Cultural and Historical significance
Apart from the Prambanan Roro Jonggrang complex, Kewu Plain along with the valley and hills around it is the location of some of the earliest Hindu-Buddhist temples in Indonesia. Adjacent to the complex to the north are Bubrah temple, Lumbung temple, and Sewu temple; to the east are found Plaosan temple. Kalasan temple and Sari temple are to the west and further is the Sambisari temple. The Ratu Boko compounds are on higher ground just to the south. The discoveries of archaeological sites scattered only a few miles away suggested that this area was once an important religious, political, and urban center of central Java. Despite the smaller scale of its temples, the diversity and sophistication of the archaeological sites in this plain are comparable to Angkor archaeological sites in Cambodia. Borobudur and Prambanan in particular, are popularly regarded as the two Indonesian temples to rival Angkor Wat in Cambodia. [3]
In 2012, the Balai Pelestarian Peninggalan Purbakala Jawa Tengah (BP3, or the Central Java Heritage Preservation Authority) suggested that the area in and around Prambanan should be treated as a sanctuary. The proposed area is in the Prambanan Plain measuring measured 30 square kilometres (12 sq mi) spread across the Sleman and Klaten regencies. The area includes major temples such as Prambanan, Ratu Boko, Kalasan, Sari, and Plaosan temples. The sanctuary is planned to be treated similarly to the Angkor archaeological area in Cambodia, which suggests that the government should prevent or regulate permits to construct any new buildings, especially the multi-storied buildings, as well as BTS towers. This was meant to protect this archaeologically rich area from modern-day visual obstructions and the encroachments of hotels, restaurants, and any tourism-related buildings and businesses. [4]
Prambanan is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, in southern Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimūrti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). The temple compound is located approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of the city of Yogyakarta on the boundary between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces.
The Mataram kingdom ; also known as Medang kingdom was a Javanese Hindu-Buddhist kingdom that flourished between the 8th and 11th centuries. It was based in Central Java, and later in East Java. Established by King Sanjaya, the kingdom was ruled by the Shailendra dynasty and Ishana dynasty.
Kalasan, also known as Candi Kalibening, is an 8th-century Buddhist temple in Java, Indonesia. It is located 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) east of Yogyakarta on the way to Prambanan temple, on the south side of Jalan Solo main road between Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Administratively, it is located in the Kalasan District (kapanewon) of Sleman Regency.
Sleman Regency is an Indonesian regency on the island of Java. It is located in the north of the Yogyakarta Special Administrative Region, Indonesia, and has an area of 574.82 square kilometres (221.94 sq mi), with a population of 1,093,110 at the 2010 Census and 1,125,804 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 1,157,292 - comprising 573,760 males and 583,540 females. Its capital is the town of Sleman. The current regent is Kustini Sri Purnomo.
Ratu Boko or Ratu Boko Palace is an archaeological site in Java. Ratu Boko is located on a plateau, about three kilometres south of Prambanan temple complex in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The original name of this site is still unclear, however the local inhabitants named this site after King Boko, the legendary king mentioned in Roro Jonggrang folklore. In Javanese, Ratu Boko means "Stork King".
A candi is a Hindu or Buddhist temple in Indonesia, mostly built during the Zaman Hindu-Buddha or "Hindu-Buddhist period" between circa the 4th and 15th centuries.
Kedu Plain, also known as Progo River Valley, is the fertile volcanic plain that lies between the volcanoes Mount Sumbing and Mount Sundoro to the west, and Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi to the east. It roughly corresponds to the present-day Magelang and Temanggung Regency of Central Java, Indonesia.
Sewu is an eighth-century Mahayana Buddhist or Hindu located 800 metres north of Prambanan in Central Java, Indonesia. The word for a Hindu or Buddist temple in Indonesian is "candi", hence the common name is "Candi Sewu". Candi Sewu is the second largest Buddhist temple complex in Indonesia; Borobudur is the largest. Sewu predates near the "Loro Jonggrang" temple at Prambanan. Although the complex consists of 249 temples, this Javanese name translates to 'a thousand temples,' which originated from popular local folklore. Archaeologists believe the original name for the temple compound to be Manjusrigrha.
