World Heritage Tourism - Prambanan

Prambanan, locally people called Roro Jonggrang is one of the largest Hindu temple compound in Yogyakarta, Central Java. It takes around 20 minutes (17 kilo metres) from Yogyakarta city. Built in the 10th century during 2 different kingdoms, i.e. Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Since 1991 it became the member of Unesco World Heritage Center



Unfortunately some parts of the temple were ruined during the earthquake on the 27th May 2006 with 5.9 in Richter scale. Now it's under renovation, they do the rehabilitation step by step, as you could see in the photo, the main temple was on renovation during my trip on Nov 2008. If you want to donate some funding, I think it would be very helpful and it will speed up the recovery.

Rising above the centre of the last of these concentric squares are three temples facing to the East, decorated with reliefs illustrating the epic of the Ramayana, dedicated to the three great Hindu divinities (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma) and three temples facing to the West, dedicated to the animals who serve them. Each of this God shrines facing to a smaller shrines for their vehicles. The cow, Nandi, is the vehicle of Shiva, the destroyer god, and eagle, Garuda, is the vehicle of Vishnu, the creator god, and the swan, Angsa, is the vehicle of Brahma, the guardian god. The temple height is 47 metres, higher than Borobudur.

In the middle of the area, the government built a large green garden. You also could enjoy the water fountain with some beautiful water plants. Shiva is in the middle with 4 rooms, each room is facing to different direction (East, South, West and North). The first one contains 3 metres high of Shiva statue , while others contain a smaller statue for, Durga (his wife), Agastya (his teacher), Ganesa (his son).

The Durga statue is called as Roro/Loro Jongrang (slim girl) by local people. It's a legend that a king named Boko had a very beautiful daughter. Bandung Bondowoso was interested to marry her, unfortunately she refused him because she didn't love him. Finally she agreed to marry him as long as he could build 1000 temples for a night. He agreed and started building the temple helping by the spirit. Roro Jonggrang was worried that he could finish it, so she started to wake up her waiting maids to start hit the rice, it made the cock cackled as if it's morning. The temples had reached 999 temples, he was very angry to know that she was deceitful him, so he used his magic to make her the statue to decorate the last temple.

When we walked back to the park area, we could visit some stalls which sold souvenirs, such as becak and bicycle miniatur made from iron, various handicrafts, batik clothes, etc. You have to bargain to buy here, unless you would get a more expensive price comparing to buy in the supermarket or mall. If you like historical place, don't forget to visit it, take it in the morning to avoid hot.