Prambanan
Prambanan History
Rakai Pikatan started construction on the largest Hindu Temple of Java, Prambanan, as an answer to Buddhist temples nearby. Prambanan’s construction was most likely meant to signify the return of the Sanjaya dynasty to power in Central Java.
A temple was first built around 850CE by Rakai Pikatan to honor lord Shiva. Shiva-grha, or the House of Shiva, was the original name of the temple. Many archaeologists suggest that the idol of Shiva located in the central chamber of the main temple is modeled after King Balitung. Experts believe this idol represents a depiction of the king’s deified self after death.
The temple complex was expanded by Mataram kings Daksa and Tulodong. They also added hundreds of temples around the chief temple. Most of the state’s religious ceremonies took place at Prambanan because it served as the royal temple of Mataram, a Hindu Kingdon. Hundreds of Brahmins are said to have lived at Prambanan at the height of the Mataram kingdom. Scholars also believe that their followers lived within the outer wall of the temple complex. The urban center of Prambanan and their courts were said to be located in the nearby Prambanan valley.
A new dynasty, the Isyana Dynasty, took over in the 930s, and they shifted the court to East Java. Experts believe that either a volcanic eruption or power struggle caused the move, which marked the beginning of Prambanan’s decline. It began to deteriorate shortly after it was abandoned. The temples ultimately collapsed when a major earthquake hit in the 16th century, though there were no longer an important place of worship.
A British surveyor accidentally stumbled upon the temples in 1811. A full survey of Prambanan’s ruins was ordered, but they still remained neglected for decades. Many sculptures and foundation stones were stolen by Dutch residents and used for construction material. More excavations took place by archaeologists in the 1880s, but they were done in a haphazardly manner and looting was the only result. Finally a reconstruction effort of the complex began in 1918, followed by proper restoration in 1930. The restoration of the main building of the temple complex was completed around 1953. So much of the original stonework has been stolen and reused, so restoration efforts have been slow. A temple can only be rebuilt only if builders can use at least 75% of the original masonry. For that reason, only foundations of many of the smaller shrines are visible today, and no plans for their reconstruction are evident. Restoration efforts continue today.
Prambanan Visitor Information
The nearest major cities to Prambanan are Yogyakarta, located 17 kilometres southwest, and Solo, which is about 40 kilometres northeast. There is a main road that connects these two large cities. It passes right by Prambanan and makes transport quite easy. The town of Klaten is closest to Prambanan, located about 3 km north.
UNESCO designated Prambanan a World Heritage Site in 1991. It became an increasingly popular tourist destination after that. You will need at least an entire day to get around and understand the historical significance of Prambanan. Prambanan opens early, at 6 AM, so staying nearby the previous night is a good idea. Getting in before the massive crowds arrive at 9am will afford you a good amount of time to explore with a limited amount of tourists. This will also afford the opportunity to visit some of the other archaeological sites on the Prambanan plain. This area of Java gets a lot of rain, so visiting from April to October give you the best chance of having a clear, sunny day.
237 temples comprise the Prambanan complex, though many of have deteriorated or been looted. Three zones make up the complex:
- The outer zone- a large open space that was once surrounded by a large wall, which is no longer there. Many experts believe this was used as either a park or garden. Some think it was the site of an ashram for temple priests.
- The middle zone- this has four rows of 224 identical, concentrically arranged shrines. Many are in ruins, but there are some that have been fully restored. The shrines are called guardian temples. There are many theories about the design and use of this shrine. Some experts think it is a representation of the Mataram caste system. Others think these were designed to receive offerings to the king. Still others believe they were simply used for meditation.
- The inner zone- contains eight main temples along with eight small shrines. Archaeologists agree this is the holiest of the three zones. There are three main inner shrines that are dedicated to Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Keeper, and Shiva the Destroyer.
Prambanan Conservation Efforts
In July 2006, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC) in Jakarta was provided with major funding from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for rehab efforts at Prambanan after a major earthquake hit Indonesia. Information panel boards were installed to raise awareness to tourists visiting the site.
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