Day 01
Explore Prambanan and Its Buddhist Temples
- Visit Prambanan Temple, a landmark of a glorious Hindu kingdom between the 8th and 10th centuries. The royal temple stands as a mark of a Hindu dynasty ruling over a Buddhist dynasty that once occupied the region. During this experience, you will walk through the great compound consisting of 240 small and large temples and learn about the sophisticated technology used to build this ingenious place of worship. Take a closer look at the engravings on the volcanic stones and understand what they depict. The temple also served as a great royal place of worship and a means of learning for the people at that time. These lessons are carefully depicted through engraved stones all around the temple.
- Visit, at the heart of the compound, three temples dedicated to Trimurti (Triumvirate - the greatest God in Hinduism). Standing tall in the middle is the temple dedicated to Shiva, the destroyer, followed by the temple dedicated to Brahma, the creator, in the south, and the temple dedicated to Vishnu, the god of love and preservation, in the north.
- Next, move to Lumbung Temple. It was built during the 9th century AD and is known for its unique design featuring a square base and circular top. The temple is thought to have been used as a storage facility for Buddhist scriptures and other holy objects.
- See Bubrah Temple, also located in the Prambanan Temple Complex and built during the same period as Lumbung Temple. It is a smaller temple and is notable for its intricate carvings and decorations, which are still visible today despite significant damage over the centuries.
- Lastly, visit Sewu Temple, a large Buddhist temple complex built during the 8th century AD. It is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Indonesia and is believed to have served as a place of worship for both Buddhists and Hindus. The complex consists of a central sanctuary surrounded by numerous smaller temples and shrines, all decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures.
