (not that there were any to be found) and marvelled at these magnificent structures, watching the sun and shadows move around them.

Again, I'll let the photos do the talking.

PHOTO ALBUM:

Prambanan Temple:

One of the temples required safety equipment

 

 

The outer ring of temples awaiting restoration

Sewa Temple:

Still so much to restore