Prambanan Temple Compounds is the World Heritage designation of a group of Hindu temple compounds that lie on the border between Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia. It comprises Prambanan, Lumbung, Bubrah and Sewu temple compounds, all are located within Prambanan Archaeological Park.
Borobudur Temple Compounds is the World Heritage designation of the area of three Buddhist temples in Central Java, Indonesia. It comprises Borobudur, Mendut, and Pawon. The temples were built during the Shailendra dynasty around the 8th and 9th centuries CE and fall on a straight line.
Pramodhawardhani was the queen consort of King Rakai Pikatan of Mataram Kingdom in 9th century Central Java. She was the daughter of Sailendran king Samaratungga.
Banyunibo is a 9th-century Buddhist temple located in Cepit hamlet, Bokoharjo village, Prambanan, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The temple, dating from the era of Mataram Kingdom, sits in a narrow valley surrounded by paddy fields about two kilometers southeast of the Ratu Boko archaeological park on the east side of modern Yogyakarta. Further north is the Prambanan temple, and to the south are the Gunung Sewu Hills, an extension of Gunung Kidul Hills.
Lumbung or Candi Lumbung is a 9th-century Buddhist temple compound located within the complex of Prambanan Temple Tourism Park, Central Java, Indonesia. The original name of this temple is unknown, however the local Javanese named the temple "candi lumbung", which means "rice barn temple" in Javanese language.
Ijo temple is a Hindu candi (temple) located 4 kilometers from Ratu Boko or around 18 kilometers east from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The temple was built between 10th to 11th century CE during the Mataram Kingdom period.
Paduraksa, also known as kori is a type of gateway covered with towering roofs that can be found in the islands of Java and Bali, Indonesia. This architectural feature is commonly found in buildings from the classical Hindu-Buddhist period of Indonesia. Paduraksa marks the threshold into the most sacred space within a religious compound, a cemetery, or a palace. In Balinese architecture, an elaborately decorated towering paduraksa is often built as the temple's most imposing structure.
The archaeology of Indonesia is the study of the archaeology of the archipelagic realm that today forms the nation of Indonesia, stretching from prehistory through almost two millennia of documented history. The ancient Indonesian archipelago was a geographical maritime bridge between the political and cultural centers of Ancient India and Imperial China, and is notable as a part of ancient Maritime Silk Road.
Barong temple is a 9th-century Hindu candi (temple) located approximately 800 meters east-southeast from Ratu Boko compound. The temple is located on a hill in Candisari hamlet, Bokoharjo village, Prambanan subdistrict, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The temple is named barong according to its kala's head carving on top of the niches of its temples that resembles Barong.
Kedulan temple is the ruin of a 9th-century Hindu candi located not far from Sambisari temple. The temple is in Tirtomartani village, Kalasan subdistrict, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The style and architecture bear striking similarities to the nearby Sambisari temple. And just like Sambisari, the temple compound is buried around 6 metres (20 ft) below the present surface, as the result of lava flow from the last eruption of Mount Merapi in the north.
Bubrah is a 9th-century Buddhist temple located within the complex of the Prambanan Temple Archaeological Park, in Central Java, Indonesia. Experts believe that the temple was designed as a part of the greater Sewu temple compound.
Brambanan Station (BBN) also known as Prambanan Station, is a class I railway station located in Kebondalem Kidul, Prambanan, Klaten Regency, Central Java, Indonesia; about 750 meter from Prambanan Temple complex. The station, which is the westernmost railway station in the regency, is at an altitude of +146 meters and operated by Operational Area VI Yogyakarta of Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI). The station road connects this station with the Solo-Yogyakarta highway.
