How special is the Prambanan temple which has the story of Ramayana on its walls? Where will PM Modi go

Prambanan Temple in Indonesia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Indonesia, the first stop of his three-nation tour to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. He will leave from here for Australia on July 8. He will participate in many programs during his visit to Indonesia. PM Modi will also visit the famous Prambanan temple. Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. Come, let us know how many temples are there in Indonesia, the country with the highest Muslim population? Which are the major temples? What is the history of Prambanan Temple, where PM Modi will visit?

Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. About 87 percent people here follow Islam religion. Despite this, this country is also known for its ancient Hindu and Buddhist heritage. Many historical Hindu temples still exist in Indonesia. The most famous among these is Prambanan Temple. This temple is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. This temple is once again in the headlines due to the talk of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting here.

How many temples are there in Indonesia?

There are thousands of Hindu temples in Indonesia. In the local language they are called Pura or Chandi. Most of the temples are on the island of Bali. Hindu population is majority in Bali. It is estimated that there are more than 20 thousand temples here. Temples are visible from small and big villages to mountains and beaches. Many ancient temples also exist on Java, Lombok and other islands. Some of these temples are said to be more than a thousand years old.

Prambanan Temple was built by King Rakai Pikatan of the Sanjaya Dynasty in the 9th century. photo: pexels

Where is Prambanan Temple?

Prambanan Temple is located on the Java island of Indonesia. It is built near Yogyakarta city. Its distance from the capital Jakarta is about five hundred kilometers. This temple is of 9th century. It is counted among the most grand Hindu temples of South-East Asia.

Who built Prambanan Temple?

According to historians, Prambanan Temple was built by King Rakai Pikatan of the Sanjaya Dynasty in the 9th century. Later other rulers also expanded it. At that time both Hindu and Buddhist traditions existed in Java. During this period, the nearby Buddhist monument Borobudur was also built. Prambanan Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Later, temples of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were also built here. This temple remained a major center of religious and cultural activities for many centuries.

Prambanan Temple is famous for its high and attractive spire style. Photo: Pexels

Why was Prambanan temple destroyed?

Political changes took place in Java with time. The capital moved to another area. After this the importance of the temple gradually decreased. The temple was also damaged by earthquakes and volcanic activities. Many parts were broken. This complex remained in ruins for a long time. In the 19th century, the attention of European explorers came towards this temple. After this the work of conservation and reconstruction started. Today a large part of it has been rebuilt.

Why is the architecture of the temple special?

Prambanan Temple is famous for its high and attractive spire style. There were a total of 240 structures in the temple complex. These included main and small temples.There are three big temples in the main complex.Lord Shiva temple,Temple of Lord Vishnu andTemple of Lord Brahma.Temples dedicated to Nandi, Garuda and swan have also been built in front of them. The temple of Lord Shiva is the highest. Its height is about 47 meters. Very beautiful carvings have been done on the walls of the temple. Many stories of Hindu religion have been engraved in them.

The story of Ramayana is also on the walls of the temple

The greatest features of Prambanan Temple include its stone carvings. The story of Ramayana has been depicted in detail on the walls of the temple. Many scenes related to Lord Ram, Mother Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman and Ravana have been carved on the stones. Every year tourists from all over the world come to see these carvings. A cultural program named Ramayana Ballet is also organized in the temple premises. In this, the story of Ramayana is presented through dance and music.

Included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List

In the year 1991, UNESCO declared Prambanan Temple as a World Heritage Site. After this, conservation and tourism got a boost. Today it is included among the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. Every year lakhs of people come to see this temple.

Performance Of Homage To The Triple Gem By The Artists

Local artists performed in front of PM Modi who arrived in Indonesia. Photo:

Cultural relationship between India and Indonesia

Relations between India and Indonesia are not limited to the modern era only. In ancient times, Indian culture reached Indonesia through trade, maritime contact and cultural exchange. Due to this influence, traditions like Hinduism, Sanskrit language and Ramayana-Mahabharata spread there. Even today, dance, drama and cultural programs based on Ramayana and Mahabharata are organized in Indonesia. Indian influence can also be seen in many place names and cultural symbols.

Witnessed a captivating performance of Wayang Kulit, Indonesia’s treasured shadow puppetry tradition, bringing the timeless story of the Ramayan to life. It was a moving reminder of how our shared civilizational heritage has traveled across seas and generations, taking on pic.twitter.com/wmEW3QTcUT

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2026

Indonesia may be the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, but its identity is not limited to this only. This country is also rich in diverse religious and cultural heritage. Be it the thousands of temples of Bali or the grand Prambanan Temple of Java, they all tell the story of the multifaceted history of Indonesia. Prambanan Temple is famous all over the world due to its grand architecture, huge temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, amazing carvings of Ramayana and getting UNESCO World Heritage status. The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi can bring this historical heritage into new discussion and once again underline the ancient cultural relations of India-Indonesia at the global level.

Major Hindu temples of Indonesia

Major temples of Central Java island: Prambanan Temple, Chandi Sukuh, Chandi Chetto
Major temples of Bali: Besakih Temple, Tanah Lot Temple, Uluwatu Temple, Tirta Empul Temple, Goa Lawah Temple, Taman Ayun Temple, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

Also read: 3 feet tall, weighs 14 kg. Where in Indonesia does the world’s largest flower grow?

Dinesh Pathak

Basically the reader. Writer by profession. Born on the land of Kabir. Maryada Purushottam was brought up and educated in Ayodhya, the land of Shri Ram. Started career from Lucknow on the banks of Adi Ganga. Sangam Teere Prayagraj, symbol of love From the shadow of Taj Mahal to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, Kanpur famous as industrial city and while working on the land of Baba Gorakhnath, learned something or the other from scholars, current affairs, youth, parenting, politics, administration, villages, farms and farmers favorite topics. Gossiping with youth in school, college and university is an additional source of energy. This reader’s writing journey, which started from Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh in the year 1992, reached the smart phone through pen, desktop, laptop keyboard. As age is increasing, the hunger for learning, reading and writing is also increasing. Was editor at five centers in Hindustan newspaper. Five books on youth and parenting. Doordarshan made a serial on a book ‘Bas Thoda Sa’.