Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday shared striking aerial visuals of Indonesia's iconic Prambanan Temple as he travelled by helicopter with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Posting the video on his X handle, the Prime Minister described the centuries-old Hindu temple as “majestic" while the helicopter approached the historic monument alongside President Subianto.
“The majestic Prambanan Temple!", he said as as the duo approached the ancient monument.
The helicopter journey came ahead of the formal launch of an India-supported conservation and restoration initiative at the temple complex, a key step in New Delhi's cultural diplomacy efforts under its Act East policy.
PM Modi's visit formed part of his bilateral trip to Indonesia and preceded the rollout of the India-backed restoration project at the historic site.
The initiative was formalised a day earlier when India and Indonesia exchanged a Letter of Intent following bilateral discussions between PM Modi and President Prabowo, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Located on Indonesia's Java island, the Prambanan Temple Complex is the country's largest Hindu temple site and the second largest in Southeast Asia after Cambodia's Angkor Wat.
Constructed in the 9th century by the Hindu Mataram Kingdom, the vast temple complex is dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti—Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma—and is celebrated for its elaborate Ramayana reliefs. Historical records indicate that King Rakai Pikatan initiated the monumental project, which was completed by his successor, Lokapala, as a symbol of the empire's devotion to Shaivite Hinduism and as an apparent architectural counterpart to the nearby Buddhist Borobudur Temple built by the rival Sailendra dynasty.
Spread across nearly 40 hectares, the complex originally consisted of about 240 temples and remains one of Indonesia's most significant cultural landmarks, reflecting centuries-old civilisational ties with the Indian subcontinent.
Built using volcanic stone, the towering central Shiva Temple rises to approximately 47 metres and exemplifies classical Hindu architecture through its soaring spires, symmetrical design and intricately crafted gateways.
Its outer walls are adorned with finely detailed reliefs illustrating scenes from the Ramayana and other major Hindu epics. The carvings stand as evidence of the extensive cultural and religious exchanges that spread across Southeast Asia through ancient maritime trade routes, scholarly interactions and commercial networks.
Recognising its exceptional historical and cultural significance, UNESCO designated Prambanan a World Heritage Site in 1991. Today, the temple complex is one of Indonesia's foremost cultural attractions, offering visitors a glimpse into the archipelago's rich and diverse religious heritage.
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