Anticipating a New Face for Prambanan Temple Through Indonesia-India Cooperation

A new face for Prambanan Temple is set to emerge through cooperation between the Indonesian and Indian governments. More than 200 perwara temples in the second courtyard, most of which are still in ruins, will be restored. The Prambanan Temple restoration project was inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday. Prabowo and Narendra Modi arrived at the Prambanan Temple complex at around 11.45 WIB on Wednesday (8/7). The arrival of the two leaders was greeted by a traditional Rama Sinta dance performance accompanied by gamelan music. The series of activities continued with a presentation on the conservation project for the UNESCO World Heritage site and the inauguration of a cooperation inscription. During the visit, Prabowo and Narendra Modi also toured the temple grounds using a boogie car. They visited several structures within the Prambanan complex, including the Nandi Temple and the Siswa Temple, while listening to explanations about the history and significance of the area. While at the Siwa Temple, Narendra Modi also participated in a Doa Shinta Pooja procession. The visit, themed ‘World Leaders Journey’, marked the achievement of an agreement entitled ‘Indonesia-India Collaborative Cultural Heritage Conservation’. The long-term restoration programme is scheduled to last for a decade, from 2026 to 2036, focusing on the restoration of more than 200 perwara temples in the second courtyard, which to date remain largely in ruins. Through this collaboration, Indonesia and India are targeting improvements in the quality of physical site conservation, strengthening scientific documentation, improving the governance of the cultural heritage area, developing cultural cooperation, and exchanging knowledge and expertise in the field of archaeology between the two countries.