The Beauty of Prambanan Temple

Some tourists in Prambanan Park.

The Prambanan Temple also known as Roro Jonggrang Temple is located near the border of  the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) and Central Java province. It’s about 17 km toward the east Yogyakarta or 53 km to the west side of Solo. The temple was built in the east side of Opak river, about 200 m on north side of Yogya-Solo highway.

The cluster of the temple is named “Prambanan” because it is located in the Prambanan area. This temple is also called the Roro Jonggrang temple due to its relation to the legend of a tall girl the daughter of Prabu Boko. The word “jonggrang” means tall.

In the next following paragraphs the term “candi” will be used instead of “temple”. Since the word temple is also means a common building like a house, castle or shrine in which a Buddhist or Shinto monk live. The term “candi” has a unique and special meaning. Candi is a large and high building made of the stones carving from the bottom to the top of the building. The top of a candi has a conical shape called “stupa”. This is the differences beetwen candi and a common temple like we will see in China, Japan, India or other countries in Asia. Candi Borobudur and Angkor Wat is the same kind as Candi Prambanan.

Candi Prambanan is Hindu temple built by the kings of Sanjaya dynasty in the IX century. According to the Prasasti Siwarghra dated 856 AD, the first construction was made in the era of the king Rakai Pikatan and the final construction was done in the era of the king Rakai Balitung. This candi was a political manifesto which proves the power and sovereignty of the kings of Sanjaya dynasty as the most greatest king. But, the displacement of central government of the ancient Mataram kingdom to East Java had left it in shambles. Several times of earth quake and the eruption of Mount Merapi had made it shattered in ruins.

The restoration of Candi Prambanan by the Netherlands Indies  government was very slowly during the Dutch occupation in Indonesia. In the end, the restoration was done by the Indonesian government and at 20 of December 1953, Ir. Soekarno as the first president of Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia was declare the restoration of the head of Candi Roro Jonggrang is finished. The restoration of other candi in the cluster of Candi Prambanan is still in progress until now.

The layout of the temples at Roro Jonggrang (Prambanan) cluster.

The Roro Jonggrang (Prambanan) cluster was built in three levels of ground. The lower, middle and upper ground. The more deep  the candi built, the more high its position. Successively the ground area is 390 square meters, 222 square meters and 110 square meters. The upper ground or the center ground consists of 16 big and small candi. The main candi consists of two lines of candi facing each other. In The first line there are Candi Siwa, Candi Wisnu and Candi Brahma, while in the second line there are Candi Nandi, Candi Angsa and Candi Garuda. The candi at the end of the corridor of the first two lines candi are Candi Apit. The candi in the corners called Candi Sudut and four others called Candi Kelir. At the middle ground or the second level there is only the ruins of Candi Perwara.

Well, I think you should visit the Candi Roro Jonggrang or the Prambanan Park by yourself. Here are some pictures of Candi Roro Jonggrang that I took when I went there. Hope you like it 🙂 .

Some tourist are walking into the middle ground or the second level of Candi Roro Jonggrang.

A foreign tourist wears batik is walking into the second level of Candi Roro Jonggrang.

The ruins of Candi Perwara at the second level of Candi Roro Jonggrang or Prambanan cluster.

At the center ground of Candi Roro Jonggrang. See, how bright the sky is.Really amazing.

At a corner of Candi Roro Jonggrang. You can see the view of Mount Merapi from a distance.

One of the most favourite spot to take some pictures at the center ground of Candi Jonggrang.

A view from the exit of Candi Roro Jonggrang.

A view from the exit of Candi Roro Jonggrang. You can see the ruins of Candi Perwara at the second level of Candi Roro Jonggrang.

At a corner of Prambanan Park.

The view of Candi Roro Jonggrang from the Prambanan Park.

The Brahmana Area

At a corner of Prambanan Park.