The two leaders unveiled a commemorative plaque to formally launch the restoration initiative, which will be carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India in collaboration with Indonesian authorities. The project aims to conserve and restore several smaller temples within the historic Prambanan Temple complex.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Prime Minister Modi and President Prabowo visited the magnificent Prambanan Temple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yogyakarta. He stated that the plaque unveiling marked the beginning of an India-supported conservation and restoration project for the complex.
Built in the 9th century and dedicated to the Trimurti — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva — Prambanan Temple remains a sacred symbol of the deep cultural and spiritual connections between India and Indonesia.
The launch of the restoration project followed the exchange of a Letter of Intent between India and Indonesia during bilateral discussions held in Jakarta on Tuesday. The initiative is part of India’s cultural diplomacy efforts and its Act East policy, with the Archaeological Survey of India partnering with Indonesian authorities for heritage preservation.
During his visit to the ancient Hindu shrine, Prime Minister Modi offered prayers and interacted with officials involved in the conservation work. Large crowds carrying the national flags of India and Indonesia gathered along the streets to welcome the two leaders during their journey to the temple complex.
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi shared an aerial video of the temple complex on X and described it as the “majestic Prambanan Temple.”
During his joint statement with President Prabowo on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of the temple as a representation of the shared cultural heritage of India and Indonesia.
“Tomorrow, I will have the privilege of launching the conservation project for the Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta alongside President Prabowo. More than a thousand years old, the Prambanan Temple stands as a symbol of the shared cultural heritage of India and Indonesia,” Prime Minister Modi said.
The Prime Minister also underlined the historical and civilisational links between the two nations, stating that India and Indonesia share not only maritime connections but also a common history rooted in the legacy of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
He highlighted the connection between the two countries through iconic monuments such as Borobudur and Prambanan, Indonesia’s national emblem Garuda, and cultural celebrations such as the Bali Jatra festival.
Constructed during the Hindu Mataram Kingdom in the 9th century, Prambanan is Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple complex and one of Southeast Asia’s most important examples of Hindu architecture. Spread across nearly 40 hectares, the complex originally consisted of around 240 temples, with the 47-metre Shiva temple at its centre being the most prominent structure.
The temple complex contains shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Its detailed stone carvings depict scenes from the Ramayana and other Hindu epics, reflecting centuries of cultural interaction between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
The monument suffered extensive damage due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and political instability after being abandoned in the 10th century. Large-scale restoration efforts began in the early 20th century to preserve the historic site. In 1991, UNESCO recognised Prambanan as a World Heritage Site, acknowledging it as one of the finest examples of Hindu architecture in Southeast Asia.
The restoration of Prambanan adds to India’s growing heritage conservation efforts across Asia. In recent years, India has supported restoration projects at UNESCO World Heritage Sites and historic temples in Vietnam, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh and Bahrain, reinforcing its commitment to preserving shared civilisational heritage across the region.
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