Prambanan The Largest Hindu Temple in Indonesia

Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia, even in Southeast Asia. The temple is also known as Rara Jonggrang temple was built around 850 AD by the Sanjaya dynasty.

The temple, which since 1991 by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage (World Wonder Heritage) The complex occupies an area of ​​39.8 hectares. 47 meters tall or five meters higher than Borobudur, Prambanan seemingly mighty and sturdiness. This is in accordance with the background of the construction of this temple, which is to show the triumph of Hindu civilization in the land of Java.

Candi Prambanan is also called Rara Jonggrang? It is associated with a legend that is believed to be partly the Java community about this temple. Once upon a time, a prince named Bandung Bondowoso fell in love with the princess and handsome in appearance, he benama Rara Jonggrang. Because no power to refuse the love of the prince, Jonggrang stipulating to Bondowoso to be made a temple with 1,000 statues overnight. The request was nearly fulfilled, before finally Jonggrang managed to call for help the villagers to pound rice and make a big fire that impressed the atmosphere is already morning. Feeling cheated, Bondowoso who only make statues all 999 cursed Jonggrang into the 1000 statue.

Prambanan is the embodiment of Hindu civilization in the land of Java. It can be seen from the temple structure that describes the core belief in Hinduism, the Trimurti. Prambanan complex has 3 main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. The third temple is the symbol of the Hindu Trimurti. Each main temple has accompanying temple, namely Nandini for Shiva, Swan to Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. In addition, there are two temples wedge, 4 temples of the screen, and 4 temples corner. In the second there are 224 temples.

Privileged Prambanan more must be witnessed by tourists is the beauty of the bas-reliefs on the walls of the temple. The story of Ramayana became the main reliefs of this temple. However, other relief that is not less interesting is Kalpataru tree that the Hindu religion is considered as the tree of life, sustainability and environmental compatibility. In Prambanan, relief of Kalpataru tree is described as flanking lions. The existence of this tree illustrates how the Java community 9th century had wisdom to manage its environment.
For visitors who want to complete curiosity towards the intricacies of Prambanan temple, visitors can visit a museum that is also located in the temple complex. In this museum, visitors can enjoy the audio-visual history of the discovery of Prambanan until the renovations are complete. For tourists who visit with the family, at Prambanan temple also has a playground for children and a mini train that can get you around the tourist area.

One tourist event not to be missed is staging Ramayana. Ramayana is a performance art that brings together diverse Javanese arts such as dance, drama, and music in one stage and one momentum to present the story of Ramayana, Valmiki legendary epic works written in Sanskrit. The story of Ramayana is sung in the show is a translation of the sculpted reliefs at Prambanan. Ramayana carved on the temple is similar to the story that developed in the oral tradition in India. The storyline is a long and stressful summarized in four plays or round, namely: kidnapping Sinta, Anoman mission to Alengka, death Kumbakarna or Ravana, and Rama-Sita back meetings. This performance has been running since 1960 and held every month on the full moon night.

Prambanan temple is located in the village of Prambanan which is administratively divided into two parts, between the district of Sleman, Yogyakarta province and Klaten district, Central Java Province.
It is right on the edge of Yogyakarta-Solo highway make the Prambanan temple complex is easy to reach from any direction, either from Yogyakarta and Solo. For visitors who begin the journey from Klaten, many paths that can be selected, could use bus Yogyakarta-Solo or bus terminal majors Prambanan Klaten. Both are equally easy.

In the vicinity of the temple complex provided accommodation and complete facilities, such as hotel / inn, restaurant / dining, souvenir shops, kiosk, and internet cafes. In addition, the presence of the power tour guides are easy to find around the temple will enhance the visit of tourists. Therefore, they will guide tourists discover traces of Javanese-Hindu civilization fame with Prambanan Temple as the main monument.