PRAMBANAN - The Largest Hindu Temple in Southeast Asia

Rara Jonggrang Temple or Lara Jonggrang located in Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. This temple is situated on the island of Java, about 20 km east of Yogyakarta, 40 km west of Surakarta and 120 km south of Semarang, just on the border between the provinces of Central Java and Yogyakarta. Rara Jonggrang temple Prambanan located in the village whose territory is divided between the districts of Sleman and Klaten.

This temple was built in about the year 850 AD by one of these two men, namely: Rakai Pikatan, the second king of Mataram dynasty I or Balitung Maha Sambu, during Sanjaya dynasty. Not long after being built, the temple was abandoned and deteriorating.

In 1733, this temple was found by the CA. Lons a Dutch national, then in 1855 Jan Willem IJzerman start to clean and move some rocks and soil from the chambers of the temple. some time later Isaac Groneman perform large-scale demolition and temple stones were piled haphazardly along the River Opak. In 1902-1903, Theodoor van Erp keep parts are prone to collapse. In the years 1918-1926, followed by the Bureau of Archeological (Oudheidkundige Dienst) under PJ Perquin in a more methodical and systematic, as known to his predecessors did the removal and demolition of thousands of stone without thinking of the restoration effort kembali.Pada De Haan in 1926 continued until his death in 1930. In 1931 was replaced by Ir. V.R. van Romondt up in 1942 and later handed over leadership to the son of Indonesia's renovation and continued until 1993.

Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia, the main building height is 47m. This temple complex consists of 8 main shrines or temples and more than 250 small temples. Three main temple called Trisakti and presented to the hyang Trimurti: Shiva Batara the Destroyer, Vishnu the Preserver and Batara Batara Brahma the Creator. Shiva temple in the middle, contains four rooms, one room in every direction of the wind. While the former contains a statue of Shiva Batara as high as three meters, the other three statues contain a smaller size, the statue of Durga, Shiva Batara sakti or wife, Agastya, his teacher, and Ganesha, his son. Durga is also known as Rara or Lara / Loro Jongrang (slender virgin) by the locals. For details see the article Loro Jonggrang.

Two other temples dedicated to Vishnu Batara, facing to the north and the other Batara dedicated to Brahma, who is facing south. In addition there are several other small temples dedicated to the calf Nandini, vehicle Batara Shiva, the Goose, vehicle Batara Brahma, and the Garuda, Vishnu Batara vehicle. Then relief around the edge twenty temples depict the epic Ramayana. The version described here is different from Kakawin Old Javanese Ramayana, but similar to the Ramayana story passed down through oral tradition. Besides the temple complex is surrounded by more than 250 temples of different sizes and are called ancillary. Inside the temple complex of Prambanan there are also museums that store historical objects, including stone god Shiva Linga, the emblem fertility.  

Prambanan is a piece of the history of Indonesia which is still preserved. Beginning new year with this 2012 my wife and I had the opportunity to visit it. although I am a Jogja but I was a long time not visit Prambanan temple. much has changed, it used to air at Prambanan is very hot because the trees are still rare, but now it is much cooler. For the record only if the visit Prambanan best in the afternoon because we can see the sunset in the western part of the temple.

2006 earthquake that struck Yogyakarta and surrounding areas make significant damage to the temples. But the government is attempting to rebuild, the government's efforts apparently managed to repair it, although not 100 percent back intact. One of the badly damaged building is a complex of Prambanan Temple, Brahma Temple in particular. In 2010 only in November of Mount Merapi erupts, disaster again struck and threatened this temple complex, namely the danger of Merapi ash can damage the temple stones. cleaning takes place and the temple was closed for some time back.

Yesterday was still the main temple was closed for repairs and cleaning dust Merapi that has not been completed and there are some parts of the broken top of the temple during a large earthquake occurs, thrown up in front of the exit of the temple complex. seen few visitors took time to pose in front of the temple fault.

Approximately at 16.30 pm we took time to sit in the western part of the temple. wow looks clear atmosphere of the temple clean. Behind the temple there is a theater complex right Ramayana ditepian opaque river. It also appears the sun is starting to fall on the western horizon and the breeze add to the atmosphere pleasant. Prambanan Temple officially closed at 17.00 pm, but sometimes there are many tourists who stay in until around 18:00 pm just waiting for the sunset. 

 To visit the Prambanan Temple is very easy. many public transportation pass. First tourists can use bus Trans Jogja from 06:00 am until 19:00 pm or by using inter-city bus from the terminal Yogyakarta to Solo. In addition, tourists can use the train from Yogyakarta. many options to get there. Admission is also fairly inexpensive. for 30,000 IDR to 25,000 IDR for adults and normal days. because yesterday I came to coincide with the atmosphere of the new year then to adult fare and children mutandis 30,000 IDR. Manager Prambanan also preparing a package to visit Prambanan Ratu Boko Temple and that there are not too far from the temple complex of Prambanan. cheap ticket, visitors are only charged for 45,000 IDR ticket.

Okay, happy trips to the temple prambanan, and "A GREAT NATION WOULD NOT HAVE FORGOTTEN THE HISTORY OF THE NATION"