Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday jointly inaugurated an India-supported restoration project at the Prambanan Temple Compounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, during Modi’s state visit to Indonesia.The inauguration marked a key moment in India’s cultural diplomacy under its “Act East” policy, highlighting the shared civilisational and cultural links between India and Indonesia.Recalling the restoration of several historic temples in India, PM Modi said he felt privileged to be associated with the revival of the Prambanan Temple Compounds.“Whether it is the reconstruction of Kedardham or the reconstruction of Ujjain Mahakal, or coming here today to have the fortune to start the work of reviving and renovating our cultural heritage–which is about a thousand or twelve hundred years old and connected with memories of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh–I consider myself extremely lucky, PM Modi said. Referring to the restoration project, PM Modi said he would return to the Prambanan Temple Compounds once the work is completed. “I promise you that after its reconstruction, I will definitely come here and celebrate this festival with you,” PM Modi said. The restoration project at the Prambanan Temple Compounds is part of India’s broader efforts to preserve the region’s shared cultural heritage. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is working with Indonesian authorities to restore and conserve several smaller temples within the sprawling Prambanan complex.Located near Yogyakarta on Indonesia’s Java island, Prambanan is one of the country’s largest Hindu temple complexes. Built in the 9th century AD, the site suffered extensive damage over the centuries due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and political upheaval in the early 11th century. The temples, which were rediscovered in the 17th century, have since undergone multiple phases of restoration.The complex comprises 240 temples dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Its innermost enclosure houses 16 temples, including the 47-metre-tall Shiva temple, flanked by the Brahma temple to the north and the Vishnu temple to the south.Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Prambanan is renowned for its intricate stone reliefs depicting the Indonesian version of the Ramayana. UNESCO describes the temple compounds as a masterpiece of classical Shiva art in Indonesia, with restoration work continuing since 1918 using both traditional interlocking stone techniques and modern structural reinforcement methods. The site was also declared Indonesia’s National Cultural Property in 1998.Prambanan remains a major cultural landmark, hosting the renowned Ramayana ballet in an open-air theatre on the temple’s southern side during full moon evenings between May and October.
